NMA Denies Affiliation As EFCC Insist Suspected Killer Doctor Is Fake, Gave Conflicting Statements During Interrogations

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

According to police sources, Ikechukwu, who was arrested on Saturday, gave conflicting statements during his interrogation on Sunday night. The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Anambra State also discredited his claim, confirming that he is not a registered medical doctor.

In a statement released on Monday, Dr. Obiaeli Ifeanyi, the State Secretary of the NMA, clarified that Ikechukwu has no affiliation with the medical profession.

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“The attention of the Leadership of NMA Anambra State has been drawn to online and newspaper publications alleging that a medical doctor shot an EFCC officer in Awka,” the statement read.

The NMA emphasized:

False Identity: “Joshua Chukwubueze Ikechukwu is not a Medical Doctor (not even an academic doctor) as widely published, although he deals in medical supplies and has been referred to as ‘Doctor.’”
Clarification from NAUTH: “He is not a staff member of NAUTH (Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital), a claim already debunked by NAUTH management.”
No Affiliation: The NMA confirmed that no member of the association could identify Ikechukwu as a colleague.
During police questioning, Ikechukwu admitted to falsely claiming he was a doctor because “people call him ‘Doctor.’” His narrative about the firearm used in the incident also shifted. Initially, he claimed the gun was licensed to his father, but he later stated it was provided by someone else.

A police source revealed:

“The suspect has recanted. He told the police that he claimed to be a doctor because people refer to him as ‘Doctor.’”

Ikechukwu’s father, who initially claimed ownership of the firearm and sought to secure his son’s bail, later refused to provide a written statement confirming his claim.

“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 asked him to put it in writing, he refused,” a source disclosed.

The case continues to unfold as law enforcement investigates the suspect’s role in the killing of the EFCC operative and seeks to establish the true circumstances surrounding the incident. Authorities are also probing the source of the firearm used and Ikechukwu’s alleged involvement in internet fraud.