By Julius Peter, Abuja
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), OFR, has dissociated himself from a housing scheme and other financial ventures allegedly using his name, official title and photographs to solicit money from members of the public.
The Ministry of Defence, in a statement, warned Nigerians against falling victim to fraudulent schemes promoted by individuals and organisations allegedly exploiting the identity of the minister to gain public trust and defraud unsuspecting citizens.
The warning followed reports of the unauthorised use of Musa’s photograph in a WhatsApp group belonging to promoters of a housing scheme requiring public subscriptions and payments.
In the disclaimer issued by the Office of the Minister of Defence, the ministry said it had become aware of attempts by unscrupulous individuals and entities to use the minister’s name, official title and pictures to give credibility to activities that were not connected with him.
The ministry stated categorically that the minister had no association, affiliation or involvement with the housing scheme or any investment programme or financial venture soliciting funds or participation from the public.
It described attempts to link the minister to such activities as deliberate misrepresentation intended to deceive and defraud unsuspecting Nigerians.
“The Honourable Minister of Defence is NOT associated, affiliated, or involved in any way with any housing scheme, investment program, or financial venture soliciting funds or participation from the public,” the statement said.
The ministry therefore urged members of the public to exercise extreme caution and disregard advertisements, promotional materials, online publications and other solicitations featuring the minister’s name or photograph in connection with housing schemes or monetary investments.
The disclaimer specifically drew attention to a housing scheme whose promoters reportedly used the minister’s photograph in a WhatsApp group while seeking public subscriptions and payments.
Although the statement did not identify the promoters or disclose the amount being solicited, the ministry made it clear that the minister’s image should not be interpreted as evidence of his endorsement or participation in the scheme.
It advised Nigerians to be wary of individuals who use the names, photographs and official positions of prominent public officials to create the impression that their businesses, investments or fundraising activities have government backing.
The ministry’s warning comes amid concerns about fraudulent solicitations in which the identities of public figures are allegedly used to attract potential victims and encourage financial commitments.
The Office of the Minister of Defence stressed that no member of the public should make payments or commit funds to a scheme merely because it features the minister’s photograph, name or official title.
It urged prospective investors and subscribers to verify the authenticity of any financial or housing arrangement through appropriate channels before making payments.
The ministry also advised Nigerians to treat suspicious promotional messages and online advertisements with caution, particularly where the identity of a public official is used to create confidence in an investment opportunity.
The Office of the Minister of Defence warned that it would take decisive legal action against individuals, groups and organisations found exploiting the minister’s identity or image for financial gain.
According to the statement, the office views the unauthorised use of the minister’s name and photograph as a serious matter and would not hesitate to involve relevant security agencies in efforts to identify and prosecute those responsible.
“The Office of the Honourable Minister of Defence views this unauthorised exploitation with gravity,” the statement said.
It added that the office would initiate appropriate legal proceedings and work with security agencies to ensure that anyone found using the minister’s identity to take undue advantage of citizens faced the consequences of the law.
The warning signals the ministry’s determination to protect the integrity of the minister’s office and prevent individuals from using his official status to promote activities capable of misleading members of the public.
The ministry also called on Nigerians to report suspicious solicitations and schemes invoking the minister’s name to the appropriate law enforcement authorities.
It urged citizens who encounter such advertisements or receive requests for payment linked to the minister’s identity to exercise restraint and alert the relevant authorities for investigation.
The ministry’s disclaimer highlights the importance of verifying the authenticity of investment opportunities and housing schemes before committing money.
Members of the public were advised not to rely solely on photographs, official titles, social media posts or WhatsApp group messages as proof that a public official supports a particular business or financial arrangement.
The ministry maintained that the minister’s name and image must not be used to mislead citizens into participating in schemes with which he has no connection.
It further urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and avoid becoming victims of fraudulent activities that exploit public confidence in government officials.
The statement was signed by Leah Katung-Babatunde, Special Assistant (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Defence.
The ministry reiterated that the minister was not involved in the housing scheme or any investment programme soliciting funds from the public, warning that the unauthorised use of his identity would attract appropriate legal action.
It urged citizens to disregard such representations and report suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies.
The ministry’s central message was clear: the use of the Defence Minister’s name or photograph does not constitute an endorsement of any housing scheme or investment programme, and Nigerians should verify all claims before making financial commitments.
