Nigerian care worker arrested in California for alleged sexual abuse of nursing home patients
A Nigerian‑born certified nursing assistant, Kayode Agbolade Ogunba, has been arrested in the United States and charged with multiple felony counts over the alleged sexual abuse of elderly patients at a care facility in California, authorities said.
Kayode Agbolade Ogunba, 61, of Los Angeles County, was taken into custody on January 20, 2026, after a months‑long investigation by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office into reports that patients were sexually assaulted while under his care at a nursing home in Goleta, a community north of Santa Barbara.
The probe began on November 3, 2025, when staff at the care home reported that two patients had allegedly been sexually abused by Ogunba while he was working as a certified nursing assistant (CNA).
Detectives later learned that similar allegations involving Ogunba had previously surfaced in the Los Angeles area, and they believe he may have worked in other states, including Washington and Texas, over the past several years.
Ogunba was arrested in the Los Angeles area on a Santa Barbara County warrant and booked into the Santa Barbara County Main Jail. He is being held on $100,000 bail and faces several serious charges, including:
Sexual penetration involving a dependent adult
Lewd or lascivious acts by a caretaker against a dependent person involving force
Elder abuse
A misdemeanour count of sexual battery of a dependent adult
Investigators also indicated that Ogunba may have used the name “Kay” in both professional and personal settings.
Detectives have released his booking photo and are urging anyone with further information or who believes they may have been victimised to come forward and contact law enforcement, as the sheriff’s office continues to review the case.
Vulnerable Populations and Elder Abuse Laws
Abuse of elders and dependent adults, including sexual assault by caregivers, is a serious criminal offence in California.
Under state law, those responsible for the care of vulnerable adults are held to strict standards, and violations such as physical or sexual abuse, neglect, and exploitation can result in felony prosecution.
California’s Department of Justice, through its Division of Medi‑Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse, works to investigate and prosecute these crimes, which include acts committed by facility staff on residents who are unable to protect themselves.
Ogunba’s arrest underscores ongoing concerns about the safety of residents in long‑term care facilities and reinforces calls for stronger screening, training and oversight of nursing home personnel. The case is now pending in the Santa Barbara County criminal justice system.
Read Also: US-based Nigerian man nabbed for bonking male prisoners
