Fake fertility nurse denied bail in N28.2m fraud case

Stanley Ihedigbo

Alleged fake fertility nurse Blessing Amaka David-Agwa has been denied bail by Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court in Enugu, Enugu State.

David-Agwa is facing a 45-count charge bordering on impersonation, forgery, and obtaining by false pretence, totaling N28,278,600.

According to the Head, Media and Publicity, Economics Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Dele Oyewale, Blessing Amaka David-Agwa is being prosecuted by the Commission, on a 45-count charge bordering on impersonation, forgery and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N28, 278, 600.

The defendant is alleged to have forged the certificate of Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and the Certificate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and used the same in parading herself as a fertility Nurse, specially trained to assist women in getting pregnant with ease. Investigations revealed that the defendant allegedly defrauded 45 innocent women who fell for her false claims.

The defendant was arraigned on October 22, 2024, and she pleaded not guilty, setting the stage for her trial. However, the defence counsel, G. C. Madubuegwu made a bail application which he said was “brought under Section 162 and 165 (1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act”. He prayed the court to grant his client bail on liberal terms.

Opposing the said application, counsel to the EFCC, Blessing N. Obasi, reminded the Court that the allegation against the defendant was a weighty one which has adversely affected the mental health of the victims.

The matter was thereafter adjourned for a ruling on the bail application.

Delivering ruling on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, Justice Umar stated that the defence “did not place before the court sufficient materials to grant bail in favour of the defendant. The bail application is hereby rejected. I hereby order for accelerated hearing”.

The matter was adjourned to November 21, 2024 for trial.

Count 41 of the charge reads: “That you, Blessing Amaka David-Agwa, sometime in 2024 in Enugu, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria with intent to defraud, did obtain the total sum of N1 600, 000. 00 only from one Okenwa Joy Chiamaka, under the pretence of being a Medical Fertility Nurse (Specially trained to assist women to get pregnant with ease) which pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”.

Count 24 of the charge reads: “That you, Blessing Amaka David-Agwa, sometime in 2024 in Enugu, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria with intent to defraud, did obtain the total sum of N1 250 000. 00 only, from one Amarachi Okpala, under the pretence of being a Medical Fertility Nurse (Specially trained to assist women to get pregnant with ease) which pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act