A Chester Magistrates’ Court in the United Kingdom has sentenced a Nigerian migrant, Lucius Njoku, to 16 weeks in prison for impersonating a female nurse and working under her identity at the Countess of Chester Hospital in Cheshire.
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The court heard that between February and April 2024, Njoku, 33, worked in the hospital’s Accident and Emergency (A&E) department using the identity of his friend and fellow Nigerian, Joyce George, who is a registered nurse living in Ellesmere Port.
Prosecutors said George, who secured the job through an agency, knowingly allowed Njoku to perform her hospital shifts using her credentials. During that period, Njoku reportedly attended to critically ill patients, assisting with washing, dressing, and monitoring them.
Prosecutor Lisa McGuire told the court that although no patients were harmed and no complaints were recorded, the impersonation raised serious concerns about access control and public safety.
“Fortunately, no harm was done and there were no complaints about Njoku’s work. But it is the access which is the serious concern,” she said.
The deception was uncovered when a patient questioned Njoku’s identity after noticing he was male despite wearing an NHS badge with George’s name and photograph. Njoku allegedly responded, “My name is Joyce — but I am a man.”
Following the incident, hospital authorities reviewed CCTV footage confirming Njoku had worked several shifts under George’s name. Police later raided George’s home and found messages between her and Njoku discussing shift schedules.
George has since been charged with fraud but reportedly fled to Nigeria, prompting the court to issue a warrant for her arrest.
Njoku, a qualified nurse who came to the UK as a student, pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation. His lawyer, Steven Alis, told the court his client took the job out of financial hardship while waiting for his own safeguarding clearance.
“He did have the qualifications but his safeguarding checks had not come through. It is perhaps surprising management did not pick up the impersonation,” Alis said.
Delivering judgment, District Judge John McGarva condemned Njoku’s actions for undermining the UK’s Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and other safeguarding systems.
“You deceived your way into a job which requires safeguarding checks and bypassed those checks. That undermines the DBS and safeguarding system,” the judge said.
While acknowledging that Njoku was qualified and performed his duties without complaint, the judge emphasized the seriousness of the deception.
Njoku was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid community service. He was also directed to pay £239 in costs and surcharge.
He currently works at Vauxhall and resides in the UK as a dependent on his wife’s work visa. It remains unclear whether UK immigration authorities will initiate deportation proceedings against him.
The Countess of Chester Hospital the same facility where convicted nurse Lucy Letby once worked has since strengthened internal checks following the revelation.
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