A former IPPIS desk officer at the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Haruna Kolo, has admitted to collecting money from people in exchange for jobs at the commission.
According to Politics Nigeria, Kolo told the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee investigating mismanagement of the IPPIS that he collected over 75 million naira from people on the instruction of the FCC chairperson, Farida Dankaka.
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He said that Dankaka instructed him to collect the money to his personal Ecobank account and then pay it to her in cash. He said that he did this at several meetings at her house.
Kolo also said that he was still receiving salary from the FCC after he resigned from the commission in November 2022. According to him, he reported this to the FCC’s human resources officer but was told that it was not an issue.
“He said, “When she came to Federal Character 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, 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.
“When she came, she wrote a letter to the Accountant General instructing that no letter from FCC should be honored except she signs the letter. So when ever there were new employment, 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 1million others 1.5 million all to my personal account, my Eco bank account. She asked me to give cash to her which I did through POS so there is not evidence of transfer or anything.
“On the allegation of working at 7 places, I was never at any time involved in 7jobs, they are making the allegation based on assumption.
“The second allegation on my subsequent employment at AMCOM, was a result of her personal favour to me, we were 4 in number, and she gave the appointment letter to myself Kadijah, and Olushola, we all proceeded for an interview at AMCON headquarters in 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.
“I see no reason why the Chairperson will make allegations of such magnitude to my humble self. I have been threatened even at gunpoint and had to leave Abuja.
“Sir I want this committee to know that after this sitting if anything happen to me the FCC chairperson should be held responsible, ” Kolo added.
In response to Kolo’s testimony, the chairman of the committee, Yusuf Gagdi, said that the committee would not sit down and watch taxpayers’ money being embezzled.
He said, “this committee will not sit down and watch taxpayers money being embezzled but this committee too will be very careful in indicting futures of people just as Osun was talking. I said in the speech I read I didn’t see the relationship between selling this and selling that. I was very clear. I know why we were asking Kolo to give us evidence and we know why we were deferring this sitting for other witnesses that are alleged to have had financial dealings with Federal Character.
“Federal Character thank you for coming, Kolo appear here tomorrow. We are calling the other witnesses. We will allow you to do your work. Whosever that is found wanting will answer his father’s name, including Kolo Haruna.
“See Haruna Kolo, I am not saying anything will happen to you but by law you are not supposed to leave here without being arrested. For a civil servant that has thirty-something million in his account that admitted publicly that you are serving as a front to aid corruption. So I am quiet, I think and I don’t want to take you up on that because we don’t want to be seen to be sentimental. We want to as much possible protect you to get evidence against you and against others.
“God will save you and God will save us all. Nothing will happen to you because anybody that wants to harm you knows that if they harm you we have to suspect. So nothing is going to harm you. Thank you Federal Character. Nothing should happen to Kolo, that is our ruling.
“Federal Character we have resolved. Wait, please sit down, no commissioner should address the press. Don’t preempt our investigation. Federal Character please allow us to do justice, including the Chairman, Secretary, nobody from Federal Character should address the press on the pending investigation,” Gagdi added.
The committee adjourned the hearing to Tuesday.