Nathan Ogbatue, a U.S.-based Nigerian entrepreneur and CEO of California Home Health Agency (CHHA), is under intense scrutiny after failing to file mandatory utilisation reports for over six years despite receiving $36 million from the American government through Medicaid. The sudden surge in revenue—rising from $89,570 in 2018 to $17 million in 2023 and $13 million in 2024—has raised serious concerns among fraud experts and regulatory bodies. Despite continued requests from California’s Health Care Access and Information Department, CHHA stopped submitting these critical reports, which are required to verify the services provided and beneficiaries served.
Ogbatue’s company, funded by U.S. taxpayers, is contracted to deliver home health aide, skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and medical social services. Between 2018 and 2021, CHHA filed reports and earned $2 million, but it abruptly ceased compliance afterward, coinciding with the massive influx of Medicaid funds. His wife, Agnes, had previously handled the reporting duties from 2013 to 2019, but no filings have been submitted since. This gap has left authorities unable to verify whether the services billed actually took place or who received them.
In his hometown of Abatete, Anambra State, Ogbatue is celebrated as a generous benefactor, having built a grand palace, houses, and roads for villagers. He was even bestowed the chieftaincy title Owelle, earning him the nickname “half man, half god” among locals. However, his rise to wealth has become clouded by questions about its source, especially given the pattern of unexplained financial growth and non-compliance with federal and state regulations.
Experts warn that the lack of transparency and the explosive increase in billings point to possible fraud. Mark Haskins, a former USDA investigator, described CHHA’s operations as resembling a “fraudulent shell company” that may fabricate patient records and use stolen National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers to submit false claims. Haywood Talcove, CEO of LexisNexis Risk Solutions for Government, highlighted the “extraordinary volume of services being billed,” noting that CHHA reached the top of statewide rankings for certain nursing and home-health-aide claims despite operating out of a small office.
Ogbatue denies any wrongdoing, insisting he worked hard and has nothing to hide. He also suggested he is being targeted because of his race, questioning why white individuals who made more money were not similarly scrutinized. However, he declined to disclose how many employees CHHA employs, adding to the mystery surrounding the business. He referred further inquiries to his lawyer, Wilfred Aka, who has been disbarred by the U.S. Tax Court and suspended by the California State Bar in 2019 and 2020.
While Ogbatue has not been formally accused of any crime, the circumstances surrounding his company’s operations remain deeply suspicious. As investigations continue, the case underscores growing concerns about fraud within the U.S. healthcare system, particularly in Medicaid programs. The story of Nathan Ogbatue serves as a cautionary tale about the risks of unchecked financial growth and the importance of accountability in public-funded services.
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