Navy dismisses 55 trainees over fake certificates

Posted by admin Armed Forces, Headlines Wednesday, October 17th, 2012

THE Nigerian Navy has dismissed 55 trainees, who attempted to join the force with fake certificates.

The Commandant, Nigerian Navy Basic Training School, Onne, Commodore Apochi Suleiman, stated this on Tuesday while handing over the suspects to the state police command in Port Harcourt.

Also handed over to the police in the state was a fake Army Lieutenant, who was arrested by the Nigerian Army.

Suleiman explained that the Navy training began three months ago while their certificates were forwarded to the headquarters in Abuja for verification.

He explained that out of the 1,214 trainees that gained admission to the college for the training, 55 persons were found to have used fake West African Examination Council and National Examination Council Certificates.

He added, “I have come to hand over 55 dismissed trainees of the Nigerian Navy and one fake soldier to the Rivers State Police Command. The 55 suspects were arrested for using fake certificates to join the Nigerian Navy.

“The training started three months ago, but we sent their certificates to the Navy headquarters. Out of 1,214 trainees at the Navy Basic Training School in Onne, 55 were found to have come in with fake, forged or altered WAEC and NECO certificates.”

Speaking with newsmen, the fake soldier, who identified himself as Francis Uche, said he was arrested for impersonation. He confessed parading himself as a Second Lieutenant in the Nigerian Army.

Uche, who is from Ebonyi State, also revealed that he was dismissed from the Nigerian Army in 2012 after he went on an illegal duty.

Uche said, “I was arrested by the military police. I was court-martialed and later dismissed. I decided to continue as a soldier because there was nothing left to do.”

The State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ben Ugwuegbulam, told newsmen that Uche was arrested at the Oyigbo Timber Shade while parading himself as a Second Lieutenant.

Ugwuegbulam added that the suspect, who was arrested on September 22, 2012, had been using the position to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

The police spokesman said that all the suspects would soon be charged to court.

-Punchwp_posts