The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned one Blessing David-Agwa, who camouflaged as a fertility nurse, before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu State.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission made this known to the public in a statement on their official X.com handle today, Wednesday, the 23rd of October, 2024.
The statement stated that David-Agwa’s criminal issues began on August 28 when the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency arrested and handed her over to the anti-graft agency for investigation and prosecution after discovering that she had presented herself as a medical fertility nurse, thereby defrauding unsuspecting victims that came to her as patients.
Investigations into the case shows that the defendant allegedly forged certificates from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and used them to falsely portray herself as a medical fertility nurse, specifically trained to assist women that are barren in getting pregnant.
EFCC also got to know that the defendant had successfully defrauded over 45 innocent women who fell to her fake claims.
The statement tells that the defendant was arraigned on 45 counts of charges bordering on fraudulent impersonation, forgery, and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N28,278,600.
“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 One Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira (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 One Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N1,250,000.00) 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 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.” the statement read.
The defendant refuted charges leveled against her and was said to have pleaded not guilty when they were read to her.
The counsel to the EFCC, Blessing Obasi, when delivering her judgement, reportedly prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded at the Enugu State Correctional Facility.
The statement added that: “However, the defence counsel, G. C. Madubuegwu, informed the court about a pending motion on notice for bail, dated 4th October 2024, and filed on the same date. ‘It is brought pursuant to Section 162 and 165(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act,’ he said. After moving the said application, he prayed the court to grant the defendant bail on liberal terms.
“Obasi vehemently opposed the application for bail on the grounds that the allegation against the defendant was a serious one, citing the mental health impact on the victims.”
After listening to both sides during the panel session, Justice Umar reportedly adjourned the matter to November 12, 2024, for a ruling on the bail application.
The defendant was thereafter remanded at the Enugu State Correctional Facility till the adjourned date for sitting in Court.
