The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned a woman, Blessing David-Agwa, accused of posing as a fertility nurse and defrauding unsuspecting victims.
She appeared before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar at the Federal High Court in Independence Layout, Enugu State.
In a statement shared on Wednesday via X.com, the EFCC revealed that David-Agwa was handed over to the agency by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on August 28, following the discovery of her fraudulent activities.
She had been presenting herself as a medical fertility nurse and deceiving women seeking help with fertility issues.
Investigations by the EFCC revealed that the defendant had allegedly forged certificates from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Using these fake credentials, she falsely claimed to be specially trained in assisting women with fertility treatments.
The EFCC reported that David-Agwa had successfully defrauded over 45 women, collecting a total of N28,278,600 through her false claims.
The defendant was arraigned on 45 charges, including fraudulent impersonation, forgery, and obtaining money under false pretenses.
The statement read, “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 defendant was said to have pleaded not guilty to all counts when they were read to her.
In view of her pleas, counsel to the EFCC, Blessing Obasi, reportedly prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded at the Enugu State Correctional Facility.
The statement added, “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, Justice Umar reportedly adjourned the matter to November 12, 2024, for a ruling on the bail application.
