The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command has denied allegations that it unlawfully detained a 27-year-old fake member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and a 69-year-old man while demanding money for their release.
Gatekeepers News reports that FCT Commandant Olusola Odumosu dismissed the claims during a media briefing on Friday in Abuja, describing the allegations as “false and misleading,” as well as “baseless and sensational.”
According to him, the claims stemmed from a report published by an online news outlet.
Odumosu said the suspect, identified as Joseph Philips, was allegedly a fraudster who posed as a corps member and forged an NYSC call-up letter to secure a position at the International Model Science Academy.
“The alleged suspect, Joseph Philips, is a fraudster posing as a corps member who forged his NYSC call-up letter to secure a position at the International Model Science Academy in Kwali,” the commandant said.
He explained that Philips was arrested on February 6, 2026, for offences including forgery and impersonation and was later transferred to the FCT Command for further investigation.
“He was granted bail on the same day but could not fulfill the bail conditions due to a lack of credible surety. Consequently, we sought a remand order from the court,” Odumosu said.
According to him, a magistrate court in Wuse Zone 2 authorised the remand in line with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.
Addressing claims of extortion, Odumosu insisted that the Corps never demanded money for the suspect’s release.
“The accusations of demanding money for release are unfounded. The sum mentioned in the reports pertains to money Philips allegedly defrauded from parents under the pretense of providing scholarships and extra lessons,” he said.
He added that preliminary investigations indicated Philips allegedly defrauded parents of about ₦1.3 million.
The commandant also rejected allegations that suspects were poorly fed in custody, stating that detainees receive meals in accordance with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
“All individuals in our custody are provided meals in line with ACJA 2015 requirements,” he said.
Odumosu added that evidence, including a disclaimer from the NYSC FCT and statements from affected parents, would be presented in court during the trial.
Speaking to journalists, Philips admitted forging the call-up letter but disputed some of the allegations, particularly the claim that he swindled ₦1.3 million from parents. He argued that the money collected was meant for examination registration fees rather than a scam.
The earlier report had alleged that Philips was detained for more than two months following a dispute with the school’s principal over unauthorised extra classes.
A former detainee, Chimezie Otuojor, also claimed that Philips was held for 65 days without being taken to court and was pressured to pay money to secure his release.
In a separate case, Odumosu said the detention of Umar Bala, 69, was based on a formal complaint involving an alleged breach of trust worth ₦217 million.
“His detention was lawful and executed following a valid court remand order,” the commandant said, rejecting reports that Bala had been held for 89 days under similar circumstances.
Odumosu described allegations that NSCDC personnel demanded large sums of money for the suspects’ release as fabricated and lacking credible evidence.
He cautioned against spreading unverified information, warning that such reports could erode public trust in security institutions.
The commandant also advised the public to verify the credentials of individuals claiming to be NYSC members.
“If someone like Philips can infiltrate our system using fake documents, it’s crucial to acknowledge that there are likely many such individuals in society,” he warned.
The FCT Command reiterated its commitment to operating within the law while maintaining public safety and urged Nigerians to rely on verified information from official sources.
