The management of the Federal University of Technology Akure(FUTA) Teaching Hospital has announced plans to prosecute individuals allegedly involved in a job racketeering scheme that reportedly defrauded unsuspecting applicants seeking employment at the newly established federal health institution.
The hospital said preliminary findings uncovered an illegal network in which fake appointment letters were allegedly sold to job seekers for sums ranging between N200,000 and N600,000, with victims promised automatic absorption into the Federal Government establishment.
The allegations were disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday by the Head of the Public Relations Unit of the institution, Mr Tope Fayehun, who said management had become aware of the activities of persons posing as influential officers of the hospital to extort prospective employees.
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According to the statement, several applicants reportedly paid large sums of money and were issued purported appointment letters bearing the name of the teaching hospital, only to discover later that the documents had no official backing.
“The management has become aware of allegations that certain persons, posing as important officers, had collected money and gratification from job seekers with promises of securing placement in the new hospital,” the statement said.
Hospital authorities said some victims have already begun demanding refunds from those who allegedly collected the money after realising they would not be employed as promised.
FUTATH said it was prepared to pursue legal action against anyone found culpable and would collaborate with security and anti-corruption agencies to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
The management also dismissed allegations circulating within the institution that the ongoing IPPIS biometric capture exercise was being manipulated to favour selected individuals.
It specifically denied claims that the Chief Medical Director, Professor Olusegun Ojo, authorised selective biometric capturing for some workers ahead of the institution’s transition into the federal payroll system.
Fayehun described the allegations as false, malicious and intended to tarnish the reputation of both the CMD and the institution.
“CMD has not authorised, instructed, or participated in any selective biometric capturing activity before now and never will,” the statement said.
According to management, the only approved biometric exercise is the one being coordinated by officials of the IPPIS Directorate and conducted under established federal procedures.
Hospital officials linked the spread of rumours surrounding the biometric exercise to individuals allegedly involved in employment racketeering, saying misinformation may have been designed to create confusion among staff members and prospective employees.
The institution urged workers and members of the public to disregard unverified claims and support the ongoing verification process.
FUTATH explained that the successful completion of the IPPIS biometric exercise remains critical to securing its Approved Take-off Establishment from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, paving the way for its full integration into the Federal Government workforce system.
The hospital reiterated its commitment to transparency, accountability and fairness, insisting that no employment opportunities would be offered outside officially approved recruitment channels.
