A number of Nigerian nurses in the United Kingdom are facing possible deportation amid an ongoing investigation into alleged exam malpractice at a computer-based testing center in Ibadan, Nigeria.
The affected nurses, some of whom are already appealing the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s (NMC) decisions, have received deportation notices after the UK Home Office revoked their visas based on concerns raised by the NMC.
Critics have accused the NMC — the body that regulates nurses and midwives in the UK — of dragging its feet in concluding investigations, which has left many of the nurses in a state of uncertainty, jobless, and without valid immigration status.
Peters Omoragbon, president of Nurses Across The Borders and the Diaspora Nurses Association of Nigeria, accused the NMC of stalling intentionally to weaken the legal footing of the affected nurses.
“There’s reason to believe the NMC is deliberately delaying the appeal process so that these nurses lose their right of abode in the UK,” Omoragbon told Nursing Times. “This strategy could be aimed at avoiding legal battles while making it easier to cancel their visas.”
The controversy stems from an investigation launched in 2023 into alleged proxy testing at the Yunnik Technologies Test Centre in Ibadan. The NMC found irregularities involving 48 already-registered nurses and 669 applicants. It was discovered that some candidates might not have personally taken their computer-based tests (CBT).
As a result, the NMC required affected individuals to retake the CBT and undergo internal reviews. Of the 48 registered nurses involved, 10 have since been removed from the register, two were cleared to remain, while the rest are still under review. Among the 200 applications reviewed, 191 were rejected due to doubts over the applicants’ integrity, and only nine were approved. Seventeen other cases are pending further investigation.
Frustrated by the process, around 50 nurses have initiated legal action, insisting that the decisions to revoke or deny their registration were unjust and premature. Many have also demanded that the NMC engage directly with the Home Office to suspend any removal proceedings until all appeals and investigations are fairly concluded.
Some of the affected nurses have formally written to the NMC, urging it to reconsider its approach, but the council reportedly missed the response deadline, prompting legal escalation.
As the legal battle continues, the nurses say they remain committed to clearing their names and regaining their professional and immigration standing. Advocates are calling on UK authorities to ensure transparency and fairness throughout the process, warning that innocent professionals should not be punished over unproven allegations.
