The Ondo State Government has suspended three senior officials of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) for their alleged involvement in a job racketeering scheme uncovered during the recent teacher recruitment exercise. The affected officials, two directors and a deputy director, were accused of colluding with fraudsters to extort money from unsuspecting job seekers in exchange for fake appointment and posting letters.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, in a swift response, ordered a full investigation into the scandal. Through his Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, he said, “The state government has commenced a probe into the matter, and those found culpable will face the full weight of the law.”

The governor further directed SUBEB to meet with applicants who were defrauded in the process. According to the government, the fraudulent activities came to light after some newly recruited teachers staged a protest last week when they were excluded from the ongoing biometric verification exercise. The protesters were later informed that their letters of appointment were forged.

The development follows Ondo’s ongoing recruitment of teachers across its 18 local government areas, an initiative meant to strengthen the state’s education system but now marred by allegations of fraud.