The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has brought charges against Blessing Amaka David-Agwa, a fraudulent fertility nurse, before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court, sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu State.
David-Agwa faces 45 counts of fraudulent impersonation, forgery, and obtaining money under false pretenses amounting to N28,278,600 (Twenty-eight Million, Two Hundred and Seventy-eight Thousand, Six Hundred Naira).
Count 41 states: “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 sum of One Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira (N1,600,000.00) from one Okenwa Joy Chiamaka, under the guise of being a Medical Fertility Nurse (specially trained to help women conceive easily), which pretext you knew to be false, thereby committing 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.”
Count 24 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 sum of One Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N1,250,000.00) from one Amarachi Okpala, under the guise of being a Medical Fertility Nurse (specially trained to help women conceive easily), which pretext you knew to be false, thereby committing 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.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges when they were presented. In light of her pleas, EFCC counsel Blessing N. Obasi requested a trial date and asked that the defendant be remanded at the Enugu State Correctional Facility.
However, defense attorney G. C. Madubuegwu informed the court of a pending bail motion, dated October 4, 2024. “It is filed pursuant to Section 162 and 165 (1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act,” he stated. After presenting the application, he requested bail for the defendant on lenient terms.
Obasi strongly opposed the bail request, citing the gravity of the charges and the mental health impact on the defendant’s victims.
After considering both arguments, Justice Umar adjourned the case to November 12, 2024, for a ruling on the bail application, and the defendant was subsequently remanded at the Enugu State Correctional Facility.
David-Agwa’s legal troubles began on August 28, 2024, when the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) transferred her to the EFCC for investigation and possible prosecution after uncovering her fraudulent claims as a medical fertility nurse, duping unsuspecting victims.
Investigations revealed that she allegedly forged her Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria certificate and her University of Nigeria, Nsukka diploma, using these documents to impersonate a qualified Medical Fertility Nurse, specially trained to assist women in conceiving. It was also discovered that she successfully defrauded over 45 innocent women who fell victim to her deceitful claims.
