EFCC: Agency nabs ex-fire service chief over employment scam

This is contained in a statement issued by Head of Media and Publicity of the commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, in Abuja on Thursday.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has arrested Dada Olatunji, former Assistant Comptroller General of Nigeria Fire Service, for offences bordering on employment scam.

This is contained in a statement issued by Head of Media and Publicity of the commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, in Abuja on Thursday.

The statement said Olatunji’s arrest followed a petition by two applicants - Robert Mathew and Theresa Abah.

They alleged that one Christopher Adaje, of the Nyanya office of the service, informed them in Dec. 2014 that they were recruiting and promised to facilitate their employment.

He said he would do this before April 2015 if they could part with N350, 000 each.

"Matthew and Abah who were desperate to get employment but could not afford the said sum, resorted to soliciting for help from their friends and relations.

"Eventually, Matthew was able to source his from a friend while Abah took a loan of N225, 000 from her friend.

"They raised N575, 000 and paid it into an account number supplied by Adaje in one of the old generation banks," the statement said.

It added that Adaje could not deliver on his promise months later, a situation that prompted the applicants to visit his office where they discovered it was a fraud.

The statement added that on arrest, Adaje confessed that he was fronting for Olatunji whom he claimed the money was given to.

The statement said the suspects would be charged to court soon.