UK court sentences Nigerian immigrant to 16 weeks in jail for impersonating female nurse

A Chester magistrates’ court has sentenced Lucius Njoku, a Nigerian migrant, to 16 weeks in prison. 

Between February to April 2024, Njoku worked as a healthcare assistant at the Countess of Chester Hospital in Cheshire, UK, under the name of Joyce George, his female friend.

George, his fellow Nigerian national living in Ellesmere Port, worked at the hospital as a nurse. She obtained the job through an outside agency after an interview.

In October, a court heard how the duo exchanged text messages discussing shifts at the Chester hospital after police raided George’s home.

According to the prosecution, Njoku tended to seriously ill patients in the accident and emergency (A&E) unit at the hospital, washing and dressing them, and carrying out observations.

Lisa McGuire, the prosecutor, said George “permitted Njoku to do her shifts under her name”.

“Fortunately, no harm was done and there were no complaints about Njoku’s work. But it is the access which is the serious concern,” McGuire said.

George is believed to have fled to Nigeria after she was charged with fraud. An arrest warrant has been issued for the former agency nurse.

Njoku is a qualified nurse who came to the UK as a student and had no prior convictions, Steven Alis, his solicitor, said.

However, Alis admitted that “safeguarding checks had not come through” during the period he was working at the hospital, saying it was “surprising” that Njoku’s presence had “not been picked up by management”.

The lawyer added that Njoku had run into financial issues, hence his agreement with George.

Njoku was nabbed by a patient who questioned his identity.

During the time the 33-year-old worked at the hospital, he wore George’s NHS badge which had a clear photograph.

“My name is Joyce but I am a man,” he said when the patient confronted him.

Njoku admitted a charge of fraud by false representation in court.

Delivering judgment last Thursday, John McGarva, district judge, handed him a 16-week prison sentence, 12-month suspension, and a completion of 80 hours of unpaid work. He was also made to pay £239 in costs and surcharge.

Njoku is a dependent on his wife’s work visa. His wife is a healthcare worker who came to the UK as a dependent on his original visa.

It is unclear if he will be deported.

His solicitor told the court he is now fully qualified to work in the care sector but works at Vauxhalls, a British automotive brand, instead.