Father, 33-Year-Old Son Arrested Over Alleged FCTA Promotion Exam Fraud

A 33-year-old man, Monsuru Musa, has been arrested alongside his father after allegedly impersonating him and writing a promotion examination on his behalf during the ongoing FCT Civil Service Commission examination.

Monsuru was reportedly caught on the third day of the promotion examination at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), where security personnel deployed at the instance of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike detected that he was not the registered candidate.

The suspect reportedly told security officials that his father, Musa Mohammed, who works with the FCT Fire Service, was sick and had directed him to sit for the examination on his behalf. The explanation reportedly led to further questioning of both men.

Father and son were subsequently handed over to the police for further investigation after making statements to operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) over the alleged examination malpractice and impersonation.

October 07, () – A 33-year-old man, Monsuru Musa, has been arrested alongside his father, Musa Mohammed, after he was allegedly caught impersonating his father and writing a promotion examination on his behalf in the Federal Capital Territory.

The incident occurred on Wednesday, the third day of the promotion examination being conducted by the FCT Civil Service Commission.

Monsuru was reportedly caught at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), one of the venues for the examination, while allegedly sitting for the test meant for his father, an employee of the FCT Fire Service.

The arrest followed security arrangements put in place for the examination at the instance of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, with security personnel monitoring the exercise to prevent examination malpractice and other forms of misconduct.

According to the account of the incident, security personnel apprehended Monsuru after discovering that he was taking the examination in place of the registered candidate.

When questioned, the 33-year-old reportedly claimed that his father was sick and could not sit for the examination himself.

He, however, told the security officials that his father was within the NOUN premises and had directed him to write the examination on his behalf.

The explanation reportedly prompted further interrogation of both the son and his father.

During questioning, Monsuru reportedly put his father’s age at between 67 and 68 years.

His father, however, allegedly gave a different account, saying he would be 60 years old by February 2027.

The apparent discrepancy in the ages reportedly led to further questions about the circumstances surrounding the examination and the identities of those involved.

Musa Mohammed was also questioned about his educational background. He reportedly told the authorities that he completed primary school in 1977 and secondary school in 1982.

Following the interrogation, both father and son were handed over to the police for further investigation.

They had earlier made statements to operatives of the Department of State Services in connection with the incident.

Background

Promotion examinations are conducted within the civil service to assess eligible officers seeking advancement to higher positions or grades.

The process is intended to ensure that candidates meet the required professional and administrative standards before promotion.

Because the outcome of such examinations can affect the career progression of public servants, authorities routinely impose measures to prevent impersonation, cheating and other forms of examination malpractice.

The FCT Civil Service Commission’s ongoing examination is being conducted across designated centres, with security personnel deployed to monitor the exercise.

The arrest of Monsuru and his father followed the alleged attempt to circumvent that process by having another person sit for the examination on behalf of the registered candidate.