UK-based Nigerian nurse jailed three years for child negligence

Ruth Auta, a Nigerian nurse in the UK, has been sentenced to three years in prison for neglecting her 10-week-old baby, Joshua Akerele, who died while she was at work.

On December 20, 2022, Auta left Joshua alone in her accommodation for eight hours during her shift at Royal Bolton Hospital.

Upon returning, she found him unresponsive and called emergency services, but he died an hour later from suspected overheating due to excessive clothing.

Auta initially claimed she had been caring for Joshua, but CCTV and text messages revealed she had left him alone and instructed her childminder to lie about his care.

She pleaded guilty to child cruelty and attempted to flee to Nigeria before her sentencing.