Ekiti quack nurse death sentence delivered as court finds Olatide Emmanuel guilty of killing a woman during childbirth after impersonating a doctor

Justice Jubril Aladejana of the Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, on Tuesday sentenced Olatide Emmanuel, a 48-year-old quack nurse, to death by hanging for the murder of Bosede Falade during childbirth.

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The court found Emmanuel guilty on a two-count charge of murder and impersonation after prosecutors established that the defendant posed as a medical professional and carried out a surgical procedure that resulted in the woman’s death.

According to the charge, Emmanuel on June 24, 2019, at Odo Ikole compound in Erinmope Ekiti murdered Falade. He was also accused of falsely presenting himself as a medical doctor on June 9, 2019, at Ajebamidele Street in Otun Ekiti.

The prosecutor, Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, told the court that the offences were contrary to Section 316 and punishable under Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap. C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.

An eyewitness, Reverend Omotade, told investigators that Falade’s husband contacted him after the woman died during childbirth at the clinic operated by the defendant.

“On getting to the hospital, I saw the corpse on the stretcher while the self-acclaimed doctor stood beside the stretcher,” the witness said.

“When I critically examined the body of the deceased, I discovered that the operation was carried out unprofessionally. I later called the police at Otun Ekiti to take over the matter and carry out a full investigation.”

During the trial, Emmanuel told the court that he had opened a clinic in Erinmope Ekiti in 2019 after completing a nursing apprenticeship in Lagos State.

The defendant claimed that the deceased approached him because she was due for childbirth and that he advised a Caesarean section after examining her.

“The operation was successful with both mother and child alive, but the mother later developed complications and died,” Emmanuel said.

The prosecution presented seven witnesses during the trial and tendered several exhibits, including statements, medical reports and photographs of the deceased.

Counsel to the defendant, Adeyinka Opaleke, did not call any witnesses in defence.

Delivering judgment, Justice Aladejana described the defendant’s actions as dangerously reckless.

“The confession of the defendant under cross-examination that he did not qualify as medical personnel, yet proceeded to open up a human being knowing he had no training or certification, portrayed the defendant as inherently callous,” the judge said.

“The prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the reckless action of the defendant caused the woman’s death.”

The Ekiti quack nurse death sentence was subsequently pronounced by the court.

“The judgment of this court is that you, Olatide Emmanuel, be hanged by the neck until you are dead. May the Lord have mercy on your soul,” Justice Aladejana declared.

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The ruling underscores growing concerns in Nigeria over unlicensed medical practitioners operating clinics in rural communities, where limited access to healthcare sometimes leaves residents vulnerable to dangerous and unregulated treatments.