The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a woman posing as a fertility nurse, Blessing Amaka David-Agwa, over a multi-million naira fraud.
David-Agwa, a fake medical professional, allegedly defrauded over 45 women who were seeking assistance to conceive. She is facing 45 charges of fraudulent impersonation, forgery, and obtaining money under false pretenses, with the total sum of money involved reaching N28.2 million.
The EFCC revealed that David-Agwa posed as a fertility nurse and convinced many women that she could help them get pregnant easily. Her victims, believing her false claims, paid large sums of money, hoping for the assistance she promised.
The trial began with the EFCC presenting the charges against David-Agwa at the Federal High Court in Enugu.
One of the charges, labeled Count 41, involved her collecting N1.6 million from Okenwa Joy Chiamaka, under the pretense of providing fertility treatment. Another charge, Count 24, accused her of fraudulently obtaining N1.25 million from Amarachi Okpala, promising similar services. These were just two out of the 45 charges brought against her.
David-Agwa stood before the court and pleaded not guilty to all the charges read against her.
Following her plea, the EFCC counsel, Blessing N. Obasi, requested that the defendant be remanded in custody and set a trial date. The EFCC has urged the court to move quickly with the trial to ensure justice is served for the victims.
Justice Mohammed Garba Umar, who presided over the case, agreed to remand David-Agwa at the Enugu State Correctional Facility. He also scheduled the next hearing for November 12, 2024, during which he will rule on her bail application.
David-Agwa’s lawyer, G. C. Madubuegwu, filed a bail application immediately, arguing that the accused should be granted bail while awaiting trial. However, the EFCC counsel opposed this, pointing out the seriousness of the charges and the potential risk that the defendant could interfere with ongoing investigations or flee the country.
The court will decide on the bail application in the next hearing, leaving David-Agwa in custody for the time being. Her lawyer has expressed hope that the court will be lenient, but the EFCC remains firm in its opposition to granting bail.
The case of David-Agwa came to light in August 2024, when the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested her. The NDLEA initially picked her up for impersonating a fertility nurse and later discovered the full extent of her fraudulent activities.
According to reports, the NDLEA became suspicious when David-Agwa was caught with forged certificates from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. She had also forged documents from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, claiming to be a qualified nurse specializing in fertility treatments.
Upon discovering her fraudulent activities, the NDLEA handed her over to the EFCC on August 28, 2024, which immediately launched a more in-depth investigation into her scams.
Investigations by the EFCC revealed that David-Agwa had been operating her fraudulent scheme for several years. She allegedly targeted women struggling with fertility issues, offering them treatments she falsely claimed would boost their chances of getting pregnant.
The victims believed that they were dealing with a licensed medical professional. They paid large sums, ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of naira, expecting to receive specialized treatments. However, it was later discovered that David-Agwa had no medical qualifications whatsoever.
In addition to forging certificates from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, she also faked her qualifications from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, leading victims to trust her services.
The EFCC has promised to bring more scammers like David-Agwa to justice. The Commission’s spokesperson stated that this case is just one of many fraud-related crimes the EFCC is currently investigating.
“The public should be aware that fraudsters are out there, especially those who prey on people’s vulnerabilities. The EFCC will continue to crack down on anyone engaging in these illegal activities,” the spokesperson said.
