The victims of alleged job racketeering at the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Andulamalik Ahmed and Ali Yaro, say they paid N1 million and N2 million respectively for job placement in the commission.

Ahmed and Yaro made this known when they appeared as witnesses at the ongoing investigation by the House of Representatives ad hoc committee probing job racketeering and mismanagement of IPPIS in Abuja on Tuesday, August 8, 2023.

Speaking on the issue, Ahmed, an indigene of Adamawa State, said he met the driver of the Commissioner representing Taraba, Yisha’u Gambo, who promised to get him a job in the FCC on the condition that he paid the sum of N1 million.

He however said he refused to pay the money to Yisha’u because he was an ordinary driver.

Ahmed said: “It was Yisha’u who introduced Mr Harunu Kolo, a former staff of the FCC and the desk officer of IPPIS in the commission.

“I paid N1 million into Kolo’s account when I confirmed that he was a staff of the commission, I refused to pay to the driver for security reasons.

“I transfered N1 million to Kolo’s account. We initially agreed on N1.5million with Gambo, a driver to the commissioner representing Taraba.”

He said 27 of them were issued appointment letters having paid the requested money, adding that in spite of the fact that appointment letters were issued, they were not posted to any designated MDAs.

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“The Head of Human Resources in FCC confirmed to us that our appointments were genuine before they cleverly took it from us. I was engaged for two years before I was disengaged without posting,” Ahmed added.

He said contrary to information by the FCC that there was no recruitment since 2017, there was recruitment in 2021 and all the commissioners had a hand in the recruitments exercise.

He said: “Kolo convinced me to pay so that our employment can come after that of directors and the commissioners.”

Ahmed who betrayed emotion begged the committee to help get his job back, adding that he was not satisfied with receiving salary without doing the required job.

Also speaking, Yaro from Borno State said he was asked to pay N2 million to secure a job in the FCC.

He said: “I paid N2 million into Badamasi Jalo’s account, another victim but acting as agent for collection of monies for Kolo.

“Kolo and Badamasi both assured me that I will get appointment letter in January,” he said, adding that he was captured on IPPIS on August 5, 2021, but never got placement.

“I graduated 11 years ago and I had a chance to become Boko Haram but I refused because I wanted to be a good citizen,” Yaro said.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the committee, Yusuf Gagdi, said the testimonies from the two victims should encourage all Nigerians who have been shortchanged to appear.

Gagdi said: “I am very happy that you said you had the offer  to become a Boko Haram but refused.

”We cannot cry like you but our hearts blead for this country, we are going to do justice for you, we are not here to wich hunt anybody.

“You have told us who you gave money to. We will invite you again for a closed-door meeting with the other 27 victims.”

Gagdi told Kolo to again appear before the committee on Wednesday, August 9, by 10 a. m.

He also summoned the driver to the Taraba Commissioner and the Secretary to appear before the committee.

The Star