Monsuru Musa FCT Exam Impersonation Arrest: Son Caught Taking Father's Test

• Monsuru Musa, 33, was arrested for impersonating his father, Musa Mohammed, during an FCT promotion examination in Abuja.
• The arrest occurred at the National Open University of Nigeria examination centre, following a directive from FCT Minister Nyesom Wike against malpractice.
• Both Monsuru and his father, an FCT Fire Service employee, admitted the father asked the son to take the exam due to health concerns.
• A discrepancy in the father's age emerged during interrogation, with Monsuru stating 67-68 years and Mohammed claiming he would turn 60 in February 2027.
• Both individuals were taken into custody by the DSS after making statements and subsequently handed over to the police.

The swift action taken against Monsuru Musa and Musa Mohammed signals a strong stance against FCT Civil Service Commission misconduct.

A 33-year-old man, Monsuru Musa, was recently apprehended in Abuja for allegedly impersonating his father during a promotion examination for employees of the Federal Capital Territory Administration. The incident, which occurred on a Wednesday at the National Open University of Nigeria examination centre, marked the third day of the promotion exercise organized by the FCT Civil Service Commission.

Monsuru Musa was caught in the act of writing the examination on behalf of his father, Musa Mohammed, an employee of the FCT Fire Service. Security personnel, who were specifically deployed to monitor the examination following a directive from FCT Minister Nyesom Wike aimed at preventing examination malpractice, made the arrest. A video documenting the incident was subsequently shared on X by Lere Olayinka, a media aide to the Minister.

During initial interrogation, Monsuru admitted that he was not the registered candidate for the examination. He explained that his father had instructed him to take the test due to an alleged health condition. This admission immediately raised concerns about the integrity of the examination process and highlighted the strict enforcement measures now in place against such misconduct.

Further investigation involved questioning the father, Musa Mohammed, who confirmed that Monsuru was indeed his biological son and acknowledged that he had asked him to sit for the examination because of his health. However, a significant discrepancy emerged regarding Mohammed's age; Monsuru initially told interrogators his father was between 67 and 68 years old, while Mohammed stated he would turn 60 in February 2027.

Mohammed provided additional personal details during his interrogation, indicating he completed primary school in 1977 and secondary school in 1982. He also mentioned traveling to Portugal in 1991 and commencing employment in 2007. Despite these details, he appeared uncertain about his precise age, although he did state he was due to retire in February. Both Monsuru and Mohammed independently confirmed the father's instruction for the son to take the examination.

Following their statements to operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), both men were taken into custody. They were subsequently handed over to the police for further investigation and potential legal proceedings, underscoring the serious nature of the alleged FCT promotion examination malpractice.

This incident of alleged Abuja exam fraud arrest directly reflects the heightened vigilance surrounding public service examinations within the FCT. The FCT Civil Service Commission, responsible for organizing the promotion exercise, operates under a clear mandate to ensure fairness and integrity. The proactive deployment of security personnel, which led to Monsuru Musa's apprehension, was a direct consequence of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike's explicit directive to combat examination malpractice.

The swift action taken against Monsuru Musa and Musa Mohammed signals a strong stance against FCT Civil Service Commission misconduct. The involvement of both the DSS and the police indicates that such impersonation and examination fraud are being treated as serious offenses with potential criminal implications. This case serves as a stark reminder that attempts to circumvent established examination protocols will be met with rigorous enforcement and legal consequences, aiming to uphold the credibility of the public service system.

This incident highlights the strict enforcement against examination malpractice and impersonation within the FCT public service, potentially leading to criminal charges for the son and severe disciplinary action, including termination, for the father. Lawyers advising public sector employees or handling administrative law cases should note the increased vigilance and potential for prosecution in such matters, especially given the FCT Minister's directive against malpractice.

Source: Original reporting via Punch Newspapers