TikTok influencer and content creator, Habeeb Hamzat Adelaja, popularly known as Peller, has responded to public criticism surrounding his recent job interview for the position of a cameraman, stating that two candidates have now been selected and will each earn ₦500,000 monthly.
The recruitment exercise, held earlier in the week, sparked a flurry of online reactions after a female applicant, Nkese Eyo, accused Peller of using the process as a content creation stunt rather than a genuine job opportunity.
Her claims, which went viral, alleged that the interview lacked professionalism and included disrespectful comments about her appearance and ethnicity.
Peller had initially advertised the opening on social media, offering a ₦500,000 monthly salary, which attracted hundreds of applications—including from Master’s degree holders. The physical screening session was later streamed live online, according to him, for transparency.
In a video posted on his Instagram page Saturday evening, Peller defended the process and denied any deceptive intent.
He explained that out of 20 shortlisted candidates who attended the screening, two individuals were eventually selected—one as the primary cameraman and the other as a backup. He added that both would be paid in advance before commencing work.
Addressing Nkese’s viral allegations, Peller said his remarks during the interview were made in jest and taken out of context. He maintained that the entire process was openly conducted and no applicant was coerced into participating.
“Everybody saw what we were doing. It was live. I was joking. Nobody was forced to come. I didn’t make the economy hard,” he said in the video.
Nkese, also a singer and content creator, had earlier shared her experience on X (formerly Twitter), expressing disappointment over what she described as a misleading exercise. She alleged there was no actual job follow-up after the session and that she felt reduced to a prop in a content skit.
As of the time of reporting, the names of the hired candidates have not been disclosed. Meanwhile, online debates continue to rage, with Nigerians divided over whether the interview was a genuine opportunity or another case of online exploitation disguised as employment.
