Several Nigerian nurses in the United Kingdom are facing deportation following an ongoing investigation into alleged fraud at a testing center in Ibadan.
Despite awaiting the outcome of their appeals, many have received notices to leave the country after the UK’s Home Office revoked their visas based on concerns raised by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
The NMC, responsible for regulating nursing standards in the UK, has come under criticism for alleged delays in resolving cases linked to the fraud investigation.
Campaigners and advocates argue that these delays are unfairly putting nurses at risk of deportation before their appeals are concluded.
Peters Omoragbon, president of Nurses Across The Borders and the Diaspora Nurses Association of Nigeria, accused the NMC of deliberately stalling appeal hearings.
He suggested that the delays might be a strategy to avoid legal battles, making it easier to revoke the nurses’ residency rights.
“The NMC could be accused of deliberate delay so that these nurses lose their rights of abode in the UK,” he told Nursing Times.
The fraud allegations stem from an investigation into the Yunnik Technologies Test Centre in Ibadan, where proxy testing was suspected. The NMC launched the probe in 2023, uncovering irregularities affecting 48 registered nurses and 669 applicants.
Evidence suggested that some candidates had their computer-based test (CBT) completed by others on their behalf.
As a result, the NMC required affected individuals to retake the CBT and reviewed cases through its investigative process.
So far, 10 of the 48 accused nurses have been removed from the register, while two were allowed to remain. Out of 200 reviewed applications, 191 were rejected due to concerns about applicants’ integrity, with only nine accepted after satisfactory explanations.
Seventeen applications remain under review as investigations continue.
In response to the deportation notices, around 50 affected nurses have taken legal action, arguing that their registrations were unfairly revoked or denied. Many have lost their jobs and faced visa cancellations while waiting for a resolution.
Some have formally challenged the NMC, demanding it engage with the Home Office to prevent deportations and reassess their deregistration cases.
The NMC missed a deadline to respond to these demands, prompting nurses to escalate legal proceedings. As the situation unfolds, affected nurses continue their fight for fair treatment while seeking clarity on their professional and immigration status.