Security authorities in Abuja have detained a 33-year-old man, Monsuru Musa, after he was allegedly caught attempting to sit for the 2026 Federal Capital Territory promotion examination on behalf of his father.
Musa was reportedly apprehended on Wednesday, the third day of the examination being organised by the FCT Civil Service Commission at the National Open University in Abuja.
According to information made available to our correspondent, the suspect told security personnel that his father, Musa Mohammed, had asked him to take the examination because he was ill and unable to appear at the examination centre.
During questioning, Musa reportedly gave his father’s age as between 67 and 68 years.
However, Mohammed allegedly told officials that he would turn 60 in February 2027, creating an apparent discrepancy in the information provided by the father and son.
Mohammed also reportedly told officials that he completed primary education in 1977 and secondary school in 1982.
Mohammed is an employee of the FCT Fire Service, according to the report.
Father and son handed over to police
Following the incident, officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) reportedly took statements from both men.
The father and son were subsequently handed over to the police for further investigation.
The allegations remain subject to investigation, and neither man has been convicted of an offence.
10,700 FCT workers taking promotion examination
The incident occurred during the FCT’s 2026 promotion examination, which involves about 10,700 civil servants.
The examination is being conducted by the FCT Civil Service Commission as part of efforts to clear outstanding promotion backlogs.
The commission had previously said the exercise was designed to ensure that eligible workers were considered for promotion based on merit and applicable public service rules. Reports on the wider exercise indicate that it covers workers across numerous cadres and is being conducted through computer-based testing.
The FCT Administration had announced that the commission was working to clear inherited promotion backlogs so that regular annual promotion exercises could resume from 2027.
The alleged impersonation case is expected to be investigated further by the police.
