Drama at FCTA promotion exam as 33-year-old is caught writing test for father

By Stanley Onyekwere

A dramatic scene unfolded on the third day of the ongoing promotion examinations conducted by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Civil Service Commission, as security officials apprehended a 33-year-old man attempting to sit the test on behalf of his father.

The suspect, identified as Monsuru Musa, was on Wednesday intercepted inside the examination hall at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) premises, the official venue for the exercise, where he was caught impersonating his father, Musa Mohammed, an employee of the FCT Fire Service. Security personnel deployed at the instance of FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, caught the younger Musa during standard verification checks.

Upon questioning, Monsuru claimed that his father was indisposed but present within the NOUN premises, alleging that his father had directed him to write the examination on his behalf due to ill health.

However, the arrest quickly unraveled a web of conflicting statements and potential age falsification.

When interrogators asked Monsuru about his father’s age, he claimed the older man was between 67 and 68 years old.

However, when brought face-to-face with officials, Musa Mohammed contradicted his son’s claim, insisting he was “almost 60” and set to retire by February 2027.

Pressed further on his educational and professional timeline to verify his actual age, the elder Musa stated that he completed primary school in 1977, finished secondary school in 1982, attended polytechnic in 1991, and formally entered the service in 2007.

Faced with the mounting discrepancies and security scrutiny, the father confessed to the scheme, citing failing health and offering an apology to the interrogators.
“It’s my health problem… I’m very sorry,” he pleaded during questioning.

His son subsequently corroborated the account, confirming he agreed to stand in for his father solely due to the older man’s medical condition.

Following the confession, Department of State Services (DSS) operatives directed that both suspects be separated to make official written statements.

It was gathered that both father and son have since been handed over to the police for further investigation into examination malpractice, impersonation, and age falsification.