As alleged fake NYSC member allegedly defrauds parents of N1.3m

THE Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, has refuted claims that it unlawfully detained a 27-year-old fake National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member and a 69-year-old man, alleging demands for extortion fees for their release.

FCT Commandant, Olusola Odumosu who dismissed the claims at a media briefing Friday in Abuja described it as “false and misleading” as well as “baseless and sensational,” attributing then to a report from an online news outlet.

Olusola said “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.”

He explained that Philips was arrested on February 6th 2026 for offenses including forgery and impersonation and was later brought 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,” he adds.
According to the Commandant, a Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 2 had sanctioned the remand in accordance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.

Addressing claims of extortion by the Corps, the Commandant pointed that “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 noted that investigations revealed that Philips had allegedly swindled parents out of approximately N1.3 million.

Odumosu also denied rumors regarding inadequate feeding while in custody insisting that “All individuals in our custody are provided meals in line with ACJA 2015 requirements.”

He added that concrete evidence, including a disclaimer from the NYSC FCT and statements from several defrauded parents, would be presented in court in due course.

Odumosu reaffirmed that the corps operates within legal frameworks.
The suspect Philips, who responded to questions from the press admitted to forging his call-up letter but contested some allegations, specifically regarding the N1.3 million debt, claiming the funds were for examination registration fees rather than a scam.

The initial report suggested Philips had been detained for over two months after disputes with the principal of the International Model Science Academy concerning unauthorized extra classes.

Also, a former detainee, Chimezie Otuojor, alleged that Philips was held for 65 days without being presented in court and was pressured to pay substantial sums for his release.

In a separate case involving a 69-year-old Umar Bala, Commandant Odumosu explained that his detention was based on a formal complaint relating to a breach of trust involving N217 million.

“His detention was lawful and executed following a valid court remand order,” Odumosu asserted, contradicting reports that claimed Bala had been held for 89 days under similar circumstances.

Odumosu denounced claims that NSCDC personnel demanded large sums for release, remarking, that “Such allegations are fabricated and without any credible evidence.”

He cautioned against the circulation of unverified information, emphasizing the potential harm it could cause to public trust in security institutions.

The commandant urged the public to rely on verified communications and encouraged thorough verification of credentials from individuals claiming to be NYSC participants.

“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 NSCDC FCT Command has assured of its commitment to upholding public safety and order while advocating for reliance on accurate information from official agency sources.