Suspected Killer Of EFCC Operative, Not Our Member – NMA

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Nigeria Medical Association on Monday January, 20, 2025 strongly dissociated the body from Joshua Chukwubueze Ikechukwu, the suspected killer of an Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC  Operative in Anambra State.

The Source reports that Aminu Sahabi Salisu, an Assistant Superintendent of the EFCC, was on Friday, January 17, gunned down in Awka ,Anambra state capital, by Ikechukwu ,a suspected Internet fraudster, according to the EFCC.

But some news report, after the tragic incident  portrayed Ikechukwu not as a fraudster, but a medical practitioner forced by circumstances  to shoot at the invading and intruding EFCC operatives in self defence.

The presentation of the suspected killer as an innocent medical doctor ,and a victim of circumstances ,has since been rejected by the anti-graft agency.

In a Statement issued on

Sunday, January 19,2025 by its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale ,the Commission described such perceived skewed narratives as irresponsible, callous and outrageous.

It also expressed shock and disbelief that some faceless commentators are pitching their tents “with an alleged criminal who unleashed terror on officers of the EFCC in their line of duty.”

The Commission insisted that the suspect Ikechukwu, though engaged in fraudulent online medical supplies and other activities, is not a medical doctor, as the unsuspecting public is meant to believe.

The Awka, Anambra NMA, in a statement by its Secretary, Dr Obiaeli Ifeanyi, informed that  the suspect is neither a medical doctor nor even an academic doctor

“The attention of the leadership of the Nigeria Medical Association NMA, Anambra State, has been drawn to the online and newspaper publications in which it was alleged that a medical doctor shot an official of the EFCC in Awka.

“Joshua Chukwubueze Ikechukwu (the suspected killer) 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 a Doctor..

“Joshua  Chukwubueze Ikechukwu is not a staff of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, NAUTH, as has already been debunked by the NAUTH management”,  the NMA stated.

“In the same vein, the Anambra state police authorities, informed that Ikechukwu has since denied being a medical doctor ,as earlier claimed.

“The suspect has recanted. He told the police investigation team that he falsely claimed to be a medical doctor ,and that  people have been addressing him as such” a police source revealed .

The NMA has, therefore, warned against any attempt by any individuals and groups to unnecessarily drag the name of the body into the mud.

“The NMA, also, urged media organizations ,and others who have made the initial mistake of referring to the suspect as a medical doctor to urgently do the needful by way of retracting the reports.”