Ekiti Court Sentences Fake Nurse to Death for Murder, Impersonation

An Ekiti State High Court in Ado-Ekiti has sentenced a 48-year-old man, Olatide Temitope Emmanuel, to death by hanging for murder and impersonation after a botched medical procedure led to the death of a pregnant woman.

Justice Jubril Aladejana delivered the judgment after finding Emmanuel guilty of carrying out a surgical procedure without medical training or certification.

The convict had been arraigned on December 11, 2025, on a two-count charge involving the murder of Bosede Falade and falsely presenting himself as a medical doctor.

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

Prosecutors said the offences violated Sections 316 and 319(1) of the Criminal Code Law of Ekiti State, 2012.

During the trial, an eyewitness, Reverend Omotade, told the court he was contacted by the deceased woman’s husband, who informed him that his wife had died during childbirth at a clinic in Erinmope Ekiti.

He said when he arrived at the facility around 9 p.m., he saw the woman’s body on a stretcher with Emmanuel standing nearby.

According to him, a closer examination of the body suggested that the surgery had been conducted improperly. He subsequently reported the matter to the police in Otun Ekiti, prompting an investigation.

In his defence, Emmanuel told the court he had worked as a nursing apprentice at a hospital in Lagos State and received a certificate after completing the training. He said he opened a clinic in Erinmope Ekiti in 2019.

He claimed the deceased was not originally his patient but came to his clinic when she was close to delivery. After examining her, he said he advised that she undergo a caesarean section and that both the woman and her husband agreed.

Emmanuel told the court the surgery was initially successful and both mother and baby were alive, but the woman later developed complications and died.

To establish the case, the prosecuting counsel, Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, called seven witnesses and tendered several exhibits, including the defendant’s statements, medical reports and photographs of the deceased.

The defence counsel, Adeyinka Opaleke, presented Emmanuel’s testimony but called no additional witnesses.

In his ruling, Justice Aladejana said Emmanuel admitted under cross-examination that he was not a qualified medical practitioner yet proceeded to perform surgery.

The judge described the action as reckless and said the prosecution had proven beyond reasonable doubt that the procedure caused Falade’s death.

He therefore found Emmanuel guilty on the charges and sentenced him to death by hanging.