Witnesses Vindicate Dankaka As Reps Committee Declares Haruna Kolo Wanted

Witnesses Vindicate Dankaka As Reps Committee Declares Haruna Kolo Wanted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shina Ishola

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Several witnesses giving evidence at the sitting of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee probing allegations of job-racketeering in the Federal Character Commission (FCC) have absolved the Commission’s Chairman, Dr Muheeba Dankaka of any complicity in the matter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is just as the Committee led by Honourable Yusuf Gagdi issued a warrant of arrest for former staff of the Commission and ex-IPPIS officer, Haruna Kolo over his refusal to reappear before the Committee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kolo had appeared before the Committee on Monday, 7 August, 2023, where he confirmed that he indeed collected money for job slots from applicants in millions of Naira.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He however alleged that he gave the money to the FCC Chairman, an allegation he was not able to prove.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Committee asked him to come the following day while inviting applicants who paid for jobs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Tuesday, 8 August; Wednesday, 9 August; and Thursday, 10 August, 2023, Kolo refused to appear before the committee despite invitations by the Committee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This prompted the Committee Chairman to issue warrant of arrest for Kolo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investigations revealed that Kolo may have fled the country after the gravity of his confession hit him and the fact that subsequent reports and evidence given at the Committee sitting have absolved and vindicate the FCC Chairman.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two applicants who gave evidence before the committee on Tuesday, 8 August, 2023, absolved Dr Dankaka of any wrongdoings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abdul Malik Ahmad and Ali Yaro, applicants, told the committee that they paid N1 million and N2 million respectively to Kolo for jobs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They were however emphatic that Dr Dankaka was not involved in their deal with Kolo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“In all our discussions with him, there was nowhere the name of the FCC Chairman was mentioned. She was not involved and Kolo didn’t mention her name,” they said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even when members of the committee took tme up to ask the applicants pointedly whether they have any dealing with the FCC Chairman, they said she was never involved.

 

“There was not a single moment her name was mentioned. She was not involved at all,” they said emphatically.