The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Blessing Amaka David-Agwa, a fake fertility nurse, before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court in Enugu.
David-Agwa faces 45 charges, including fraudulent impersonation, forgery, and obtaining money by false pretence, amounting to N28,278,600 (Twenty-eight Million, Two Hundred and Seventy-eight Thousand, Six Hundred Naira).
One of the charges, Count 41, states: “That you, Blessing Amaka David-Agwa sometime in 2024 in Enugu, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria with intent to defraud, did obtain the total sum of One Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira (N1,600,000.00) only from one Okenwa Joy Chiamaka, under the pretence of being a Medical Fertility Nurse (Specially trained to assist women get pregnant with ease) which pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.”
Another charge, Count 24, details how David-Agwa fraudulently obtained N1,250,000 from Amarachi Okpala by pretending to be a specialized fertility nurse, which she knew was false.
David-Agwa pleaded not guilty to all 45 counts. In response, the EFCC counsel, Blessing N. Obasi, requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in the Enugu State Correctional Facility. However, the defense counsel, G. C. Madubuegwu, filed a motion for bail on October 4, 2024, and argued for her release on liberal terms.
Opposing the bail, Obasi argued that the allegations were serious, citing the psychological impact on the victims, many of whom were vulnerable women seeking help with fertility.
After hearing both arguments, Justice Umar adjourned the case to November 12, 2024, to rule on the bail application. In the meantime, David-Agwa was remanded in custody.
David-Agwa’s criminal activities came to light on August 28, 2024, when the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) handed her over to the EFCC for investigation.
The EFCC discovered that she had been posing as a fertility nurse, using forged certificates from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Her fraudulent actions had reportedly duped over 45 women who believed her false claims of being able to help them conceive.
This case highlights the devastating impact of fraudulent medical claims and the EFCC’s ongoing efforts to crack down on such offenses.