The Executive Chairman of Federal Character Commission (FCC), Muheeba Dankaka, swearing by Koran asked Almighty to destroy her if she had perpetrated the alleged job racketeering.
Haruna Kolo, a former staffer of the Federal Character Commission, admitted to selling jobs allegedly on behalf of the commission’s chairman, Muheeba Dankaka
Kolo who was linked to alleged issuance of employment letters to some persons in exchange for huge bribes, stated that he only fronted for Executive Chairman of the Commission, Farida Dankaka.
Kolo, who for the first time appeared before the Ad-hoc committee of the House of Representatives, investigating the alleged job racketeering in MDAs, as well as manipulation of the Integrated Personnel Payroll and Information System (IPPIS) on Monday, said he usually got connection to the potential employees through one Gambo Shehu, a personal aide to the Commissioner representing Taraba State, and that such persons pay up to N1 million or N1.5 million or more in some cases.
While Kolo admitted that he was a staffer of the FCC prior to engagement of the current Chairman, he said Dankaka appointed him as her personnel, which made him to act as desk office for the IPPIS.
According to him, “when she (Dankaka) 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, whenever there were new employments, she signs, gives 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 N1million others 1.5 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 anytime involved in seven jobs, they are making the allegation based on assumption.
“The second allegation on my subsequent employment to AMCON, 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.
“I see no reason why the Chairperson will make allegations of such magnitude to my humble self. I have been threatened even at gun point 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 further noted.
Responding, Dankaka, who swore with a copy of the Holy Quran said he had never in her life collected any money from Kolo.
Dankaka while clutching Quran on her right hand declared ‘‘If I ever collected one Kolo, may Almighty destroy all that I have worked for. If I ever asked him to go and collect money from anybody, may this Quran destroy me. I am a Muslim. I have three DSS personnel working with me- they usually accompany me to wherever I go.
‘‘Since December, I have not set my eyes on this Kolo. I don’t know the driver he is talking about. All he has done for me was to buy air ticket for me. He has not come to my house to give me money. I thank God today that I am able to defend myself,’’ she admitted.
As she was confessing, the investigating cautioned her to refrain from the accusation and oath taking.
Chairman of the investigating panel, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, said the committee was being careful and fair to all parties, and will not be judgmental in its interaction until the conclusion of the probe, declaring that the hearing will resume Tuesday morning.
