A Nigerian doctor based in the UK, Richard Akinrolabu, has been sentenced to three years in prison at Woolwich Crown Court after defrauding the NHS of more than £268,000 by working shifts while officially on sick leave.
Akinrolabu had earlier pleaded guilty to all four charges of Fraud by False Representation at the same court on 3 September 2025.
He was employed as a trust grade specialist registrar in obstetrics and gynaecology at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) in London, which is part of King’s College Hospitals (KCH) NHS Foundation Trust.
A trust grade specialist registrar is a category of resident doctor, previously known as a junior doctor.
Between October 2018 and December 2021, Akinrolabu undertook on-call and night shifts at three other NHS trusts, even though he had informed his main employer that he was unfit to work. He carried out these shifts while on sick leave or restricted duties from King’s College Hospital.
As a consequence, KCH continued to pay him his full salary and had to hire locum staff to cover the shifts he was secretly working elsewhere.
In November 2021, KCH was alerted that Akinrolabu had been working night shifts at Basildon Hospital. Investigations by the trust’s local counter fraud team later uncovered that he had also worked at Princess Alexandra Hospital, East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust, and Mid-South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, all while on reduced duties from KCH.
Evidence confirmed that he neither sought nor received approval to take on secondary employment. Records from the other trusts showed that most shifts were at night and on-call, despite his claims of being unfit to perform such duties.
During a June 2022 interview under caution, Akinrolabu chose to give a “no comment” response. Following further inquiries by the NHS Counter Fraud Authority (NHSCFA), he was charged with four counts of Fraud by False Representation.
In passing sentence, His Honour Judge David Miller said: “You lied to occupational health, your colleagues and your employer. The public doesn’t expect doctors to lie for personal gain.”
Ben Harrison, Head of Operations at the NHS Counter Fraud Authority, stated: “This case demonstrates a clear and deliberate abuse of trust by an NHS professional who knowingly breached the conditions of his employment for personal gain. By working additional on-call and night shifts, despite being unfit to do so, Akinrolabu defrauded the NHS of substantial funds that should have supported patient care. The NHS Counter Fraud Authority will continue to ensure that those who seek to exploit the health service for their own benefit are identified and brought to justice.”
