Son Takes Sick Father’s Promotion Exam, Lands Both in Police Net
By Matthew Eloyi
What was meant to be a routine promotion examination for workers in the Federal Capital Territory has turned into an unusual case of alleged impersonation, after a 33-year-old man, Monsuru Musa, was arrested for reportedly sitting for the examination on behalf of his father.
Monsuru was apprehended on Wednesday, the third day of the promotion examination organised by the FCT Civil Service Commission for civil servants in the territory.
The incident occurred at the examination venue within the premises of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), where security personnel had been deployed following a directive by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to ensure the integrity of the exercise.
According to reports, Monsuru allegedly presented himself as his father, Musa Mohammed, an employee of the FCT Fire Service, and attempted to write the promotion examination in his place.
During questioning, the 33-year-old reportedly told security personnel that his father was ill and unable to attend the examination. He allegedly claimed that his father had instructed him to take the test on his behalf.
But the explanation soon raised questions.
When asked about his father’s age, Monsuru reportedly said Musa Mohammed was between 67 and 68 years old. The account allegedly conflicted with information provided by the father, who told interrogators that he would turn 60 in February 2027.
The apparent discrepancy triggered further questioning as security personnel sought to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged impersonation.
Musa reportedly told investigators that he completed his primary education in 1977 and secondary education in 1982, details that were also subjected to scrutiny during the interrogation.
Following the incident, both father and son were handed over to the police for further investigation after making statements to operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The case has since raised questions about the lengths to which some workers may go to secure promotion within the civil service, as well as the effectiveness of measures put in place to prevent examination malpractice.
While the exact motive behind the alleged arrangement remains unclear, investigators are expected to examine the conflicting accounts about the father’s age, his reported illness and the circumstances that led to his son appearing for the examination in his place.
What began as an attempt to help a father sit for a career-defining examination could now have serious consequences for both father and son, as the police probe continues.