How scammers made N51.8m from desperate job seekers in Cross River

At least 47 job seekers in Cross River State allegedly lost more than N51.8 million to individuals who promised to secure them appointments into the state’s local government service, an investigation by the Cross River State Local Government Service Commission has found.

The victims reportedly paid between N100,000 and N1.5 million after being led to believe that the payments would guarantee them government jobs.

Chairman of the Cross River State Local Government Service Commission, Nsa Ekpo, disclosed the findings while responding to journalists in Calabar.

According to Ekpo, the affected applicants were deceived into paying for positions that did not exist, with some victims allegedly receiving documents presented as employment letters to reinforce the impression that their appointments had been secured.

The investigation found that applicants seeking senior positions were among those who allegedly paid the highest amounts.

Some reportedly paid between N1.3 million and N1.5 million in the belief that the money would help secure appointments into the local government service.

The alleged perpetrators reportedly strengthened the deception by issuing fake employment letters to some applicants.

Ekpo said the victims were “cajoled, frightened and intimidated” into parting with their money, while some only realised they had been defrauded after discovering that the promised appointments were not genuine.

The alleged job scam was uncovered during an investigation into the state’s 2024/2025 local government recruitment exercise.

The state government constituted a panel following complaints about irregularities in the recruitment process.

According to Ekpo, the investigation also uncovered alleged attempts to manipulate the recruitment process by inserting relatives and other individuals who did not meet the stipulated requirements.

The panel relied substantially on information supplied by whistleblowers, some of whom provided evidence that investigators subsequently verified.

Ekpo said the whistleblowers were assured of confidentiality and security to encourage them to come forward with information about the alleged irregularities.

The findings prompted the cancellation of the 2024/2025 recruitment exercise.

However, Ekpo said 821 candidates from the cancelled process had been cleared and would be retained, meaning they would not have to go through the recruitment process again.

The state is also preparing for a fresh recruitment exercise expected to begin within two weeks. The new exercise is expected to target the recruitment of 4,000 workers into the local government service.

Ekpo assured prospective applicants that the new recruitment process would not be commercialised.

He also said the final list of successful candidates, including the 821 candidates retained from the previous exercise, would be published as part of efforts to promote transparency.

Government Moves to Identify Suspects

The commission said efforts were underway to identify people allegedly involved in the recruitment irregularities and take appropriate legal action.

Ekpo said those found culpable could face prosecution or other sanctions under the law.

The case highlights the risks faced by job seekers in an environment where competition for government employment can make applicants vulnerable to people claiming to have access to recruitment officials or influence over appointments.

Authorities have consequently urged applicants to rely on official recruitment channels and avoid paying individuals who promise to guarantee government employment.

For the 47 victims identified by the panel, the investigation has provided a clearer picture of how their desperation for employment allegedly turned into a combined loss of more than N51.8 million.

The state government constituted a panel following complaints about irregularities in the recruitment process.

According to Ekpo, the investigation also uncovered alleged attempts to manipulate the recruitment process by inserting relatives and other individuals who did not meet the stipulated requirements.

The panel relied substantially on information supplied by whistleblowers, some of whom provided evidence that investigators subsequently verified.

Ekpo said the whistleblowers were assured of confidentiality and security to encourage them to come forward with information about the alleged irregularities.

The findings prompted the cancellation of the 2024/2025 recruitment exercise.

However, Ekpo said 821 candidates from the cancelled process had been cleared and would be retained, meaning they would not have to go through the recruitment process again.

The state is also preparing for a fresh recruitment exercise expected to begin within two weeks. The new exercise is expected to target the recruitment of 4,000 workers into the local government service.

Ekpo assured prospective applicants that the new recruitment process would not be commercialised.

He also said the final list of successful candidates, including the 821 candidates retained from the previous exercise, would be published as part of efforts to promote transparency.

The commission said efforts were underway to identify people allegedly involved in the recruitment irregularities and take appropriate legal action.

Ekpo said those found culpable could face prosecution or other sanctions under the law.

The case highlights the risks faced by job seekers in an environment where competition for government employment can make applicants vulnerable to people claiming to have access to recruitment officials or influence over appointments.

Authorities have consequently urged applicants to rely on official recruitment channels and avoid paying individuals who promise to guarantee government employment.

For the 47 victims identified by the panel, the investigation has provided a clearer picture of how their desperation for employment allegedly turned into a combined loss of more than N51.8 million.