LONDON (FN) — A Nigerian man who posed as a female nurse to work at a British hospital has been handed a suspended prison sentence after admitting to fraud.
Lucius Njoku, 33, used the identity of his friend, Joyce George, to work multiple shifts as a healthcare assistant at the Countess of Chester Hospital in Cheshire, England, between February and April 2024. Despite wearing George’s NHS name badge — which featured her photograph — Njoku remained undetected for weeks until a patient confronted him about his identity.
“My name is Joyce — but I am a man,” Njoku reportedly replied, according to the Telegraph UK. Hospital staff later reviewed CCTV footage, confirming he had worked several shifts under the false identity.
Investigators found that George, 32, also a Nigerian national, had secured her nursing role through an external agency. She allegedly allowed Njoku to work her shifts, though it remains unclear how he obtained an NHS uniform.
Police raided George’s residence and found Njoku there. Prosecutors said phones seized from both individuals revealed communications about work schedules. George has since fled the United Kingdom and is believed to have returned to Nigeria. A warrant has been issued for her arrest.
Njoku, who lives separately with his wife — an NHS employee — pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation at Chester Magistrates’ Court. He was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work. He must also pay 239Euros in costs and a victim surcharge.
It is unclear whether Njoku will face deportation, as he is listed as a dependant on his wife’s work visa.
Prosecutor Lisa McGuire told the court that both suspects initially refused to comment during police interviews. “Njoku normally worked as Joyce George, and Joyce George allowed this to happen,” she said.
Njoku’s solicitor, Steven Alis, said his client had no prior convictions and originally came to the UK as a student. “There was a financial issue, and while sorting it out, he obtained work under Miss George’s name,” Alis said. “It is perhaps surprising it was not picked up by management.”
District Judge Jack McGarva acknowledged that Njoku was qualified and performed the job without complaint but emphasized the seriousness of bypassing safeguarding checks. “You deceived your way into a job which requires safeguarding checks and you bypassed those checks,” McGarva said. “That undermines the DBS and safeguarding system.”
The judge noted that Njoku did not pose a specific risk and had no criminal history but warned that such fraud could erode public trust in healthcare screening protocols.
