National Examinations Council, NECO has cautioned members of the public against fake job syndicates warning individuals against seeking job through third parties.
NECO Spokesperson, Mr Azeez Sani, gave this warning in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja.
The statement stated that if NECO was to employ, it would follow the normal channel which includes making public advertisement and through other official channels.
He disclosed that on behalf of NECO, the Niger State Police Command arrested a fake job syndicate run by a couple and three others for allegedly defrauding over 50 persons to the tune of over N10 million, with the promise of employment at the National Examinations Council’s headquarters in Minna.
According to NECO, members of the syndicate, who were posing as NECO’s recruiting agents, were arrested at a hotel in Minna, Niger State, after a tip-off by the internal security network set up by NECO’s Registrar, Prof. Ibrahim Wushishi.
Among those arrested are a 28-year-old woman, Patience Adamu, and her 48-year-old husband, Matthew Samson, residing in Minna. Others are 38-year-old Godwin Mathew, 35-year-old Emmanuel David and 29-year-old Perter Samuel, all residents of Kaduna, in Kaduna Sate.
According to the Spokesperson of the Niger State Police Command, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, Patience was arrested alongside her husband and three other suspects after a tip-off.
“On 20/05/2022 at about 1230hrs, based on a tip off that suspected syndicate of job scammers were sighted at a hotel in Minna, documenting some applicants for placement into the National Examination Council (NECO) Headquarters, Minna.
“On the receipt of this information, Police operatives attached to Intelligence Unit of the Command swung into action and arrested the following suspects: Patience Adamu, 28 years old of Talba Estate Kpakungu Minna; Mathew Samson aged 48 years of same address; Godwin Mathew aged 35 years of Kaduna State; Emmanuel David aged 35 years of Kaduna State and Peter Samuel aged 29 years of Kaduna State,” he said.
Abiodun further explained that during interrogation, Patience confessed that she had contacted about ten unsuspecting members of the public since the year 2020 till date for a job placement offer at NECO with a payment of N500,000 each, adding that each of the victims made half payments, to pay the balance after issuance of appointment letters.
According to him, she arranged fake documentations for the victims in conspiracy with her husband, Mathew Samson.
“She said that her intention was to raise money for business and to refund the victims after the business must have boomed. That she had no employment offer or any connection for job placement at NECO.
“In the course of this investigation, we have discovered over 50 victims who fell to the job racketeering scam to the tune of over 10 million naira,” he said.
He advised members of the public to be wary of job scammers of this nature and not be desperate in the name of seeking for employment.
Employment scam to fund business
Meanwhile, at a press conference in Minna, where the alleged syndicate were paraded, Patience allegedly confessed to have collected over N10 million from her victims, the proceeds of which she used to purchase four landed property(ies) in Kaduna.
“It started in 2020. I collected money from 30 and above people. I charged them N500,000. You pay half and when the job is out you pay the balance; but some people paid N180,000, N200,000, some paid N300,000 and some N500,000.
“I have collected more than N10 million. I acquired some landed property with some of the money. I have two kids,” she said.
The mother of two denied having any links with NECO, adding that her intention was to refund the monies collected from her victims after starting her business, but for the threat that came on her team.
“I wanted to raise the money for business. I have even started refunding some people. My husband is not aware. I have purchased four lands in Kaduna. The highest was purchased at N1.8 million and the least is N1.5 million,” she said.
Defrauded victim
One of the victims who spoke anonymously, said he got to know about Patience from a friend; so, they went to her house to make some confirmation.
“So, we went there and asked her some basic questions; she was confirming, she even showed us her family members: her children, her husband also, the cars were there. From there we proceeded to have daily phone call conversations with her.
“So, I asked what was the initial payment? She confirmed that initial payment was going to be N200,000 then afterwards, we will pay another N200,000 when we see the documentation, emails and all that.
“Funny enough, the way she was saying it, it happened that I paid the sum of N400,000 and she said after the N400,000 payment and all the documentation, we’ll get the offer letter; and once we collect the offer letter, we’ll pay the remaining balance.
“I paid mine this year, April, the payment was around 18th. So, what actually gave me confidence is that when I paid the first N200,000 it’s like she mistook me for another person and said no, I was supposed to just pay N100,000,” he said.
Emmanuel Ukoh
