FCC commissioner denies accepting payment from job applicants

The Federal Character Commission (FCC) commissioner Manman Alakai, who represents Nasarawa State, denied receiving payment on Tuesday to place job seekers in positions.

Alakai, who testified before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating employment racketeering in Federal Government agencies in Abuja, denied obtaining funds to help anyone obtain employment in any Ministry, Department, or Agency (MDA).

When testifying before the committee on August 14, Musa Ibrahim, one of the victims of employment racketeering, reportedly stated that he and nine other people paid millions into Mr. Abdullahi Ibrahim’s account. This was according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said that Ibrahim served as the commissioner’s go-between, securing funds from eager job searchers on behalf of Nasarawa State.

Alakai, in contrast, testified in support of himself before the committee that he knew the aforementioned Ibrahim but noted that, in contrast to his assertions that he was his Personal Assistant, Ibrahim “has never been my PA or worked in the FCC.”

Alakai described his experience as follows: “A traditional ruler in Nasarawa contacted to inform me that one of my assistants collected money from him for job slots.

“I requested that the phone number be followed by the police. When I learned that the caller was Ibrahim, I made a petition to the police, and they were able to find him.

The cops discovered a Nigerian Correctional Service outfit when they went to his home. He said he was employed there. According to what I’ve been told, the victims of his deception have filed legal claims.

Alakai urged the committee to look into his account in order to verify Ibrahim’s claim that he had paid him money in exchange for job openings, claiming “my account is open for the committee to scrutinise.”

About nine people, according to the committee’s chairman, Rep. Yusuf Gagdi, have proof that a transfer was made to Ibrahim.

He said that because Alakai pretended to be his employee, he was invited to testify before the committee.

Angry about Musa Ibrahim’s absence after he failed to appear,

You can’t come and make public accusations against any public official, the chairman continued, “without coming to substantiate them.”

“We have nothing more to say to you because the folks making the accusations are not present; if they were not following a script, they would be here to provide additional proof.

He remarked, “We will not permit any citizens to blackmail individuals without facts if you cannot justify that you pay money for any job slots with evidence.

Adding that the committee had found two things to be true about the commission, the chairman pledged never to call anyone to appear before it again in the FCC.

He claims that this involves defamation of character charges against the chairman and the selling of commissioner positions.