Exam Fraud: UK Orders Deportation Of Nigerian Nurses

Several Nigerian nurses working in the United Kingdom (UK) have been asked to leave the country after being linked to an alleged fraud case at a testing center in Ibadan.

Even though some of them are still waiting for the results of their appeals, their visas have been revoked, and they face deportation as early as next week.

The UK’s Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), responsible for regulating nurses, has been criticized for delaying its investigations into the fraud allegations. Campaigners argue that these delays could lead to unfair deportations before the affected nurses have the chance to defend themselves.

Peters Omoragbon, the executive president of Nurses Across The Borders and the president of the Diaspora Nurses Association of Nigeria, accused the NMC of intentionally stalling the appeal process. He stated, “That saves them the troubles of trying to prove or trying to litigate. The NMC could be accused of deliberate delay, so that these nurses could lose their rights of abode here in the UK.”

Reports suggest that nearly 2,000 nurses were linked to fraudulent activities at the Ibadan testing center. Around 50 nurses have taken legal action, claiming their registrations were unfairly revoked or their applications were denied. Many have lost their jobs and had their visas canceled while awaiting the outcome of their hearings.

Some of these nurses have sent a formal legal letter to the NMC, urging it to work with the Home Office to prevent deportations and review cases of deregistration. However, the NMC missed the deadline to respond, forcing the nurses to escalate legal action.

The NMC began investigating the alleged fraud at the Yunnik Technologies Test Centre in Ibadan in 2023. The case involved 48 registered nurses and 669 applicants. Evidence showed that proxy testing had taken place, meaning that some candidates had their exams completed by others.

As a result, the NMC required affected candidates to retake the test and reviewed cases through its investigating committee. So far, 10 of the 48 accused nurses have been removed from the register, while two were cleared. Out of 200 applications reviewed, 191 were rejected over character concerns, while nine were approved after satisfactory responses.

The investigation is ongoing, with 17 applications still under review. Authorities insist these measures are necessary to uphold the integrity of the registration process and prevent fraudulent practices.
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