UK Orders Nigerian Nurses Under Exam Fraud Probe to Leave

Several Nigerian nurses under investigation for alleged exam fraud at a UK test center have been ordered to leave the country, even as their appeals remain pending, Nursing Times reports.

According to letters from the UK Home Office, some affected nurses must depart as early as next week after their visas were revoked following allegations by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

The controversy stems from a 2023 NMC probe into Yunnik Technologies Test Centre in Ibadan, Nigeria, where data anomalies raised concerns that some nurses may have fraudulently obtained their Computer-Based Test (CBT) results, a crucial requirement for international nurse registration in the UK. The NMC identified 48 registered nurses and 669 applicants as potentially involved in the irregularities.

In response, affected individuals were required to re-sit the CBT, while those suspected of fraud had to provide additional proof. The NMC’s Investigating Committee (IC) reviewed cases for registered nurses, while new applicants’ files were assessed by an assistant registrar (AR). So far, 10 nurses have been removed from the register, while two were allowed to remain. Out of 200 applications reviewed, 191 were rejected on character grounds, with only nine accepted.

Criticism has mounted over the NMC’s handling of the process, with advocacy groups accusing the regulator of delaying hearings to enable deportations. Pastor Peters Omoragbon, president of Nurses Across The Borders, argued that the prolonged process disadvantaged affected nurses. The NMC has denied these claims, stating it is working to resolve cases efficiently.

Legal representatives, including Broad Street Solicitors, have challenged the deportation orders, filing a pre-action protocol letter urging the NMC to engage with the Home Office to halt removals until appeals are concluded. The call follows a successful appeal by one nurse, known as Nurse D, whose case was overturned after she demonstrated her clinical expertise and exam preparation.

Despite this, the NMC maintains that statistical anomalies justify its investigation, asserting that each case is assessed individually. The regulator has also contacted the Home Office for further details but has refrained from commenting on ongoing legal matters.

Lesley Maslen, the NMC’s executive director of professional regulation, acknowledged the distress caused but emphasized the need to uphold professional standards. “We know it’s in everyone’s best interests for hearings to be held as swiftly and safely as possible,” she stated, assuring that efforts are ongoing to expedite the process.