US Court Sentences Nigerian to 15-Year Jail Term


A Nigerian mother, Mrs. Oluremi Adeleye, whose actions led to the death of an 8-month-old baby in Maryland, United States, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Adeleye, 73, broke down crying in court as she spoke through an interpreter, saying, “It was a mistake. I did not want to kill that child.”


Adeleye was found guilty in a bench trial in February of child abuse and second-degree murder.

The US Prosecutors said Adeleye forced milk down the throat of 8-month-old Enita Salubi in Glenarden in October 2016, suffocating the child.

The incident was captured on a nanny camera. The defense had argued that force-feeding was a common practice in Nigeria from where Adeleke came from.


The presiding judge Karen Mason said while she did not believe Adeleye was an “evil-intentioned baby slayer,” Adeleye knew or should have known her actions could result in the death of the child.

Prosecutors said Adeleye was a live-in nanny at a couple’s home in Prince George’s County when one 8-month-old Enita Salubi died on Oct. 26, 2016.

Adeleye was asleep on a couch inside the house when the baby, who was in a walker, began crying and woke the nanny, police said.


Police said a video surveillance camera shows the nanny tried to feed the baby, but without success.

Adeleye then pulled the baby from her walker, removed the nipple from her bottle and forcefully fed her, police said.

Adeleye poured “eight ounces of milk down the child’s throat in less than 30 seconds, essentially drowning her,” the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office said in a statement.

The baby appeared to squirm and resist while being fed the first bottle, and then Adeleye forced the contents of a second bottle into her mouth, documents said. After the baby became unresponsive, Adeleye called the baby’s father, who dialed 911 as he raced home. Enita Salubi was rushed to a hospital, where she died.

Clifton Wanzer, a neighbor, said he saw the little girl’s father carry her to an ambulance. She was rushed to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Speaking on the incident, Susan Jeremy, a child expert based in Washington said Forced feeding is a widespread childcare practice in Yoruba culture.

Adeyeye is a Yoruba woman. The practice is learnt by females through socialization process, and practiced as an expected role of a responsible mother.

The desire to feed children forces women to engage in forced feeding practice. Just like the judge said Adeleye did not intend to kill the baby. She added that it was unfortunate the baby died from the incident.

According to her, I did not expect the sentencing. I thought the Embassy of Nigeria should have also added their voice and try to get a light sentencing for her.
Disadvantages of sending modern African grandmothers to Europe and especially America and Canada to do baby sitting business. Very risky. One Madam Esther Ejiofor, a wonderful woman, force fed every child she babysitted. Nobody died. Why? Because she was doing what she learnt that came through generational experience. American based African grandmothers cannot be Madam Esther Ejiofor. Never. Madam Esther was carrying an experience of over 50 yrs in baby sitting.

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Maryland-Nanny-Sentenced-to-Force-Feeding-8-Month-Old-Girl-Until-She-Choked-509437341.html

Costly error... God please intervene for her... Amen

But there ppl will flood other threads to call out other tribes for giving Nigeria a bad name outside. I'm guessing dis is a gud name

Too bad

I hope other African mothers learn from this

A very crazy practice till this day....I can remember seeing my mom and other moms feed their babies this way...it only meant most of us had it by force.

I've never, and will never subscribe to force feeding. Even though it's been working for most people, I still see it as barbaric.

Poor baby.


73+15 =...

Poor grandma. See what she's got to live with.

gosh dis is so sad am filled wit tears d woman is not a killer and Neva wished to do DAT. is normal here I'm Yoruba or African life I know some even hold baby nose. I think 15 years is top much at least dey shd consider her age. moms in d house wat do u think about dis. bukatyne cococandy eyinjuege oyindidi

I have never force fed a child and it disgusts me when i see people do it for whatever reason. We re all impatient, babies needs patience, petting and time.

She was awakened from sleep, a lil petting or song or cuddling would have made the baby eat but no, she has to feed the baby in a minute and go back to her beauty sleep;as if thats what she was paid to do. Same nonsense nannies in creche do.

If you kill my child or grandchild, you gonna pay for it. PERIOD.

Zaynie i emailed you.

A typical case of takig a monkey out of the jungle, but being unable to take the jungle out of the monkey.

It's not her fault, a 15year sentence is an overkill in my opinion.

She deserves to be deported after serving that jail sentence

Wicked woman

ifyalways:


Zaynie i emailed you.

Seen and replied

ifyalways:
I have never force fed a child and it disgusts me when i see people do it for whatever reason. We re all impatient, babies needs patience, petting and time.

She was awakened from sleep, a lil petting or song or cuddling would have made the baby eat but no, she has to feed the baby in a minute and go back to her beauty sleep;as if thats what she was paid to do. Same nonsense nannies in creche do.

If you kill my child or grandchild, you gonna pay for it. PERIOD.

Zaynie i emailed you.

u are lucky cos u now live oyibo lifestyle but I put it to u DAT at least ur grandmum feed ur mom with force. how many times do u hear baby die like DAT in Nigeria? did u know a baby of 3 years can be choke wit normal food too.I read a news a drunk man choke and die on a glass of water so wat are we saying. dat woman is not a killer. oyibo are just racist.a rapist or killer get 10years but dis mama get 15years.