Nigerian Hospital Worker Jailed in UK for Kissing Patient Under His Care

A UK court has sentenced Nigerian-born Adewale Kudabo to 12 months in prison for sexually assaulting a female patient at York Hospital, where he had been employed as a care worker.

Kudabo, who pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault at the start of his trial in April, was sentenced on June 10 at a York Crown Court hearing presided over by Judge Alex Menary. The judge condemned Kudabo for “abusing the trust” placed in him as a healthcare professional, stating directly to him in court: “You abused that trust.”

According to court testimony, Kudabo was assigned to assist a female patient in significant pain with a bed bath. Prosecutor Henry Fernnandez told the court that, after bathing the patient, Kudabo kissed her on the lips — an act the victim was unable to resist due to her condition. She was left “confused and uncomfortable,” Fernnandez said.

Days later, Kudabo reportedly approached the patient again, asking if she wanted another bed bath before attempting to kiss her a second time.

The victim later reported suffering from anxiety and recurring flashbacks following the incident.

In response to the case, the York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust issued a statement expressing its “sincere apologies” to the victim. The Trust also confirmed that Kudabo left his position shortly after the assaults came to light.

Defence lawyer Jerry Sodipe told the court that Kudabo had no prior criminal record and had shown remorse for his actions. “He has held up his hands to say, yes he is guilty – he shouldn’t have done that,” Sodipe said, adding that Kudabo was “moved to sympathy” by the patient’s pain but accepted that his actions were “inappropriate and unacceptable.”

Sodipe also noted that Kudabo, who had migrated to the UK from Nigeria with his family for work, had now lost his job and reputation.

Kudabo will serve at least half of his sentence before becoming eligible for release.