FCC Commissioner refutes allegations of receiving money from job seekers

Manman Alakai, the Commissioner representing Nasarawa State in the Federal Character Commission (FCC), firmly denied allegations of accepting money to facilitate job placements for job seekers. He made this denial during a session before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating job racketeering in Federal Government agencies in Abuja on Tuesday.

Alakai categorically rejected any involvement in collecting money to secure jobs for individuals in Ministries, Departments, or Agencies (MDAs). He refuted claims made by Musa Ibrahim, a victim of job racketeering who testified on August 14. Ibrahim alleged that he and nine others had paid substantial sums of money into Mr. Abdullahi Ibrahim’s account, acting as a middleman to facilitate payments to the commissioner representing Nasarawa State.

In his defense before the committee, Alakai acknowledged knowing Ibrahim but clarified that Ibrahim had never been his Personal Assistant or worked for the FCC. Alakai recounted an incident where a traditional ruler in Nasarawa informed him that one of his aides had accepted money for job slots. Alakai took action by reporting the matter to the police, resulting in Ibrahim being traced. Police discovered a Nigerian Correctional Service uniform at Ibrahim’s residence, and he claimed to work there. Alakai mentioned that those defrauded by Ibrahim had taken the matter to court.

Alakai urged the committee to investigate his account to verify Ibrahim’s claim, emphasizing that his account is open for scrutiny. He invited the committee to examine his financial records since Ibrahim alleged making payments to him for job slots.

Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Yusuf Gagdi, revealed that approximately nine individuals had evidence of transfers made to Ibrahim, prompting Alakai’s invitation to provide testimony.

Expressing frustration over the absence of Musa Ibrahim, who had made the initial allegations, the chairman emphasized that making public allegations without substantiating them through evidence was unacceptable. He expressed the committee’s commitment to upholding due process and preventing baseless allegations from tarnishing individuals’ reputations.

The chairman further asserted that the committee had uncovered two critical issues within the commission – accusations against the chairman and the alleged sale of job slots among commissioners. He stated his determination not to summon anyone before the FCC again and underscored the importance of concrete evidence when making allegations against public officers.