‘Job racketeering’: FCC commissioner denies collecting money from applicants

Mamman Alakai, the commissioner representing Nasarawa state in the Federal Character Commission (FCC), has denied collecting money to secure employment for job seekers.

Musa Ibrahim one of the potential beneficiaries had on Monday told the committee that he, alongside nine other persons, paid millions into the account of a linkman to Alakai, identified as Abdullahi Ibrahim.

Alakai during his appearance on Tuesday before the house of representatives ad hoc committee investigating job racketeering by ministries, departments and agencies and mismanagement of the integrated payroll and personnel information system (IPPIS), said he had never received money from anyone for a job offer.

“A traditional ruler in Nasarawa called to inform me that one of my aides collected money from him for job slots. I asked that the number be tracked by the police and I discovered it was Ibrahim. I wrote a petition to the police and he was traced,” Alakai said.

“When they went to his house, the police found a uniform of the Nigerian Correctional Service. He claimed that he worked there. I was told that the people he defrauded have gone to court.”

Alakai asked the committee to carry out an investigation into his bank account, saying “my account is open for the committee to scrutinise since Ibrahim claimed he paid money to me for job slots”.

Yusuf Gagdi, chairman of the committee, said about nine people have brought their evidence of transfer to Ibrahim.

He said Alakai was invited to appear before the committee to give evidence because Ibrahim had claimed he was working for him.

Gagdi said the committee will not give room for any citizen to blackmail another person, expressing his displeasure over the absence of Ibrahim at the panel.

“You cannot come and make public allegations against any public officer without coming to substantiate it,” he said.

“We have nothing to say to you further because the people making allegations are not here if they are not acting a script, they should be here to give further evidence.

“If you cannot justify that you pay money for any job slots with evidence, we will not allow any citizens to blackmail people without facts.”