A former staff member of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Mr Haruna Kolo, has alleged that job seekers paid millions of naira into his personal account for remission to the commission’s Chairman, Mrs Farida Dankaka.

Kolo said this on Monday in Abuja at the resumed investigative hearing of the House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee probing job racketeering in Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government.

The committee is also probing the alleged mismanagement of Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information (IPPIS) in MDAs.

Kolo said he usually approached Point of Sale (POS) agents to collect the money in cash to deliver to the chairman.

He further said that Dankaka appointed him as her Chief Protocol while he was working  in FCC.

Kolo, who now works with the Assets Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON), said that he saw the allegation against him, regarding job racketeering, in the media.

He said some of those who came to seek for job in the commission paid between N1 million and N5 million, depending on the MDAs.

He denied having been involved in job racketeering, alleging that he only acted on the instruction of Dankaka who, he said, was allegedly receiving the money in cash.

“She often gave me verbal instruction in respect of people paying for jobs and lodgment after the collection of the agreed amount.

“The money was always sent to my account which I subsequently cashed and sent to her in cash,” he said.

Kolo said his redeployment to AMCON was with the knowledge of the chairman of the commission.

”My going to AMCON was her personal favour to me and others that left FCC at the time,” he said.

He, however, accused the chairman of going after him when her sister was rejected at AMCON due to age factor.

Kolo said the sister in question was already 51 at the time she was offered the job at AMCON.

He said that he had been receiving several calls threatening his life and sought the protection of the committee.

He warned that the FCC chairman should be held responsible, should anything sinister happened to him.

Kolo also said that the chairman’s claim that FCC had not carried out recruitment since her assumption of office was not true.

He said that as a desk officer of IPPIS in FCC, he could confirm that the commission carried out recruitments at different times.

“I am the desk officer of IPPIS for FCC and over 300 employment letters were issued but those captured by FCC were few,” he said.

In a swift reaction to Kolo’s allegations, Dankaka said she never collected any money from Kolo as alleged.

She further said that it was a conspiracy between him and the other commissioners to tarnish her image.

Disturbed by the barrage of allegations, Dankaka immediately brought out a copy of the Holy Qur’an and swore never to have collected any money from Kolo as proceeds of job racketeering.

“I have never asked him to collect money from job seekers for me,” she said.

Responding to the issues, the Chairman of the committee, Rep. Yusuf Gagdi, told Kolo that the committee was in possession of evidence that he had N38.5 million in his account, which was withdrawn from POS.

He also said that N75 million was in Kolo’s accounts in Access Bank, UBA and Eco Bank as a proceeds of job racketeering

”Kolo was serving as a front for collecting money for job recruitments in the commission as against the service’s financial regulation and the extant law.

”The record I have about your account you don’t even have and the record of your service I have.

“We are not giving any judgment in FCC, we are still investigating.

”This committee will have to be judicial in nature.

“We knew why we asked Kolo to give us evidence.

“We must come out straight.

“We aren’t even talking about racketeering in other MDAs.

“Kolo, you are not supposed to leave here without being arrested.

“As a civil servant, you are not supposed to have such huge amount in your account,” the committee chairman said.

The Federal Character Commission (FCC), says it has set up six ad hoc committees to audit nominal rolls of federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

This followed the resolution of the FCC board to audit nominal rolls of MDAs to ascertain their level of compliance with the principle of federal character pursuant to Section 4(2)(3)&(4) of FCC Act.

The resolution is contained in a statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja by Mr Dipo Akinsola, the Director of Public Affairs and Communications of the Commission.

He said the FCC took the decision at a plenary chaired by the Executive Chairman of the commission, Dr Muheeba Dankaka.

Akinsola said the Commission resolved to set up the six ad hoc committees to look into the activities of all government agencies to ensure compliance with federal character principles.

“The Commission regrets that the non-observance of due process in filling vacant positions by the MDAs is affecting President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision of uniting Nigerians through creating equal opportunities.

“The resultant effect of this has created an atmosphere of suspicion and imbalance in the country.

“In this vein, pursuant to Section 4(2)(3)&(4) of the Federal Character Commission (Establishment Act), six ad hoc committees has been set up,” he said.

He listed the terms of reference of the committees to include ascertaining all Certificates of Compliance issued from January 2019 to date.

He said that the committees, expected to conclude the assignments within three weeks.

Akinsola said that the Executive Chairman charged the committees to discharge the assignments in the best interest of the citizenry.

He said Dankaka equally enjoined the Chief Executives of the MDAs to give the committees maximum cooperation as they (committees) were not constituted to witch-hunt anyone.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday swore in the new Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Muheeba Dankaka from Kwara, and 36 other members of the commission.

The president also swore in six Federal Commissioners of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), including Gboyega Oladele, from Osun.

Buhari also administered oath of office on two members of the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

The 36 members of the FCC included Henry Ogbulogo (Abia), Salihu Bello (Adamawa), Dorah Daniel (Akwa-Ibom), Ibeabuchi Uche, (Anambra), Mohammed Tijjani, (Bauchi), Tonye Okio (Bayelsa) and Silas Macikpah (Benue).

Others were Abba Ali Monguno (Borno), Nsor Atamgba (Cross River), Alims Agoda (Delta), Tobias Chukuemeka (Ebonyi), Imuetinyan Festus (Edo), Sesan Fatoba (Ekiti), Ginika Tor (Enugu). Hamza Mohammed (Gombe), Diogu Uche, (Imo) and Lawan Ya’u Roni (Jigawa).

Also sworn-in were Hadiza Muazu (Kaduna), Mohammed Na’iya (Kano), Lawal Garba (Katsina), Abubakar Atiku Bunu (Kebbi), Idris Bello (Kogi), Are Bolaji (Lagos), Nasir Isa Kwarra (Nasarawa), and Suleiman Barau (Niger).

Others sworn in were Abiodun Akinlade (Ogun), Olufemi Omosanya (Ondo), Adeoye Olalekan (Osun) Adeniyi Olowofela (Oyo), Stephen Jings (Plateau), Wokocha Augustine (Rivers),

The rest were Abdullahi Tafida (Sokoto), Alhaji Armaya’u Abubakar (Taraba), Jibril Maigari (Yobe), Sani Garba (Zamfara) and Adamu Sidi-Ali (Federal Capital Territory).

Senate on Tuesday confirmed 37 nominees from from the 38 presented by President Muhammadu Buhari as Chairman and members of the Federal Character Commission.

Senate confirmation is sequel to the presentation of the report of the Committee on Federal Character and Inter -Governmental Affairs and consideration of the report at the Senate Committee of the Whole.

The nominees confirmed by the senate to serve at the Federal Character Commission include: Muheeba Dankaka, Chairman; (Kwara).

Other members confirm end to serve as members are : Henry Ogbulogo, Abia; Salihu Bello, Adamawa; Obonganwan Deborah Daniel Ebony, Akwa-Ibom; Ibeabuchi Uche, Anambra; Mohammed Tijjani, Bauchi; Tonye Okio, Bayelsa; Silas Mfa Macikpah, Benue; Abba Ali Monguno, Borno; Nsor Atamgba, Cross River; and Alims Agoda.

Others are: Tobias Chukuemeka, Ebonyi; Imuetinyan Festus, Edo; Sesan Fatoba; Ginika Florence Tor, Enugu; Hamza Mohammed, Gombe; Diogu Uche, Imo; Lawan Ya’u Roni, Jigawa; Hadiza Usman Muazu, Kaduna; Mohammed Awwal Na’iya, Kano; Lawal Garba, Katsina; Abubakar Atiku Bunu, Kebbi; Idris Eneye Bello, Kogi; Are Miftah Bolaji, Lagos; Nasir Isa Kwarra, Nasarawa; and Suleiman Barau, Niger.

Also appointed are: Abiodun Isiaq Akinlade, Ogun; Olufemi Omosanya, Ondo; Adeoye Abdularazaq Olalekan, Osun; Adeniyi Olowofela, Oyo; Stephen Jings, Plateau; Wokocha Augustine, Rivers; Abdullahi Taminu Tafida, Sokoto; Alhaji Armaya’u Dauda Abubakar, Taraba; Jibril Maigari, Yobe; Sani Garba, Zamfara; and Adamu Mohammed Sidi-Ali, Federal Capital Territory among others.

However,before the confirmation of the nominees, Sen.Abaribe Enyinnaya (PDP Abia) had drew the attention of senate to a memo he submitted to the committee on the need to ensure equity in the appointment of officers of the commission.

He said it was not in the spirit of equity and fairness for two of the nominees for the position of Chairman and Secretary to come from the North.

Abaribe noted that appointments to the two positions had always be rotated among the north and south geopolitical zones of the country.

But Deputy President of the Senate, Sen.Omo Agege in his response to Abaribe’s position said his remarks were targeted at questioning the authority of President Muhammadu to make appointments.

He explained that the Senate should not be worried over the issue as tenure of the current secretary of the commission would elapse in no distance time, noting that vacancy of the position would address the issue in question.

Similarly, Senate also approved the nominations of Dr.Fredrick Ekwem representing Imo and Abia and Dr Jonah Madugu representing Benue,Nasarawa State and Plateau as Commissioners of Federal Civil Commission.

Mr James Kolo, the Kwara Commissioner-designate in the Federal Character Commission (FCC), who recently appeared before the Senate is dead.

He is from Patigi Local Government Area in Kwara State.

James Kolo died in the early hours of Tuesday after brief illness.

At at the time of filing this report, cause of his death is still unknown but close associates said it was after being sick for a while.

His corpse has been deposited at the University Of Ilorin Teaching Hospital Morgue.

Meanwhile, Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara has commiserated with the Edu community and the All Progressives Congress (APC) family over the sudden death of Mr. James Kolo.

The governor’s condolence is contained in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Rafiu Ajakaye in Ilorin on Tuesday.

The deceased was nominated alongside Hajiya Fareedah Dankaka to represent Kwara as commissioner and chairman respectively in the Federal Character Commission (FCC) by President Muhammadu Buhari on April 28.

AbdulRazaq described Kolo as a loyal party man and a team player whose death was a great loss to his family, the people of Edu local government and the entire state.

“We are devastated by the death of Mr. Kolo after recently falling ill.

“He was a staunch party man and a bridge builder, who worked hard alongside other patriots for the success of the APC in the state.

“We are consoled by the fact that he was a good man who got along with everybody that crossed his path. Many knew him for being a generous person.

“We commiserate with his family and pray the Almighty God to comfort them and rest his gentle soul,” the Governor said.

Rep. Tunji Ajuloopin (APC-Kwara) on Wednesday commended President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing Dr Farida Dankaka as the Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC).

In a statement issued in Ilorin, the lawmaker described President Buhari’s decision to appoint Dankaka, given her wealth of experience, as a well thought move.

Ajuloopin, representing Ekiti/Isin/Irepodun/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency, expressed optimism that her appointment would be beneficial to all Nigerians.

It would be recalled that Dankaka’s appointment was contained in a letter read by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, during plenary on Tuesday.

Ajuloopin said Dankaka’s experience as a former President of Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KADCCIMA), would assist her in the discharge of her duties.

While urging her to exhibit unwavering commitment in the discharge of her duty in the commission, the lawmaker congratulated the new appointee.

He also urged Dankaka to use her new office to serve Nigerians irrespective of tribe and ethnicity, adding that her tenure should leave a mark on the sands of time.

Dankaka hails from Kwara.