The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has informed Nigerians that Joshua Chukwubueze Ikechukwu, who allegedly shot an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is not a medical doctor as claims on social media have implied.

On January 17, Joshua Chukwubueze Ikechukwu, an Anambra resident, allegedly shot an EFCC officer. Following the incident, posts have sprung on social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter), referring to Ikechukwu as a medical doctor at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH).

The NMA debunked these claims in a statement signed by the secretary of the Anambra branch of the NMA, Obiaeli Ifeanyi,

?Joshua Chukwubueze Ikechukwu is NOT a staff of NAUTH, as has already been debunked by the NAUTH management,? Ifeanyi said.

?Joshua Chukwubueze Ikechukwu is NOT a member of NMA Awka Zone and no member has been able to identify such a name as either a colleague or member of NMA.

?Joshua Chukwubueze Ikechukwu is NOT a medical doctor (not even an academic doctor), as widely published by the media, although he deals with medical supplies and has been addressed as a doctor.?

According to Ifeanyi, labelling Ikechukwu as a medical doctor soils the image of the medical profession.

Ifeanyi also urged the EFCC and the media to refrain from referring to Ikechukwu as a medical doctor.

?We also demand immediate retraction of all defamatory publications from the EFCC & media where the suspect was addressed as a medical doctor. We urge the media to do due diligence before making their publications.? (The Guardian)