Bauchi Man Arrested for Allegedly Selling Fake Government Appointment Letters for Up to N750,000

The Nigeria Police Force in Bauchi State is investigating a suspected scam involving forged government appointment letters, following the arrest of Saleem Alhassan of Zango Area in Bauchi Local Government Area. The announcement was made in a statement by the Command's Public Relations Officer, Nafiu Habib.

The Bauchi fake appointment letters scam arrest comes just two weeks after a similar case in the same state, where the Office of the Head of Service filed a complaint that led to the arrest and prosecution of two other offenders. The recurrence suggests this is not an isolated hustle but an active and organized pattern of fraud targeting job seekers in the state.

According to the statement, five fictitious temporary letters of appointment were recovered from Alhassan at the time of his arrest. Preliminary investigations indicate that he allegedly collected between N500,000 and N750,000 from victims under the pretense of securing government employment for them, then produced and delivered forged appointment letters purportedly issued by a government office in 2025.

That fee range is not accidental. It is calibrated to feel plausible. A genuine government job in Nigeria, with its salary, benefits, and perceived stability, is worth far more than N500,000 to the average job seeker. The scammer knows that. The victim knows that. And that shared understanding is exactly what makes the fraud work.

Alhassan was initially handed over for a covert investigation before being transferred on May 18, 2026, by the Area Commander of Bauchi Metropolis to the State Criminal Investigation Department for a full investigation.

Bauchi State Commissioner of Police Sani-Omolori Aliyu used the occasion to issue a direct public warning: do not pay money to any individual or organization in exchange for a government job.

It is a warning that has been issued before, in Bauchi and across Nigeria, and it will need to be issued again. The demand for government employment remains high enough, and the legitimate channels opaque enough, that fraudsters will continue to find willing victims as long as desperation outpaces skepticism.

The Bauchi fake appointment letters scam arrest is a reminder of how much damage a printer, some official-looking letterhead, and a convincing story can do in an environment where people are genuinely hungry for opportunity.

If you or someone you know has been approached by an individual offering government employment in exchange for payment, the appropriate step is to report it to the nearest police station immediately. No legitimate government appointment process requires a cash payment to a private individual.