Cross River map
At least 47 job seekers in Cross River State were defrauded of over ₦51.8 million by scammers offering fake local government appointments, an investigative panel established by the state government has revealed.
Chairman of the Cross River Local Government Service Commission, Mr. Nsa Ekpo, disclosed the findings while briefing journalists in Calabar.
He stated that victims were cajoled, intimidated, and deceived into paying between ₦100,000 and ₦1.5 million under the guise of securing employment.
Applicants seeking senior-level positions were hardest hit, with several parting with up to ₦1.5 million for non-existent roles. To cover up the fraud, perpetrators issued victims forged employment letters to make the appointments appear genuine.
Ekpo added that the scam was compounded by severe manipulations during the selection process, including attempts to insert non-residents and relatives of perpetrators onto the recruitment list.
The probe into the 2024/2025 local government recruitment exercise was triggered by public complaints. The panel operated largely on evidence provided by whistleblowers, who were guaranteed confidentiality and security.
Following the panel’s disclosures, the state government cancelled the entire 2024/2025 recruitment exercise. Ekpo noted that security agencies are actively working to track down and prosecute those responsible for the fraud.
However, the commission chairman clarified that 821 candidates from the annulled exercise have been verified, cleared, and retained. These individuals will not need to reapply.
A fresh recruitment drive targeting 4,000 positions in the local government service is scheduled to launch within two weeks. Ekpo assured prospective applicants that the upcoming process will adhere strictly to due process and transparency. The final list of successful candidates, including the 821 retained applicants, will be made public.
