The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, has debunked allegations of unlawful detention and bribery involving a fake National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member arrested at the International Model Science Academy (IMSA), Kwali, describing the claims as false and misleading.
The Command also dismissed a separate report alleging the unlawful detention of a 69-year-old man, insisting that both cases were handled strictly in accordance with the law and due judicial process.
Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja, the FCT Commandant of the NSCDC said the publications circulating on an online platform contained unfounded allegations intended to misrepresent the activities of the Corps and tarnish its reputation.
According to him, the reports claimed that a supposed corps member was detained for 65 days without trial and that officers demanded a “Commandant’s charge” of ₦1.4 million for his release.
He clarified that the suspect, identified as Joseph Nanmwa Philips, 27, from Plateau State, was not a legitimate corps member but an impostor who allegedly forged his NYSC call-up letter to secure placement at the International Model Science Academy, a subsidiary of the National Mathematical Centre (NMC) in Kwali.
The Commandant said Philips was arrested by the Corps’ Kwali Division on February 6, 2026, following complaints of forgery, hacking, and impersonation of the leadership of the National Mathematical Centre on social media. He explained that the suspect was subsequently transferred to the FCT Command headquarters for further investigation.
“Guided by the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, he was interrogated and granted bail the same day, February 9, 2026, but could not meet the bail conditions as no credible surety came forward for him,” the Commandant said.
He added that the Command later approached a Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, which issued a remand order to enable the suspect to remain in custody pending the conclusion of investigations.
The Command further clarified that the alleged ₦1.4 million mentioned in the publication was not a bribe but the amount the suspect allegedly collected fraudulently from parents, which he was expected to refund.
Preliminary investigations, according to the Corps, revealed that the suspect had collected about ₦1.3 million from several parents under the guise of registering their children for a Cambridge University scholarship programme.
Investigators also alleged that Philips cloned several Cambridge University email addresses, sent fabricated confirmation messages to unsuspecting parents, and collected additional funds for extra lessons and study materials for the supposed scholarship examination.
The Command disclosed that items recovered from the suspect included an NYSC uniform, a forged NYSC call-up letter, documents showing financial transactions from parents, and a bag containing personal items and suspected hard drugs.
The NSCDC also dismissed claims that suspects in its custody were not being fed, insisting that detainees are provided meals in accordance with the provisions of the ACJA 2015, which requires that suspects be fed at least twice daily.
The Command accused one Chimezie Otuojo, currently on administrative bail in a separate case involving alleged threat to life and assault, of sponsoring the allegations to discredit the Corps and derail ongoing investigations.
In another development, the Command refuted allegations that it detained a 69-year-old man for 89 days and demanded ₦10 million as a “Commandant’s fee” for his release.
It explained that the case stemmed from a petition filed by TroBell Minerals Limited alleging criminal breach of trust and obtaining by false pretence involving ₦217 million.
The Command stated that after investigations, the suspect was charged before the Federal High Court, stressing that his custody was based on a valid court-issued remand order.
The NSCDC, therefore, urged the public to disregard the publications, noting that the allegations were fabricated and unsupported by evidence.
Meanwhile, the management of the National Mathematical Centre (NMC) has issued a disclaimer distancing itself from the alleged fraudulent activities of the suspect.
In a statement signed by the Controller of Information and Public Relations of the Centre, Onyekachi Njoku, the NMC confirmed that Namnwa Joseph Philips had been operating fraudulent schemes within the International Model Science Academy.
The Centre disclosed that the suspect had collected over ₦1 million from parents and guardians for a purported competition before school authorities discovered that he was not a legitimate corps member.
“The National Mathematical Centre hereby disclaims in its entirety the fraudulent operations and activities of Namnwa Joseph Philips in the name of the International Model Science Academy,” the statement said.
The Centre emphasised that its management was never involved in the suspect’s activities and warned members of the public that anyone dealing with him on behalf of the school does so at their own risk.
The NSCDC FCT Command reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism, due process, and the rule of law, assuring residents that it would continue to protect lives, property, and critical national assets.
It also advised government agencies and private organisations to thoroughly verify the identity of corps members posted to their institutions with the nearest NYSC offices to prevent similar cases of impersonation and fraud.