NYSC nabs ’25 corps members over certificate forgery’

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has reportedly apprehended no less than 25 prospective corps members (PCMs) in different camps across the country on allegations bordering on certificate forgery.

According to The Punch, the 25 PCMs were arrested and handed over to the police for prosecution.

Their apprehension comes on the back of a directive from the NYSC headquarters in Abuja that orientation camps scrutinize the certificates tendered by the PCMs in order to fish out those who present fake documents.

In Katsina state, no less than six PCMs were nabbed during last week’s registration of the 2019 Batch ‘B’ Stream ‘II’ members on allegations bordering on criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery.

Ahidjo Yahaya, the state coordinator, said their arrest was sequel to security report from Shuaibu Ibrahim, director-general of the scheme.

“The two corps members gave their names as Offor Chinelo Blessing with registration No: KT/19B/3696 and call-up No: NYSC/ ISU/2019/260/22 from Imo State University carrying fake result in BSc Insurance and Actuarial Science. The other culprit is Meaienwa Chimdinma Ngozi with registration number KT/19B/3836 and call-up No: NYSC/ISU/2019/259331 from the same university carrying fake certificate in BA Education/ Eng,” he was quoted to have said.

In the same vein, three of the culprits who were apprehended in Taraba state orientation camp claimed to have graduated from Istop University, Cotonou in Benin Republic.

“They are; Nasiru Yau from Mass Communication department, Sheu Muktar – Computer Science and Iliyasu Usman from Sociology department,” the scheme said.

“It was discovered that none of them can neither write nor say anything logical about their certificates or courses of study.”

In Kebbi state orientation camp, four persons were discovered to have come to camp with fake documents.

They are; Nwachukwu Chimaobi Curtis KB/19B/3046, Ononuju Amarachi Nwamaka KB/19B/3147, Francis Joseph Arinze KB/19B/3135 and Chigozie Evidence Chijioke KB/19B/ 3231.

It is believed that the number of people apprehended could still increase as scrutiny is ongoing in orientation camps across the country.

The NYSC DG had warned members of the scheme to refrain from the practice of offering bribes to officials to change their postings.

He spoke while addressing corps members on Sunday at the Government Secondary School (GSS) orientation camp in Katsina.

The apprehension spree also comes in the wake of a purported partnership between the NYSC and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to combat fraudulent mobilization of unqualified graduates for the scheme.