Fake NYSC Corps member arrested in Abuja for alleged scholarship scam — NSCDC

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, has arrested a 27-year-old suspect for allegedly impersonating a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to defraud parents and students in Abuja.

The suspect, whose identity was withheld, reportedly posed as a corps member posted to the International Model Science Academy, a subsidiary of the National Mathematical Centre located in Kwali Area Council.

FCT Commandant Olusola Odumosu disclosed the development at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday, detailing how the suspect allegedly used forged documents to secure employment at his purported place of primary assignment.

According to Odumosu, the suspect presented a fake NYSC call-up letter, later disclaimed by the NYSC, to gain legitimacy.

Investigations revealed that he allegedly collected money from unsuspecting parents under the pretext of registering their children for a Cambridge University scholarship programme.

“The suspect collects money from parents for the registration of their kids for Cambridge University scholarship,” the commandant said.

Authorities also alleged that the suspect cloned multiple email addresses purporting to belong to University of Cambridge and used them to send fabricated confirmation messages to victims.

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Beyond scholarship registration, he reportedly took additional payments from parents for extra tutorial services and study materials to prepare candidates for the purported examination.

Odumosu disclosed that reports from victims indicated that the suspect had allegedly collected about N1.3 million from several parents.

The commandant dismissed online reports alleging that the NSCDC illegally detained the suspect for 65 days and demanded money for his release, describing the claims as false and misleading .

He clarified that the suspect was held under a valid court remand order after failing to meet bail conditions.

“We are a credible institution with zero tolerance for corruption, and no amount of money is charged for bail under any guise,” Odumosu stated.

He added that the amount cited in the reports represented funds allegedly obtained from victims, which the suspect was expected to refund.

Odumosu also refuted another publication claiming the command detained a 69-year-old man for 89 days while demanding a N10 million “Commandant’s fee” for his release, insisting that the report grossly misrepresented the facts.

“The command wishes to state categorically that the report is also false, misleading, and a gross misrepresentation of the facts,” he said.

The NSCDC urged employers and institutions to verify NYSC call-up letters and credentials before engaging corps members to prevent similar incidents.

Odumosu reaffirmed the corps’ commitment to professionalism and national service, noting that all evidence gathered would be presented in court for prosecution.

“The public is advised to rely only on verified information from official channels of the corps,” he added.