A former National Health Service (NHS) employee, his Nigerian wife and a Nigerian businessman have been convicted in the United Kingdom over a £279,000 fraud scheme that involved stealing medical equipment from an NHS hospital and selling the same items back to the health service.
The convictions followed a trial at Worcester Crown Court, where Emmanuel Nbanga, Remilekun Olusesi and Solomon Adeyemi were found guilty of offences linked to a years-long operation targeting Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.
According to the NHS Counter Fraud Authority (NHSCFA), the fraud took place between October 2016 and September 2019.
How the Fraud Worked
Investigators said Emmanuel Nbanga, a former materials management assistant at Alexandra Hospital in Redditch, removed medical supplies from operating theatre stock rooms while employed by the NHS.
The stolen equipment was allegedly passed to Solomon Adeyemi, director of Ultimate Medical (UK) Ltd (UML), a medical supplies company based in Birmingham.
Prosecutors said UML then sold the stolen equipment back to the same NHS trust.
In some cases, the hospital unknowingly purchased its own equipment multiple times.
Fraud Uncovered During Tender Process
The scheme came to light when the hospital launched a procurement exercise for medical supplies.
Officials noticed UML was offering unusually competitive prices.
Further checks revealed that serial and identification numbers on supplied equipment matched products the NHS had previously purchased.
The discovery triggered a detailed fraud investigation.
According to investigators, financial records showed money paid to UML was later transferred to Lawyis Medical UK Ltd, a company linked to Remilekun Olusesi, as well as to personal accounts belonging to the defendants.
Convictions
The jury found:
- Emmanuel Nbanga guilty of fraud by abuse of position and fraudulent trading.
- Solomon Adeyemi guilty of fraudulent trading.
- Remilekun Olusesi guilty of money laundering involving criminal property.
Nbanga and Adeyemi were remanded in custody after the trial after the court considered them a potential flight risk.
Sentencing has been scheduled for a later date.
NHS Reacts
The NHS Counter Fraud Authority described the case as particularly serious because the stolen equipment had been intended for patient care.
Investigators also found that some of the returned medical supplies were unsuitable for clinical use and had to be withdrawn.
Stephen Collman, Managing Director of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said the fraud represented a significant abuse of public trust.
He noted that beyond the financial losses, the offences undermined confidence in the NHS and diverted resources intended for patient care.
Authorities say the case highlights the importance of procurement monitoring and internal controls in protecting public healthcare systems from fraud.
