An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has sentenced a man identified as Olatide Emmanuel to death by hanging for the murder of a woman after impersonating a medical doctor.
The 48-year-old defendant was arraigned in 2025 on a two-count charge bordering on murder and impersonation.
According to the charge, Emmanuel allegedly murdered one Bosede Falade on June 24, 2019, at Odo Ikole compound in Erinmope Ekiti. 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 violated Section 316 and are punishable under Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap. C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.
An eyewitness, Reverend Omotade, testified that the husband of the deceased contacted him to report that his wife had died during childbirth.
He said that upon arriving at the hospital, he saw the woman’s body on a stretcher while the self-proclaimed doctor stood nearby.
Omotade explained that after examining the body, he noticed that the surgical procedure appeared to have been carried out in an unprofessional manner, prompting him to alert the police at Otun Ekiti to begin an investigation.
While testifying in his defence, Emmanuel claimed he established a clinic in Erinmope Ekiti in 2019 after completing a nursing apprenticeship in Lagos State.
He told the court that the deceased approached him because she was due for delivery. According to him, after conducting some checks, he informed the woman and her husband that a Caesarean section would be required and they agreed.
He maintained that the operation was initially successful and that both mother and baby were alive afterward, but the woman later developed complications and died.
During the trial, the prosecution presented seven witnesses and tendered several exhibits, including statements, medical reports and photographs of the deceased.
However, the defendant, through his counsel Adeyinka Opaleke, did not call any witness in his defence.
Delivering judgment, Justice Jubril Aladejana held that the defendant’s admission under cross-examination that he was not a qualified medical professional but still carried out surgery showed extreme recklessness.
The judge stated that the court found his actions callous and dangerous, noting that performing such a medical procedure without proper training or certification ultimately led to the woman’s death.
Justice Aladejana ruled that the prosecution had successfully proved the case beyond reasonable doubt and consequently found Emmanuel guilty as charged.
He then sentenced the defendant to death by hanging, declaring that he should be hanged by the neck until he is dead.
TRUETELLS Nigeria reports.
