Adolphus Wabara, former Senate President and current Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party’s Board of Trustees, has called for the removal of Muheeba Dankaka, Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), over allegations of corruption.
In an exclusive interview, Wabara recounted his visit to the FCC to request job placements for constituents, only to be told that positions were only available in exchange for bribes.
“I personally went to the FCC, requesting two or three jobs for people in my wards. You won’t believe that nothing has been done because I didn’t offer any money. I later discovered from others there that no job is given for free,” Wabara stated.
This isn’t the first time the FCC has been linked to job racketeering. During a House of Representatives Committee hearing on the issue, 14 witnesses testified about paying money to Haruna Kolo, a former Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System officer at the FCC, for job placements.
Kolo admitted to taking bribes and claimed to have passed them on to Dankaka. However, the committee, led by Yusuf Gagdi, has not released its findings after a year, sparking concerns that the investigation might be suppressed.
An anonymous source within the House of Representatives disclosed that while substantial evidence was gathered, it has been ignored due to the involvement of influential figures.
Wabara criticized the government and National Assembly, accusing them of ignoring serious corruption allegations. He compared the case to the swift action taken against former Humanitarian Affairs Minister Betta Edu and accused the current administration of allowing corruption to flourish.
Attempts to contact Gagdi and House of Representatives spokesman Akin Rotimi for comment were unsuccessful, as neither responded to calls or messages.
In response to the allegations, Adebayo Shittu, a former Minister of Communications and prominent member of the APC, called for a thorough investigation. He stated that he had spoken with an FCC member who confirmed the job racketeering claims. Shittu stressed the need for accountability, urging the government to act decisively and avoid selective justice.
“This isn’t about politics or the APC,” Shittu remarked. “It’s about doing what’s right. We need to properly investigate the claims against Dankaka and restore public trust in the FCC.” He also appealed to the President and Senate President to take immediate action by initiating a comprehensive inquiry into the matter.
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