Former Senate President and current Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party Council, Adolphus Wabala, has called for the removal of Chairman, Federal Character Commission, Muheeba Dankaka, over corruption allegations.
The former Senate President, in an exclusive interview with Saturday Punch, narrated his experience when he visited the Federal Communications Commission seeking job placements for people from his constituency.
He revealed that he had been informed that he would not get the job without a bribe.
“I went directly to the FCC and requested a couple of jobs for some people in my constituency. Believe it or not, nothing has been done till now. It’s because I am not giving them the money and they can’t even ask me to give them the money. But I heard from some people there that they will not give any jobs to people in my constituency for free,” he said.
This is not the first time such allegations of obstruction of justice have arisen regarding the FCC.
At a House committee hearing investigating employment fraud, 14 witnesses testified about payments made to Haruna Koro, a former FCC administrator for the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System, in exchange for job placements.
During questioning, Koro admitted to collecting money from job seekers and giving it to Dankaka.
However, the committee of inquiry into the matter led by Yusuf Gagdi (APC, Plateau) is yet to release its findings a year on, raising suspicions that the investigation was suppressed.
A source within the House of Commons, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, suggested that substantial evidence had been gathered but not acted on due to influence from those involved.
Wabala criticised the APC-led government and the National Assembly for ignoring issues bordering on corruption.
“Despite serious allegations, nothing has been done. We expected the same swift action taken against Betta Edu (former minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation) to be applied here,” he said.
He claimed corruption was on the rise under the current administration and accused the ruling party of failing to keep its promises to eradicate it.
Meanwhile, efforts to get Chairman Gagdi’s reaction on the issue proved unsuccessful as calls on his mobile phone went unanswered.
Also, he had not responded to SMS and WhatsApp messages sent to him as at the time of filing this report.
Similarly, attempts to get the House Spokesperson, Mr Akin Rotimi, to speak on the matter were unsuccessful.
He did not respond to calls on his mobile phone or messages on WhatsApp.
Reacting to the allegations, APC leader and former Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, called for a thorough investigation.
He said he had spoken with FCC members who acknowledged the obstruction allegations.
Stressing the need for accountability, Shittu said: “If the President acted swiftly against Betta Edu, the same should be done in this case. There must be no selective investigation into corruption.”
He said urgent action must be taken to address problems within the FCC and restore public confidence in the commission.
“This is not a political issue, it is not about our political party, the APC, it is about the need to do the right thing. People are condemning this woman and it is only through a public investigation that we can establish that this woman was a victim of blasphemy.”
“So, I appeal to the President and the Senate President to take concrete steps with a proper investigation.”
