‘Alleged EFCC Officer’s Killer Backtracks, Denies Being Medical Doctor, Claims Gun Doesn’t Belong To Father’

A suspected internet fraudster accused of killing an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operative, Halisu Sahabi, during a raid in Awka, Anambra State, has withdrawn his earlier claim of being a medical doctor.

Police sources confirmed to SaharaReporters that the suspect, Joshua Chukwubueze Ikechukwu, arrested on Saturday, provided inconsistent statements during interrogation on Sunday night.

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Anambra State on Monday also denied that the suspect is a medical doctor.

In a statement, Dr. Obiaeli Ifeanyi, the State Secretary of the NMA, refuted reports linking Ikechukwu to the medical profession, clarifying that he is not a registered member 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 EFCC officer at Awka,” the statement read.

The NMA emphasized, “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 further noted that “Joshua Chukwubueze Ikechukwu is not a staff of NAUTH as has already been debunked by the NAUTH management.”

The NMA added that no member could identify Ikechukwu as a colleague or member of the association.

Police sources also revealed that the suspect admitted during questioning that he falsely claimed to be a doctor because “people call him ‘Doctor.'”

Additionally, Ikechukwu contradicted his earlier assertion that the gun used in the incident was licensed to his father, now claiming that it was provided by someone else.

“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,’” a police source disclosed.

The suspect’s father, who initially claimed ownership of the gun and attempted to secure bail for his son, later refused to provide a written statement confirming his ownership.

“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 added.