The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, FCT Command, has apprehended a 27-year-old male individual who impersonated a National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, member to swindle parents and students.
The individual, whose identity remains confidential, masqueraded as a corps member to gain employment at the International Model Science Academy, a branch of the National Mathematical Centre in the Kwali Area Council of the territory.
Mr. Olusola Odumosu, the Commandant of the FCT Corps, revealed this during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday.
Odumosu refuted an online media claim suggesting that the command was unlawfully holding the individual and demanding large sums of money.
He characterized the report as erroneous, misleading, and an unfounded accusation against the command and its leadership.
He clarified that, contrary to claims that the individual was held for 65 days without judicial proceedings, the corps acquired a court remand order after the individual failed to satisfy his bail conditions.
The commandant disclosed that the suspect presented a forged NYSC call-up letter to secure a position at his primary place of assignment.
He noted that there was, however, a disclaimer letter from the NYSC, stating the individual was not a legitimate corps member.
“The individual extorted money from parents for enrolling their children in a Cambridge University scholarship.
“Investigations also uncovered that he fabricated several Cambridge University email addresses through which he sent counterfeit confirmation messages to unsuspecting parents.
“He additionally collected funds from parents, claiming he would arrange for extra lesson instructors for their children to assist them in passing the scholarship examination,” he stated.
The FCT corps commandant further mentioned that investigations revealed the individual also solicited money from some parents to purchase books to aid their children in preparation for the scholarship examination.
He noted that items seized from the suspect include an NYSC uniform, a forged NYSC call-up letter, documents showing financial transfers made by parents to him, and a bag containing illicit substances.
He elaborated that, contrary to the inaccurate report about the purported demand for money by the command for his liberation, the amount mentioned publicly was the sum of money fraudulently obtained from certain parents, which the suspect was obligated to repay.
