Nigerian nurses embroiled in a fraud investigation have been ordered to leave the UK, even as their appeal hearings remain pending, according to Nursing Times.
Several affected nurses received official notices from the Home Office instructing them to depart as early as March 17 following the revocation of their visas.
This development follows an investigation by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) into alleged fraud at the Yunnik Technologies Test Centre in Ibadan, Nigeria, where proxy testing was reportedly conducted for the UK’s nursing competency exam.
Nearly 2,000 Nigerian nurses were impacted by the NMC probe, which flagged irregularities in the computer-based test (CBT) results from the Pearson VUE-run centre. Some nurses have been dismissed from their jobs and removed from the register, prompting legal challenges against the NMC.
A group of 50 nurses, represented by Broad Street Solicitors and backed by Nurses Across The Borders, previously served the NMC with a pre-action protocol letter in February, urging intervention to prevent deportations before appeals were concluded. However, the NMC failed to respond within the deadline, escalating the legal standoff.
The affected nurses claim the NMC has deliberately delayed their hearings—a claim the regulator denies, stating it is working to conclude proceedings swiftly. So far, 12 of the 48 accused registrants have faced hearings, with 10 removed from the register while two were cleared.
For those seeking to join the register, the assistant registrar has rejected 191 applications over character concerns, with only nine approvals granted. At least 17 cases remain under review.
Nursing Times reports that Pastor Peters Omoragbon, executive president of Nurses Across The Borders and president of the Diaspora Nurses Association of Nigeria, has accused the NMC of stalling appeal hearings, allowing the Home Office to issue removal notices.
Omoragbon stated, “That saves them the troubles of trying to prove or litigate. The NMC could be accused of deliberate delay so that these nurses lose their rights of abode in the UK.”
An NMC spokesperson denied any intentional delays, emphasizing that the regulator is working with all parties to schedule hearings efficiently. “Our priority is to maintain the integrity of the register, and it is in everyone’s best interests for hearings to be held as swiftly and safely as possible.”
Meanwhile, Broad Street Solicitors highlighted a recent appeal victory for one of its clients, asserting that the case’s circumstances were materially similar to those of other nurses it represents. The firm insists that the appeal ruling should be consistently applied across all comparable cases.
The NMC had previously concluded that Nurse D, who remains anonymous, fraudulently obtained her CBT and referred her case to the Appeal Review (AR), citing an implausibly short test completion time. However, Nurse D maintained that her extensive preparation, the test’s simplicity, and her 12 years of nursing experience enabled her to finish quickly.
Despite her explanations, the AR initially ruled her test time unexplained and deemed her unfit for registration. However, in December 2024, Nurse D successfully appealed.
During the hearing, she presented evidence of her rigorous study routine, including four-and-a-half months of preparation, extensive study guide use, and practice with hundreds of sample questions. The panel accepted that 70% of the exam questions matched those she had studied for and acknowledged her high level of clinical experience and numeracy skills.
As a result, the panel deemed her explanation credible, overturned the NMC’s decision, and directed the registrar to admit her to the register. Broad Street Solicitors has since urged the NMC to apply the same reasoning to all affected nurses.
When asked whether Nurse D’s case would influence upcoming hearings, the NMC maintained that while it considers all panel decisions, individual cases are assessed separately. The regulator reiterated that its investigation identified patterns of rapid test completion and proxy testing, necessitating independent case evaluations.
Broad Street Solicitors has issued several demands to the NMC, including expediting all appeal processes, reinstating removed nurses during their appeals, and coordinating with the Home Office to prevent deportations. The firm also demanded a justification if the NMC refuses to reinstate nurses despite Nurse D’s successful appeal, warning that failure to act within 14 days would result in judicial review proceedings.
In response, the NMC stated it could not comment on ongoing legal matters but confirmed it had sought further information from the Home Office. The regulator reaffirmed its commitment to resolving cases swiftly and collaborating with all parties to schedule hearings at the earliest opportunity.
Lesley Maslen, the NMC’s executive director of professional regulation, acknowledged the distress caused by regulatory actions, stating, “We are determined to minimize that distress while ensuring public safety. Independent panels must consider each case individually, but we remain focused on resolving these cases as swiftly and fairly as possible.”
Source: Swifteradio.com
