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Nigerian Nurse Sentenced To 3Yr Jail Term In UK For Leaving 10-Wk-Old Son To Die

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Ruth Auta, a Nigerian nurse working in the UK, has been sentenced to three years in prison by Bolton Crown Court for the death of her 10-week-old son, Joshua Akerele.

Auta was found guilty of neglecting Joshua, leaving him unattended in her nurse’s accommodation at Royal Bolton Hospital for eight hours on December 20, 2022, while she completed her shift.

When Auta called an ambulance at 15:24 pm, reporting Joshua was not breathing, emergency responders attempted to resuscitate him. Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead at 16:40 pm.

Initially, Auta told Greater Manchester police she had collected Joshua from a childminder after work and found him unresponsive after falling asleep next to him. However, evidence revealed she had left Joshua alone in her accommodation.

However, CCTV footage obtained by police showed Auta leaving her flat without Joshua at 06:47 and returning home alone at 15:13.

Messages found on Auta’s phone showed she had asked the childminder to tell the police she had looked after Joshua that day, but the nanny told officers she had not seen the baby for a few days.

Auta was charged with cruelty to a child and pleaded guilty at a hearing at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on 24 May.

The case was adjourned to June 21 for sentence, but Auta was arrested at Gatwick Airport on 6 June after trying to board a flight to Nigeria on a one-way ticket.

Sara Davie, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Whilst she went to work to provide care for other people, Ruth Auta left the very person who needed her care the most home alone.”

Although no conclusive cause of death could be given for Joshua, the court heard he may have overheated due to the layers of clothing and bedding he was wrapped in.

Davie said that, as a nurse, Auta should have known the dangers of leaving her baby unattended and “must now live with the consequences of the terrible decision she made that day”.

“Our thoughts and sympathies are with all those who have been affected by Joshua’s death,” Davie added.

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Stella Visited Vatican City To Secure My Release From Prison — Former President Obasanjo

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has shared the significant role his late wife, Stella Obasanjo, played in securing his release from prison.

In 1995, Obasanjo was arrested and convicted by the military regime of the late Sani Abacha for his alleged involvement in a planned coup.

After four years of detention, Obasanjo was released in 1998 by Abdulsalami Abubakar, following Abacha’s death.

During his imprisonment, Stella was a strong advocate, relentlessly demanding her husband’s release.

She tragically passed away on October 23, 2005, during a liposuction surgery.

Speaking on Friday at the inauguration of the 250-bed Stella Obasanjo Hospital in Benin, the Edo state capital, the former president recounted how his late wife traveled to the Vatican City and other parts of the world to secure his freedom.

“My late wife went everywhere to ensure that I came out of prison alive. She was in Vatican City, France, and other parts of the world,” Obasanjo said.

“We were planning for her 68th birthday anniversary but never had it before she died. It was very painful for me in particular and for all of us in my family.

“So you can appreciate how thankful I am to you for doing this in her honour.”

He expressed gratitude to the Edo state government for recognizing his late wife, “who made tremendous contributions to my achievements in public life.”

Obasanjo also praised Governor Godwin Obaseki for “starting and finishing well.”

“I have worked in the past with the likes of John Oyegun; he was a fantastic permanent secretary. I reminded him recently of some of the things that he practised on me and the ones I practised on him,” Obasanjo added.

“With this hospital, you’re assured of first-class treatment for any ailment. More grace to the elbows of the governor. With this kind of edifice, I can say that the governor started well and is finishing well.”

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Court Remands Woman For Allegedly Stabbing Husband To Death In Ibadan

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An Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court yesterday ordered the remand of a housewife, Olajumoke Olalere, 33, at Agodi Correctional facility, Ibadan, for allegedly stabbing her husband to death.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Olabisi Ogunkanmi, who did not take the defendant’s plea for lack of jurisdiction, ordered her remand pending the legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP).

She, thereafter, adjourned the case until March 5, 2025 for mention.

According to The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the police charged Olalere with a count of murder.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Akeem Akinloye, had told the court that the defendant on October 30, at 9.00 p.m. allegedly caused the death of her 39-year-old husband, Oluwasegun Tinubu.

Akinloye said the defendant allegedly stabbed her husband with a knife during a disagreement at their house, at Zone 5, Gbelu, Iyana – Agbala, Ibadan.

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UPDATE: EFCC Grants Former Delta Governor Okowa Bail Over Alleged N1.3trn Fraud

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The Port Harcourt zonal command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has granted administrative bail to Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, a former governor of Delta State, over allegations of diverting N1.3 trillion in 13% derivation funds from the federation account between 2015 and 2023.

Okowa was arrested on Monday, November 4, 2024, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, after reporting to the Port Harcourt Directorate of the EFCC at the invitation of investigators handling his case.

Sources confirmed that the former governor left the EFCC facility around 9 pm on Wednesday night.

A source under anonymity stated: “He left the facility at about 9 pm yesterday (Wednesday).”

“Okowa is expected to return soon to provide documents and answer more questions before the matter will be charged to court.”

The former governor is accused of failing to account for the 13% derivation funds, as well as an additional N40 billion, which he allegedly claimed to have used to acquire shares in UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).

Specifically, Okowa is said to have purchased N40 billion worth of shares in one of the country’s major banks, representing an 8% equity stake in the offshore LNG venture.

The funds are also alleged to have been diverted for other purposes, including acquiring properties in Abuja and Asaba, Delta State.

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