Health
Nigerian Nurse Jailed For Sexually Abusing Patients
Nigerian Nurse Jailed For Sexually Abusing Patients
A Nigerian Nurse who recently pleaded guilty to sexually abusing patients was sentenced to three years in prison on Tuesday.
According to iexclusive News Nigeria, Godbless Uwadiegwu, 59, will also be required to register as a Tier I sex offender for at least 15 years.
In November, he pleaded guilty to two felony counts of gross sexual imposition.
Uwadiegwu was accused of having sexual contact with two patients at separate facilities: Traditions of Deerfield and Otterbein SeniorLife in Maineville.
Uwadiegwu had previously been charged with three counts of rape and three counts of gross sexual imposition.
As part of the plea agreement, the rape charges and one of the gross sexual imposition counts were dropped.
Prosecutors sought the harshest possible sentence.
In court, his attorney unsuccessfully argued that Uwadiegwu was not a repeat offender and only posed a “moderate risk.”
“As a caregiver, I incorporate empathy into my work,” Uwadiegwu told the judge shortly before his sentence. “It’s just me, God, and the patient… It never occurred to me at any point. Please trust me.”
Judge Donald Oda, on the other hand, called an expert analysis report on Uwadiegwu unpersuasive.
The judge agreed with Uwadiegwu that being a caregiver is a vital job.
“When we have an assault, it is an assault on our way of life,” Judge Oda explained.
“Some people may not remember, but I do,” a victim’s advocate read from a letter written by one of the former patients.
The authorities are not finished with Uwadiegwu.
He faces similar charges stemming from two alleged Butler County incidents, one in Hamilton in September 2018 and one in Middletown in December 2013.
According to court records, a Butler County grand jury indicted him in November on five counts, including rape, two counts of gross sexual imposition, sexual battery, and unlawful restraint.
According to Hamilton police records, he was a state-certified nursing assistant when he had sexual contact with a disabled victim in a private home in 2018 who was unable to resist or give consent due to her condition.
The other report, from the Middletown Police Department, is from 2013.
That victim stated that she knew Uwadiegwu and that he was attempting to become her home health care provider when he sexually assaulted her.
According to the report, Uwadiegwu was employed by Hope Home Health Care at the time.