A former NHS assistant and two others have been jailed for defrauding Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust (WAHT) by stealing stock from a hospital under the trust and then selling it back to the trust.
Emmanuel Nbanga, 46, of Solihull, who had worked as a materials management assistant at the WAHT's Alexandra Hospital, in Redditch, was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment at Worcester Crown Court on Friday 23 October 2026.
The court had on 30 June 2026 found Nbanga guilty of fraud by abusing his position to commit fraudulent trading.
His two accomplices were also sentenced on the same day following their convictions on 30 June 2026 for their involvement in the fraud.
Solomon Adeyemi, 57, of Birmingham, the director of Ultimate Medical (UK) Ltd (UML), was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment at Worcester Crown Court.
Remilekun Olusesi, 40, of Solihull, who had worked as a healthcare assistant at the Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 36 months.
The court had found her guilty of money laundering through the acquisition, retention, use or control of criminal property.
Suspicious transactions
The trust became suspicious of UML and began scrutinising their packages.
They noticed that identification numbers on some delivered items matched those of items that had been previously ordered and delivered to the trust, either by UML or another supplier.
WAHT had totally spent almost £233,000 buying back its own stock.
The UML had also supplied to Alexandra Hospital sub-standard warm-up jackets, needle containers and drug labels that they sourced from China.
Although these products were not stolen from the hospital, the trust determined that they could not be assured of their quality and safety for use on patients.
The trust had to spend additional funds to replace these products by sourcing from other suppliers.
UML had invoiced the trust for orders totalling £306,000, but they had withheld some payments following suspicion.
Checks made by WAHT showed that Nbanga made the request to set up UML as a registered supplier to the trust and also initiated all of the trust’s business with the company.
Interestingly, UML’s only customer was WAHT and this was later confirmed by the NHS Shared Business Service, which processes invoices for numerous trusts, including WAHT.
Counter fraud probe
WAHT referred the case to their local counter fraud specialist, who escalated matters to the NHS Counter Fraud Authority's (NHSCFA) National Investigation Service.
Further investigations found that funds paid by the trust into UML’s business account were redirected to Lawyis Medical UK Ltd, a shell company set up by Olusesi, and to personal accounts of all three defendants.
Adeyemi used the false ID of Patrick Smith and funds were also laundered through accounts in that name.
Nbanga and Adeyemi were arrested and interviewed in September 2019 and searches were carried out at their home addresses and at UML’s business address.
Items identified as stolen NHS stock valued at more than £16,000 were recovered.
Adeyemi had previously pleaded guilty to possessing/controlling identity documents with intent after using a forged Nigerian passport, a forged NINO (national insurance number) card and bank statements in the false name of Patrick Smith, which he used to apply for jobs as a healthcare assistant.
Ben Harrison, Head of Operations and Engagement at the NHS Counter Fraud Authority, said: "Nbanga abused his trusted position to systematically steal vital medical stock and arrange for it to be sold back to the very trust he was employed by, effectively making the NHS pay twice for its own medical supplies. The involvement of multiple individuals and two shell companies shows the calculated and organised nature of this fraud.
“Their actions have caused significant financial impact on NHS services. As a result of the thefts and subsequent resupply by UML, the trust was effectively paying for stock it already owned, resulting in unnecessary costs.
“This fraud also posed a direct risk to patients, as substandard and unsanitary goods entering hospital theatres could have had serious consequences for their health and safety.
