LONDON, UK – Several Nigerian nurses in the United Kingdom are facing deportation after the UK Home Office revoked their visas due to an ongoing investigation into alleged examination fraud.
The affected nurses, who are still waiting for the outcomes of their appeals, have received official letters instructing them to leave the UK starting next week, according to reports from Nursing Times.
Background of the Investigation
The controversy stems from an inquiry launched by the UK’s Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) in 2023 after discovering irregularities in the computer-based test (CBT) required for foreign-trained nurses to register in the UK. The NMC’s investigation focused on Yunnik Technologies Test Centre in Ibadan, Nigeria, where suspicious data patterns were detected.
Following the probe, the NMC determined that 48 registered nurses and 669 applicants might have obtained their test results fraudulently. As a result, it declared all test results from the Yunnik centre invalid.
Legal Battle and Delays
The affected nurses were set to have their cases reviewed by an independent panel to determine whether they were complicit in exam malpractice. However, delays in hearings prompted around 50 of them to take legal action.
In February 2025, they issued a pre-action protocol letter to the NMC, accusing the body of deliberately stalling their cases. They also appealed to the NMC and Home Office to allow them to remain in the UK while their cases were under review.
Despite these efforts, the Home Office has now moved to enforce their departure, leaving the nurses in a difficult position as they continue to fight to clear their names.
Concerns Over Due Process
The situation has raised concerns over whether all affected nurses were directly involved in the alleged fraud or if some were mistakenly implicated. Legal experts and human rights advocates argue that the decision to revoke visas before the completion of investigations undermines the nurses’ right to due process.
“These individuals have a right to a fair hearing before being removed from the UK,” said a legal analyst familiar with the case. “Rushing to deport them before concluding investigations raises serious questions about fairness.”
Impact on the Nursing Sector
The case has also sparked discussions about the implications for the UK’s healthcare sector, which heavily relies on foreign-trained nurses to fill staffing shortages. Some analysts warn that a blanket deportation of affected nurses could discourage qualified professionals from seeking opportunities in the UK in the future.
As the affected nurses prepare to leave or challenge their removal, the case highlights broader issues regarding immigration policies, examination oversight, and the treatment of foreign professionals in the UK.
No official statement has been issued by the UK Home Office or the NMC regarding possible reconsiderations for those who may have been wrongly implicated.
