NYSC disowns male corp member who allegedly defrauded policewoman

The management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has dissociated itself from Ukanwa Ikechukwu, a Corps member arrested for allegedly defrauding a female police officer, ACP Modupe Okpaleke.

He was arraigned on Friday, April 14 at an Iyaganku Magistrate’s Court in Oyp state after being accused of swindling a police officer of N235,000.

Ikechukwu, a graduate of physiotherapy, was charged with false pretence and theft.

NYSC in a statement by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Eddy Megwa, said Ikechukwu was no longer a member of the service.

He said the suspect concluded his youth service in February 2023.

The statement read in part; “The attention of the NYSC management in Oyo State has been drawn to the information circulating on social media about a corps member sent to jail in Ibadan, Oyo State, for criminal offence. Management wishes to make the following clarifications; the said Ukanwa Ikechuwuku is now an ex-corps member who passed out of National Service in February 2023.

“Secondly, when he was serving, he collected a sum of N235,000 to purchase a physiotherapy machine for a woman at the police clinic where he was serving but failed to get the machine. Every attempt made by the woman to get a refund of her money from this ex-corps member proved abortive, therefore she decided to charge him to court for criminal offence.

“I wish to emphasise that the NYSC uniform is not an immunity against any form of criminality because the laws of the federation applies to all and sundry.”

During his arraignment in court, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges

The prosecutor, Inspector Olufemi Omilana, told the court that the suspect on Dec. 4, 2022, with intent to defraud allegedly obtained N235,000 from Modupe Okpaleke.

Omilana further explained that ACP Okpaleke while seeking medical solutions to her leg problem at the Police Cottage Hospital, Eleyele, Ibadan, was introduced to Ukenwa, who recommended that she buys a bicycle.

According to the police, Ikechukwu who was deployed to the Police Cottage Hospital, Eleyele, Ibadan for his NYSC programme, collected N235k from the female officer to render assistance but fraudulently converted the money to his own use.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened the provisions of sections 390 (9) and 419 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State 2000.

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