US charges 18 Nigerian nurses, takes others to court for fake certificates

US charges 18 Nigerian nurses, takes others to court for fake certificates

The Texas Board of Nursing has accused 23 currently working nurses in the United States of having false certifications.

The identities of the accused are listed in a statement that the Board published on its website.
18 of the 23 nurses who are charged are thought to be of Nigerian ethnicity.

The Board claims that a current investigation has shown that all of the suspects were complicit in a large-scale fraud conspiracy involving the purchase of fake nursing degree diplomas and transcripts.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General is a participant in the multi-state coordinated law enforcement operation known as “Operation Nightingale,” which involves this strategy (HHS-OIG).

On January 25, 2023, the operation got under way with the intention of apprehending people involved in the sale of phony and fraudulent nursing qualifications.

The Nigerian citizens involved in the plan are Yetunde Felicia Abiodun, Adelakun, Abiodun Aveez, Adelekan, Joseph Adewale, Adeoye, Vivien Temitope, Modinat Abidemi Adewale, Olufemi Toun, Omowunmi F, Agbo, Odumegwu Steve, and Charlot Omotayo Ajibade.

The others are Akhigbe, Catherine, Akinrolabu, Folasade Margaret, Ako, Esiri Rachael, Akpan, Rosemary Moses, Alimi, Bukola A, Ani, Ndirika Justina, Aroh, Nchekwube C., and Sherifat Olubunmi Ayodeji.

In order to take the national nursing board exam, these people obtained phony nursing qualifications, according to the Texas Board of Nursing, which made this clear.

The following nurses have been officially charged for gaining educational certificates falsely, according to the statement.
If there is reason to believe that a nurse has broken one of the laws listed in Tex. Occ. Code 301.452(b) or another statute, the Board may pursue formal charges against the nurse.
See Texas Occupations Code 301.458.

Moreover, Formal Charges are accessible to the public.
See Texas Occupations Code 301.466. (b).
Please be aware that formal charges are not the end of a nurse’s employment; a nurse may continue to practice while formal charges are being considered.
The Board will keep updating this list as new information about the fake diploma/transcript scheme comes to light.

Abanda, Jacob Atambili; Addai, Agnes Fosuah; Anaaba, Awingrug Musah; Anthony-Annor and Spendilove; and Asanga, Albert Nshanui are other nurses included in the scandal.