ABUJA – Plans by a firm, Firstgate Business Intermediaries Limited
(FBIL), few months ago to pocket the sum of N5.2 million from 1,379
applicants in Nigeria through tempting international job offers has been
halted through prompt intervention by the Independent Corrupt Practices
and other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC).
Prior to the ICPC intervention, the company, through newspaper
advertorials, had raked in the huge sum by offering job seekers
mouth-watering remunerations through internship with foreign
multinational companies and manufacturing industries.
ICPC in a statement yesterday in Abuja by its Media Consultant, Folu
Olamiti, said that many applicants had rushed to apply, each paying the
sum of N3, 500 demanded as non-refundable fee.
FBIL initially succeeded in enticing desperate job applicants by
claiming that it was in partnership with the then Federal Ministries of
Power, Youths & Sports Development and that of Trade and Investment
to arrange the recruitment of Nigerian youths for international job
opportunities.
The company, however, ran out of luck when the former Ministry of
Youths Development disassociated itself from the antics of FBIL on job
offers and published a disclaimer in some national dailies, which
eventually attracted the attention of ICPC.
Findings have revealed that although the Federal Ministry of Power
appointed the MD/CEO of FBIL, Mr Kelvin Asogwa its Consultant to
undertake and drive its initiative for building the capacity of youths
in six geo-political zones of the federation, it was never part of the
plan to recruit and collect monies from applicants for unverified
international job offers.
According to ICPC, the Federal Ministry of Power in its disclaimer
had stated that it never authorised FBIL to advertise and charge fees
from Nigerian youths on the initial assignment given to it.
The Ministry insisted that there was no communication from it to
other Ministries who were listed as partners in the newspaper
advertorial.
Consequently, the commission decided to freeze the account of FBIL after
they had agreed to refund the monies it collected to affected
applicants through ICPC Recovery account.
ICPC has advised affected applicants “to make formal written request
for the refund of the fees which they had paid into the company’s First
Bank Plc account Number 2027076297 by letter addressed to the Chairman
(Attention: Head, FIU), ICPC, Plot 802, Central Business District, Abuja
or send an email to info@icpc.gov.ng stating their full names, address,
bank account and BVN numbers, telephone numbers and amounts paid.
“They should get further details through its website: www.icpc.gov.ng
where the list of those applicants who paid has been posted,” the
statement added.
However, the ICPC advised government Ministries or Agencies to always
follow due process in appointing Consultants for specific jobs and to
closely vet their backgrounds to avoid embarrassment involving raising
of funds from desperate job-seekers.
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