A Nigerian nanny murdered a baby by force-feeding her half a pint of milk in less than 30 seconds – allegedly because her crying woke the woman from a nap.
Oluremi Adeleye had been trusted with looking after eight-month-old Enita Salubi in Maryland. But the 73-year-old was captured on a nanny cam taking the teat off a bottle as she forced the child to guzzle down the formula in October 2016.
Prosecutors say the carer performed the sickening punishment after the baby’s crying woke her from a nap, according to the Washington Post.
Enita could be seen struggling as Adeleye tipped the contents of a nearly full bottle into her mouth – drowning her with the milk. The toddler then collapsed before Adeleye picked her up – and even tried to force her to drink another bottle.
Prosecuting attorney Artemis Moutsatsos told Prince George’s County Circuit Court: “She was getting her to shut up by pouring down the milk.”
In the harrowing footage, played in court, baby Enita could then be seen going limp as Adeleye tried to rouse her.
Adeleye called the toddler’s dad who called 911 as he raced home. The nanny then lied to detectives about removing the teat from the bottle.
She only changed her story when police told her there was video of the incident. Adeleye was convicted on Monday of child abuse and second-degree murder.
Judge Karen Mason said the nanny’s lying to cops “demonstrates a consciousness of guilt” – and said her actions were “cruel and inhumane”.
Adeleye also “disregarded any signs of any distress” the child showed as she flailed her arms and legs while being fed.
The nanny’s lawyer Douglas Wood argued the death was a “tragic accident” and that Adeleye had only “wanted to make sure the baby was healthy and the baby was well fed.”
Nigerian-born Adeleye, a mum of five and grandmother of 10, said through an interpreter: “I did what I needed to do to make sure the baby had food in the stomach.”
But paramedics testified that milk was pouring out of the baby’s mouth and nose as they performed CPR.
Recalling the day Enita died, her dad Influence Salubi told the court: “You left home with a live baby and come home with a dead baby.
“It’s not something I can forget.”
Nikia Porter, the baby’s mum, described her child as their “beauty” and said she is sorely missed.
Adeleye faces up to 70 years in prison when she is sentenced on 3 May.