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I collected money from job-seekers for FCC chairman, ex-staffer alleges

Published

3 years ago

August 7, 2023

A former staff member of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Mr Haruna Kolo, has alleged that job seekers paid millions of naira into his personal account for remission to the commission’s Chairman, Mrs Farida Dankaka.

Kolo said this on Monday in Abuja at the resumed investigative hearing of the House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee probing job racketeering in Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government.

The committee is also probing the alleged mismanagement of Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information (IPPIS) in MDAs.

Kolo said he usually approached the Point of Sale (POS) agents to collect the money in cash to deliver to the chairman.

He further said that Dankaka appointed him as her Chief Protocol, while he was working in FCC.

Kolo, who now works with the Assets Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON), said that he saw the allegation against him, regarding job racketeering, in the media.

He said some of those who came to seek for job in the commission paid between N1 million and N5 million naira, depending on the MDAs.

He denied having been involved in job racketeering, alleging that he only acted on the instruction of Dankaka, who was allegedly receiving the money in cash.

According to him, she often gave me verbal instruction in respect of people paying for jobs and lodgment after the collection of the agreed amount.

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“The money is always sent to my account, which I subsequently cashed and send to her in cash,” he said.

Kolo said his redeployment to AMCON was with the knowledge of the chairman of the commission.

”My going to AMCON was her personal favour to me and others that left FCC at the time,” he said.

He, however, accused the chairman of going after him, when her sister was rejected at AMCON due to age factor.

Kolo said the sister in question was already 51 at the time she was offered the job at AMCON.

He said that he had been receiving several calls threatening his life and sought the protection of the committee.

He warned that the FCC chairman should be held responsible, should anything sinister happen to him.

Kolo also said that the chairman’s claim that FCC had not carried out recruitment since her assumption of office was not true.

He said that as a desk officer of IPPIS in FCC, he could confirm that the commission carried out recruitments at different times.

“I am the desk officer of IPPIS for FCC and over 300 employment letters were issued but those captured by FCC were few,” he said.

In a swift reaction to Kolo’s allegations, Dankaka said she never collected any money from Kolo as alleged.

She further said that it was a conspiracy between him and the other commissioners to tarnish her image.

Disturbed by the barrage of allegations, Dankaka immediately brought out a copy of the Holy Qur’an and swore never to have collected any money from Kolo as proceeds of job racketeering.

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“I have never asked him to collect money from job seekers for me,” she said.

Responding to the issues, the Chairman of the committee, Rep. Yusuf Gagdi, told Kolo that the committee was in possession of evidence that he had N38.5 million in his account, which was withdrawn from POS.

He also said that N75 million was in Kolo’s accounts in Access Bank, UBA and Eco Bank as a proceed of job racketeering

”Kolo was serving as a front for collecting money for job recruitments in the commission as against the service’ financial regulation and the extant law.

”The record I have about your account you don’t even have and the record of your service I have.

“We are not giving any judgment in FCC, we are still investigating.

”This committee will have to be judicial in nature.

“We knew why we asked Kolo to give us evidence and we must come out straight.

“We aren’t even talking about racketeering in other MDAs.

“Kolo you are not supposed to leave here without being arrested.

“As a civil servant, you are not supposed to have such huge amount in your account,” the committee chairman said.

Related Topics:Farida Dankaka FCC Featured Federal Character

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FRSC Loses Ogun Sector Commander Days After Ex-Chief Dauda Biu’s Death

Published

34 minutes ago

October 18, 2026

Trends Admin

FRSC Loses Ogun Sector Commander Days After Ex-Chief Dauda Biu’s Death

The Federal Road Safety Corps has suffered another loss with the death of its Ogun State Sector Commander, Corps Commander Oludare Ogunjobi, following a brief illness, barely a week after the death of former Corps Marshal Dauda Ali Biu.

The Ogun State Sector Command announced Ogunjobi’s death in a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its Public Relations Officer, Chief Route Commander Afolabi Odunsi, describing the development as a major loss to the corps and the wider road safety community.

Ogunjobi’s death comes amid mourning within the FRSC over the passing of Biu, who died on October 11, 2026, at the age of 62. Biu served as the corps’ seventh substantive Corps Marshal from July 2022 to May 2024, having risen through the ranks after joining the organisation in 1988, according to a Punch report.

The successive losses have brought renewed attention to the people behind Nigeria’s road safety administration, whose responsibilities include traffic law enforcement, public enlightenment, emergency response and efforts to reduce road crashes across the country.

In its statement, the Ogun Command said Ogunjobi would be remembered for his leadership, commitment to road safety administration and dedication to the FRSC’s mandate.

“His passing is a great loss to the Corps, his colleagues, and the entire road safety community. He will be remembered for his service, leadership, commitment to road safety administration, and dedication to the mandate of the Federal Road Safety Corps,” the statement said.

The command noted that the late sector commander contributed to efforts to promote safer roads, strengthen public enlightenment campaigns, deepen engagement with stakeholders and improve compliance with traffic regulations during his service.

The command expressed condolences to Ogunjobi’s family, loved ones, colleagues and associates, while acknowledging the pain caused by his death.

It added that further information on funeral arrangements would be communicated in due course.

“His demise is deeply regretted,” the statement said, praying for strength for the bereaved family, the corps and others affected by the loss.

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Kano: Soldiers Kill Two Kidnappers, Rescue Victim, Recover ₦10m

Published

4 hours ago

October 18, 2026

Trends Admin

Kano: Soldiers Kill Two Kidnappers, Rescue Victim, Recover ₦10m

Troops of the Nigerian Army have killed two suspected kidnappers, rescued an abducted man and recovered ₦10 million reportedly paid as ransom during a security operation in Falgore Forest, Doguwa Local Government Area of Kano State.

The operation was carried out by troops of the Army’s 3 Brigade under Operation MESA, in collaboration with personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS) and local hunters.

The operation followed the abduction of Alhaji Kabiru Aliyu on October 11, 2026, at Fanyabo Village in Falgore Forest.

According to the Army, Aliyu was returning from Yandoka Market in neighbouring Kaduna State at about midnight when suspected kidnappers seized him.

The abductors subsequently contacted his family in Yan Taburmi Village and demanded a ransom for his release.

Following the report of the abduction, troops acted on intelligence and worked with other security personnel and local hunters to track the suspected kidnappers.

The joint security team mounted an ambush in the area, leading to an encounter in which two suspected members of the kidnapping gang were killed.

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The operation also resulted in Aliyu’s rescue, while other suspected members of the gang reportedly escaped towards the adjoining Falgore Forest.

During a subsequent search of the area, the troops recovered ₦10 million said to have been paid by the victim’s family as ransom.

The Army said the recovered money was returned to Aliyu and his family.

The development was disclosed in a statement by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 3 Brigade, Major Babatunde Zubairu.

The Commander of 3 Brigade, Brigadier General Saka Jimoh, commended the troops for their alertness, professionalism and fighting spirit during the operation.

Jimoh reaffirmed the brigade’s commitment to sustaining pressure on criminal groups and preventing further security breaches in Kano State.

He also urged residents to provide security agencies with credible and timely information that could assist ongoing efforts to tackle kidnapping and other criminal activities.

The rescue comes amid continuing security concerns over abductions for ransom in parts of northern Nigeria. The Army’s statement indicated that other suspected members of the gang remained at large following the operation.

Kano: Soldiers Kill Two Kidnappers, Rescue Victim, Recover ₦10m

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Oyo Baby Trafficking Scandal: Mother, Doctor Arrested Over Alleged ₦2m Sale of Infant

Published

4 hours ago

October 18, 2026

Trends Admin

Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka

Oyo Baby Trafficking Scandal: Mother, Doctor Arrested Over Alleged ₦2m Sale of Infant

The Oyo State Police Command has rescued a one-month-old baby girl allegedly sold for ₦2 million in Ido Local Government Area of Ibadan, arresting the child’s mother and the owner of the health facility where she was delivered.

The incident came to light after the baby’s grandmother, Mary Amos, reported the child’s disappearance to the police on October 15, 2026, raising concerns that the infant might have been sold.

According to the police, Mary told investigators that her 23-year-old daughter, Cecilia Amos, gave birth to the baby girl on September 6 at Ebepraise Health Centre in Ido. She reportedly said her daughter disappeared with the child about seven days after delivery and could not provide a satisfactory explanation for the baby’s whereabouts.

Following the complaint, police operatives arrested Cecilia for questioning. The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said the mother allegedly implicated the owner of the health facility, 40-year-old Dr Adeleke Ebenezer, and another person, Hassan Oludunni, in the arrangement.

According to the police account, Cecilia alleged that the two men lured her into the arrangement and facilitated the transfer of the baby to a person identified as Odunayo Folawewo.

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The police said preliminary investigations indicated that the alleged transaction involved ₦2 million. Cecilia reportedly received ₦1 million, while Ebenezer and Oludunni allegedly received ₦500,000 each.

Police subsequently rescued the baby and arrested Ebenezer in connection with the case. The command said efforts were ongoing to apprehend the other suspects, including the alleged buyer, and bring everyone linked to the incident to justice.

The police have not reported the conclusion of the investigation or any court determination of the allegations. The arrested suspects are entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty by a court of law.

The case has renewed attention on child trafficking and the protection of vulnerable children, particularly newborns who depend entirely on adults for their safety and care.

The Oyo State Police Command urged members of the public to report suspected cases of child trafficking and other offences involving vulnerable persons promptly.

Residents can contact the Oyo State Call Response Centre on its toll-free line, 615, or reach the police command’s control room on 08081768614 or 07055495413 to report emergencies or suspected criminal activity.