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A resident of Ilorin, Abdullahi Funsho*, has accused Moshood Alaka, the Special Adviser to the Kwara State Governor on Party Affairs, of defrauding him of N300,000 under the pretense of securing him a job at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH).
Funsho shared his ordeal with The Informant247, stating that he met Alaka through a friend in 2022, who assured him that Alaka had access to employment slots at UITH. Trusting Alaka’s political reputation in Moro Local Government, Funsho did not suspect foul play.
The Alleged Scam
According to Funsho, he was working at a private hospital in Ilorin when he was introduced to Alaka, who demanded N300,000 to facilitate his employment at UITH. Convinced by Alaka’s assurances that others had successfully secured jobs through him, Funsho made the payment on November 16, 2022.
However, over two years later, the promised job has not materialized, nor has Funsho received a refund. “I became worried when I saw my colleagues getting jobs at UITH, while I never received an employment letter,” he lamented. Despite repeated inquiries, Alaka reportedly kept reassuring him to be patient.
Loan Turned Into Debt
After months of waiting, Funsho decided to demand a refund, realizing the job offer was unlikely to come through. “He then stopped picking my calls,” Funsho said. “I messaged him on WhatsApp, and he responded that he would pay me when he received his salary, but he never did.”
The financial loss has left Funsho in distress, as he had taken a loan to pay Alaka, expecting to repay it once employed. “Now, I am in debt and have to borrow money from my colleagues just to survive,” he added.
Alaka’s Defense: ‘His Slot Was Sold’
When contacted for a response, Alaka admitted to receiving the money but claimed the employment slot initially secured for Funsho was sold to someone else.
“There were no available slots for his course in primary healthcare. I asked if he was interested in one of the 153 state Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs), but he refused, insisting on a refund,” Alaka explained.
He further stated that Funsho was later offered a role as an administrative officer, but the person handling the job procurement allegedly refused to refund the money. When The Informant247 pressed for a timeline on the refund, Alaka declined to provide a specific date.
Legal Implications
Under Nigerian law, paying for a job is illegal. Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 criminalizes obtaining property by false pretenses with intent to defraud, carrying a penalty of 7 to 20 years in prison.
Additionally, Section 8 of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and Section 112 of the Penal Code Act prohibit bribery and corruption, including soliciting money for employment opportunities.
As Funsho continues to seek justice, this case highlights ongoing concerns over employment fraud and corruption within government circles.
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