Toyyibat Qasim
A 33-year-old man, Monsuru Musa, has been arrested for allegedly impersonating his father and writing a promotion examination on his behalf for an employee of the Federal Capital Territory Administration.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, during the ongoing promotion examination organised by the FCT Civil Service Commission for workers seeking career advancement within the administration.
Musa was reportedly caught at an examination centre located within the premises of the National Open University of Nigeria, where he allegedly presented himself as his father, Musa Mohammed, an employee of the FCT Fire Service.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the arrest followed heightened security monitoring ordered in connection with the examination.
The incident was made public in a video shared on X by the media aide to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, Lere Olayinka.
According to the account, security personnel monitoring the examination apprehended the younger Musa while he was allegedly writing the examination meant for his father.
During preliminary questioning, the 33-year-old reportedly claimed that his father was ill and unable to attend the examination.
He was, however, said to have admitted that his father instructed him to sit for the examination on his behalf.
The development took a more curious turn when the security operatives questioned Musa about his father’s age.
The younger man reportedly said his father was between 67 and 68 years old.
However, Mohammed allegedly gave a different account, stating that he would turn 60 in February 2027.
The conflicting accounts reportedly prompted further questioning by the security personnel.
During interrogation, the father was said to have told the operatives that he completed his primary education in 1977 and his secondary education in 1982.
Following the incident, both father and son were reportedly taken into custody.
They were initially said to have made statements to operatives of the Department of State Services before being transferred to the police for further investigation.
The circumstances surrounding the alleged impersonation, including whether the father authorised or facilitated his son’s presence at the examination centre, are expected to form part of the police investigation.
The examination is being conducted by the FCT Civil Service Commission as part of the process for promoting eligible workers within the administration.
The incident has also raised questions about examination integrity and the effectiveness of identity verification at public service promotion examinations.
Neither the FCT Civil Service Commission nor the police had, as of the time of filing this report, publicly disclosed the specific charges, if any, to be brought against the suspects.
