The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), FCT Command, has arrested a 27-year-old suspect for allegedly impersonating a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in order to defraud parents and students.
The suspect, whose name was withheld, reportedly posed as a corps member posted to the International Model Science Academy, a subsidiary of the National Mathematical Centre in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory.
The FCT Commandant of the corps, Mr. Olusola Odumosu, disclosed this during a news conference in Abuja on Thursday.
Odumosu also dismissed an online media report claiming that the command was unlawfully detaining the suspect and demanding large sums of money.
He described the report as false, misleading and an unfounded allegation against the command and its leadership.
The commandant explained that contrary to claims that the suspect had been detained for 65 days without trial, the corps obtained a court remand order after he failed to meet his bail conditions.
According to him, the suspect used a forged NYSC call-up letter to secure employment at his supposed place of primary assignment.
He added that the NYSC later issued a letter of disclaimer confirming that the suspect was not a registered corps member.
“The suspect collected money from parents for the registration of their children for a Cambridge University scholarship.
“Investigations also revealed that he cloned several Cambridge University email addresses through which he sent fabricated confirmation emails to unsuspecting parents.
“He also collected money from parents, claiming he would secure the services of extra lesson teachers for their wards to help them pass the scholarship exam,” he said.
Odumosu further stated that investigations showed the suspect also collected money from some parents under the pretext of purchasing books to help their children prepare for the scholarship examination.
Items recovered from him include an NYSC uniform, a forged NYSC call-up letter, documents showing financial transactions made by parents to him, and a bag containing hard drugs.
He clarified that the reported demand for money by the command was false, explaining that the amount mentioned referred to the money the suspect had allegedly collected from parents, which he was expected to refund.
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