Podcast host issues legal warning to Nigerian nurse over auxiliary nursing dispute
9 February 2026
By Fellow Nurses Africa
A prominent Nigerian health podcaster has sent a formal cease-and-desist letter to a registered nurse and social media influencer, demanding the removal of an allegedly defamatory video and a public apology within seven days.
Raymond Uche, host and producer of the podcast TooHealthTalk, accuses TikTok creator Girma Nasir — known online as @nurse_girma of making false and malicious statements that portray him as an “alleged criminal” and accuse him of “aiding and abetting criminals” in relation to auxiliary nursing.
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The dispute centres on a recent episode of TooHealthTalk in which Mr Uche interviewed a woman who described her career progression from working as an auxiliary nurse in private healthcare facilities to qualifying as a licensed Community Health Extension Worker (CHEW).
What the legal letter states
The letter, dated 9 February 2026 and issued by Oluyemi A. Ogunleye Attorneys (EI Chambers) in Port Harcourt, alleges that Mr Nasir:
- described auxiliary nurses as “criminals” in the Nigerian context
- accused Mr Uche of “aiding abetment”
- labelled the podcaster an “alleged criminal”
- called on followers to report the podcast’s social media pages
- threatened actions that could lead to Mr Uche losing his job
The legal notice states that these claims were made without Mr Nasir having viewed the complete interview published on YouTube, resulting in what the letter describes as a “gross misrepresentation” of the discussion.
Mr Uche’s solicitors insist the podcast episode was purely educational, based on the guest’s personal experience, and did not at any point endorse illegal practice or disparage the nursing profession.
The letter demands that Mr Nasir:
- Immediately remove the video and any related publications from all social media platforms
- Publish a clear, unreserved public apology video on his TikTok account, retracting the allegations and acknowledging that the statements arose from a misunderstanding
- Complete these actions within seven days of receiving the letter
Failure to comply, the letter warns, will leave Mr Uche with “no alternative” but to commence legal proceedings without further notice.
A long-running controversy
The exchange highlights one of the most contentious and enduring debates in Nigerian healthcare:
- The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) do not recognise “auxiliary nurse” as a legitimate professional category.
- Only individuals registered and licensed by the NMCN may legally practise nursing or midwifery in Nigeria.
- Despite this, many private hospitals, clinics and maternity homes continue to employ and informally train workers under the title “auxiliary nurse” — a practice frequently criticised as quackery by professional nursing bodies.
In recent years the NMCN has intensified enforcement efforts, closing illegal training schools and warning of prosecution for those involved in the unauthorised training or employment of auxiliary personnel.
Social media platforms, particularly TikTok and X, have become primary arenas for this debate. Registered nurses frequently use these channels to expose alleged quackery, while others argue that the informal workforce fills critical gaps in under-resourced private facilities.
No public response yet from either party
Neither Mr Uche nor Mr Nasir has issued a detailed public statement regarding the cease-and-desist letter at the time of publication.
The case is being closely watched within Nigeria’s nursing and health-education communities, where it has already generated significant discussion about the boundaries between personal storytelling, health education content, and accusations of indirectly promoting unregulated practice.
Legal commentators note that defamation claims arising from social media commentary on professional matters remain comparatively rare in Nigeria but are becoming more frequent as online discourse grows increasingly confrontational.
Further developments will be reported as they emerge.
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