By Grâçia Ada Obi
A Nigerian healthcare assistant, Adewale Kudabo, has been sentenced to one year in prison for sexually assaulting a vulnerable patient at York Hospital, UK.
Adewale Kudabo worked as a healthcare worker at York Hospital when the crime occurred, Henry Fernnandes charged him.
The 47-year-old, formerly employed by the York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault, sparking outrage and raising concerns about patient safety.
On June 10, 2025, Judge Alex Menary sentenced Kudabo, stating he “abused the trust” placed in him as a healthcare worker. Kudabo, who moved from Nigeria to the UK for work, expressed remorse, but the court deemed his actions a serious breach of ethics, warranting immediate imprisonment. He must serve half the sentence before being eligible for release.
Judge Alex Menary said Kudabo “abused the trust” he placed on him as a medical professional.
The NHS Foundation Trust, Teaching Hospitals in York and Scarborough, runs York Hospital, provided “honest apology” to the victims, adding that Kudabo quit his job at the hospital shortly after the crime.
Fernnandez said the 47-year-old Kudabo was assigned to bathe patients who are experiencing a lot of pain.
He stated that the crime had no connection to bathing, but what happened afterwards.
When the patient was finished bathing, Fernnandez said Kudabo leaned over and kissed her lips.
The victim was able to move away slightly despite considerable pain, but could not avoid the kiss, Fernandez said.
She was left in a state of confusion and felt uncomfortable with the incident, he added.
A few days after the incident, Fernnandez said Kudabo asked the victim if he wanted another “bed bath” and tried to kiss her again.
The victim “took to escape,” Fernnandez said, but Kudabo couldn’t avoid kissing her on the lips a second time.
He said the victim later reported the incident to police.
The court heard that the crime led to the victim suffering from anxiety and experiencing flashbacks to what happened in the hospital with Kudabo.
Judge Menary said the victim “put his trust” in Kudabo and “you abused that trust.”
He said he was jailed on Tuesday (June 10) for a year and must serve half of his sentence before he is eligible for release.
The judge said the seriousness of the crime means that only immediate prison sentences are appropriate.
Defending Jerry Sodipe said Kudabo, who had no previous beliefs, had shown repentance for his actions.
Kudabo, of Count De Burg Terrace in Southbank, York, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault on the first day of his trial in April.
“He raised his hand to say he was guilty. He shouldn’t have done it,” the defense attorney said.
Sodipe said Kudabo was “moved by sympathy” because of the pain the victim experienced, and thought he was kissing her to show her comfort.
However, Sodipe said Kudabo accepted that his actions were “inappropriate and unacceptable.”
A spokesman for the NHS Foundation Trust in Teaching Hospitals, York and Scarborough, said:
“Patients should always be safe and respected while they are caring for, and we deeply regret that this was not the case.”
“We acted quickly and decisively, and the individuals involved left their employment soon afterwards.
The Trust apologized, stating, “We deeply regret this incident. The individual left our employment soon after.” Kudabo’s actions contrast sharply with the International Council of Nurses’ 2025 Helsinki Communiqué, which emphasizes “culturally safe, people-centred care” and ethical standards.
This case underscores the need for robust safeguarding, ethical training, and accountability in healthcare. Nurses are urged to advocate for patient safety and uphold professional integrity, aligning with the ICN’s call for stronger regulations and protections.
