Sokoto Chief Magistrate Court on Thursday, 29th September, 2022, sentenced Fokade Adeshina, a medical staff of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, UDUTH, who injured a newborn baby to 18 months imprisonment or a fine of N100,000.
Adeshina was accused of piercing a patient’s newborn baby’s eye over a carryover allegation, in June, 2021.
The incident happened on June 15, 2021 when the baby was delivered at the hospital by her mother, a non-academic staff of the National Open University of Nigeria, while the accused was undergoing a programme at the Sokoto campus of the university.
Hafsat Lamido of the Chief Magistrate Court 6 found Adeshina guilty of one count-charge of causing grievous injury.
Delivering the judgement, Chief Magistrate, Hafsat Lamido, ruled that the accused was found guilty of the said offence and sentenced her to 18 months imprisonment with a fine option of N100,000.
The mother of the baby, Asma’u Tijjani, who spoke to newsmen after the judgement, described the verdict as a good omen, which she said had brought succour to their family.
She also said that the baby who is over one year old now has fully recovered.
Counsel to the second defendant, UDUTH, Barrister Asma’u Jega, who declined comment on the judgement, referred reporters to the Public Relations Officer of UDUTH, Mansur Wadata, but he didn’t respond to calls.
The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Anas Sabir, had last year told reporters that the nurse was suspended indefinitely pending the outcome of the case.
Story: Asma’u Sani
