A suspected internet fraudster accused of killing Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operative Halisu Sahabi during a raid in Awka, Anambra State, has recanted his initial claims of being a medical doctor, SaharaReporters has learnt.
Police sources confirmed to SaharaReporters that the suspect, Joshua Chukwubueze Ikechukwu, apprehended on Saturday, made contradictory statements during interrogation on Sunday night.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Anambra State earlier on Monday also denied that the suspect is a medical doctor.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that Dr Obiaeli Ifeanyi, State Secretary of the NMA, refuted media reports linking the suspect to the medical profession.
The NMA said the suspect is not a member of the Awka zone of the association.
“The attention of the Leadership of NMA Anambra State has been drawn to the online & newspaper publications in which it was alleged that a medical doctor shot an @officialEFCC officer at Awka,” the statement read.
The NMA clarified, “Joshua Chukwubueze Ikechukwu is not a Medical Doctor (not even an academic doctor) as widely published by the media though he deals on medical supplies and has been addressed as Doctor.”
The statement added that “Joshua Chukwubueze Ikechukwu is not a staff of NAUTH as has already been debunked by the NAUTH management”.
According to the statement, no member has been able to identify such a name as either a colleague or member of NMA.
Similarly, police sources revealed that the suspect confessed on Sunday night that he falsely identified as a doctor because “people call him ‘Doctor’.”
He also recanted an earlier claim that the gun used in the incident was licensed to his father, stating instead that someone else gave him the weapon.
“The suspect has recanted. He told the police by last night that he claimed he was a doctor to them because people call him ‘Doctor,’” one of the police sources said.
“And so far, the suspect has not been able to provide the licence of the gun used despite his initial claim that it was licensed to his father. He is now claiming someone gave him the gun, and not his father.”
According to police sources, the father of the suspect, who initially claimed ownership of the gun, also refused to put his statement in writing when asked by the police.
“At first, the father who rushed to the SCID (State Criminal Investigation Department) to get him bail claimed the gun belongs to him. But when the police told the father to put it in writing, he refused to do so,” another source said.
The NMA condemned attempts to tarnish the reputation of medical professionals, urging media organisations and the EFCC to retract defamatory publications referring to the suspect as a doctor.
Sahabi, an Assistant Superintendent of the EFCC, was fatally shot during a sting operation in Awka, Anambra State on Friday and buried in Sokoto State. The suspect was arrested while hiding in a neighbour’s ceiling.
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