Nigerian nurse handed suspended sentence after using false identity to work for the NHS

NIGERIAN migrant Lucius Njoku has been handed a 16 week suspended prison sentence by a British high court for impersonating a compatriot and using her details to work in a national health Service (NHS) hospital.

In what is believed to be the first such incident of its kind involving Nigerians in the UK, Mr Njoku, 33, used the personal details of his female friend Joyce George, to gain employment. He worked several shifts over two months as a healthcare assistant at the accident and emergency department of the Countess of Chester Hospital in Cheshire.

Despite wearing Ms George’s NHS name badge, which had her photograph, Mr George was reportedly able to work undetected for weeks. However, the hospital discovered Mr Njoku’s deception after a patient confronted him about his identity and action was then taken.

Hospital staff then reviewed CCTV footage, which confirmed Mr Njoku had worked multiple shifts at the facility. According to investigations, Ms George, also a Nigerian national, had obtained her nursing job through an outside agency following a successful interview but between February and April 2024, she allowed Mr Njoku to do her shifts under her name.

Police officers later raided Ms George’s home, where they found Mr Njoku. Prosecutors told the court that phones seized from both of them showed communication between them about work patterns.

At Chester Magistrates’ Court, Mr Njoku, who lives with his NHS worker wife, admitted fraud by false representation. He was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months and ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work. He was also told to pay £239 in costs and surcharge.