Former IPPIS Officer Admits Collecting Bribe at Federal Character Commission


Juliet Akoje in Abuja

A former Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) desk officer at the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Mr. Haruna Kolo, who was alleged to be involved in job racketeering at the FCC said he acted based on an instruction from the Chairman of the Commission, Mrs. Muyeebat Dankaka.

Kolo, while admitting to the allegation at the resumed investigative hearing of the House

Ad-hoc Committee investigating Federal Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) Parastatals and Tertiary Institutions on Mismanagement of Personnel Recruitment, Employment Racketeering and Gross Mismanagement of the IPPIS, yesterday, said the appointment letters given to the job seekers in the commission were not fake as the FCC Chairman signed the letters herself.

According to Kolo, he resigned from the FCC on 2nd of November, 2022, to begin work at Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), but still received salary from FCC on two occasions, which he claimed he reported to the FCC Human Resource officer but was told it was not an issue and that it would be handled.

“When she came to FCC as the Executive Chairman, she appointed me as a protocol officer which I carried out my duty diligently. On the allegations of job racketeering, the FCC Chairman instructed me to liaise with one Mr. Shehu, who is a personal driver and PA to the Taraba State Commissioner.

“As a desk officer, I am responsible to take whoever is employed to IPPIS for capturing. No one can go there without a letter from the Chairman or Human Resource officer of FCC.”

He further revealed that, “When she came, she wrote a letter to the Accountant General instructing that no letter from the FCC should be honored except she signs the letter. So, whenever there were new employments, she signs, give to me and I take to the Accountant General’s office for capturing.

“Shehu is the one that brought those who paid monies to my account for job, some paid N1 million others N1.5 million all to my personal account, my Ecobank account. “She asked me to give cash to her which I did through PoS, so there is no evidence of transfer or anything. On the allegation of working at seven places, I was never at any time involved in seven jobs, they are making the allegation based on assumption.

“The second allegation on my subsequent employment to AMCOM, that was as a result of her personal favour to me. We were four in number, she gave the appointment letter to myself, Kadijah, Olushola, we all proceeded for interview at AMCON headquarters, Abuja, after which we were called upon for training on the 16th January, 2023, after the training, I and Olushola were called to Lagos.

“Unfortunately, Kadijah who is the Chairman’s biological sister was rejected, The Chairman accused me of being responsible for her rejection”

When asked if the Chairman of the Commission was aware of his transfer out of the Commission to AMCON, he explained that she was aware, contrary to earlier submission.

The FCC Chairman, Mrs. Muyeebat Dankaka while responding denied the allegations, saying she didn’t give Haruna Kolo any instructions to collect money from job seekers, saying when the case of job racketeering by Kolo was brought before her, she wrote the EFCC, ICPC and DSS to investigative the matter.

Earlier, the Chairman of the committee, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, promised to unravel the truth about the accusations and counter accusations about job racketeering in the FCC.

Gagdi, said the House through the Committee had collated evidence that would lead to the reformation of the FCC, adding that the committee would not cover up for anyone and that anyone found wanting will face the full wrath of the law.

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