Court sentences Nigerian nurse to 3-year-jail for negligence leading to the death of her baby

A 28-year-old Nigerian NHS nurse, Ruth Auta has been sentenced to 3 years in prison after leaving her ten-week-old baby, Joshua Akerele, unattended in her accommodation while she went to work.

The tragic incident occurred on December 20, 2022, when Auta, a single mother, abandoned her infant for 8 hours to complete her shift at Royal Bolton Hospital.

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Upon returning, Auta found her son unresponsive in his cot and called emergency services. Despite efforts, Joshua was pronounced d3ad, with tests suggesting he may have overheated due to being wrapped in multiple layers of clothing and bedding.

Auta initially claimed she had picked Joshua up from a childminder after her shift, fed him, and found him unresponsive the next morning. However, police investigations revealed CCTV footage of her leaving and returning to her accommodation without her child.

Further investigation uncovered incriminating text messages where she urged the childminder to lie about caring for Joshua.