Fake ‘Youth Corper’ To Serve In Prison
A suspected fake National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, member, Opeyemi Ajala, 34, has been remanded in prison custody after he was arrested by the police at Dolphin Division, Ikoyi, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, and charged to court.
He allegedly told the police that he was contracted by Olotu Osayowanon now at large to help him serve the one year compulsory scheme with an agreement that he would be paying him N19,000 monthly.
Trouble started for Opeyemi, a resident of 25, Jebba Street, Ebute Meta, Lagos on 27 June, 2013 when he went to the Ikoyi/Obalende LCDA, Ikoyi, Lagos to register for the one year NYSC compulsory scheme as a graduate.
During screening, the officer in charge of the programme reportedly discovered that all the documents he presented were fake.
The fake documents found on him, according to the police include forged death certificate of one Osarogie Olotu, Acceptance Letter from Eti Osa LCDA, BA Certificate from the University of New Castle, United Kingdom and NYSC call up letter.
During preliminary questioning by the NYSC officials about how he came about the documents bearing different names and not his name, he allegedly said someone contracted him to serve for him.
The NYSC officials reported him to the DPO of Dolphin Estate Division, Ikoyi S.P Musa Abdullahi who directed his men to arrest the suspect and take him to the station.
In his confessional statement to the police, Opeyemi allegedly said: “I am a jobless man and my father and mother died a few years ago, and since I passed out from the school of Fishery and Marine Technology in 2009, I have not been able to get a job.
“One day, I went to the NYSC camp at Ipaja, Lagos, where I met Olotu Osayowanon who approached me
to help him serve his one year compulsory NYSC scheme because he graduated in London.
“He provided me with all the NYSC uniform and kits and he agreed to be paying me N19,000 every month and out of frustration I accepted the offer before I was arrested. I promise not to indulge in such crime again.”
After investigation by Corporal Miracle Ikyav, Ajala was charged before an Igbosere Magistrate’s court on three count charge of felony, to wit, impersonating and forgery. The offences, the prosecutor Supol E. Ekuma said contravened Sections 409,380 and 374 of the criminal laws of Lagos State 2011.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge, and Chief Magistrate Mrs. O.O. Oshin admitted him on bail in the sum of N150,000 with two sureties in like sum.
She adjourned the matter till 30 July, 2013 for mention.
The defendant was taken to Ikoyi Prison pending when he would fulfil the bail conditions.
This nation is been fenced with so many challenges that are affecting the youths directly. Youths who are tomorrow’s leaders.
Insecurity, corruption, poverty and unemployment are just a few of the challenges that has changed many people’s perception of the present and future of our Nation.
For our dream nation to come to pass, “Youth unemployment” must be addressed.
These challenges should also not be an excuse for youths like this ‘fake corper’ to engage themselves into criminal activities, but should rather think of a better and profitable way of changing their misfortunes for good. Naija will be great!