THE Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN), on Sunday, issued a disclaimer advising the public to disregard a fake Facebook account registered in his name with his picture.
The fake account is FasholaRajiFashola.
The re-appointed minister and a former Governor of Lagos State described the action as a fraudulent means the scammers intend using to extort the public.
Fashola who has in the past disclaimed such fake accounts, reiterated that his verified Facebook account remains @BABATUNDEFASHOLA.
“With several reported and deleted in the past, the latest addition to the fake accounts set up in the former Lagos State Governor’s name along with his picture reads “FasholaRajiFashola” and the scammers wrote that the Federal Government was giving out the sum of N700, 000 to youths and young adults to enable them to pay school fees, set up businesses and invest in businesses, among others,” Fashola says in a statement issued by Hakeem Bello, his Special Adviser on Communications.
The ICIR observed part of the publication was written in very poor English by the accused scammers.
The poorly written claim reads in part, “All The Nigeria Citozings Of All The And Local Government In Nigeria Are Beneficiary Of The Federal Government Money Enpwoerment To Empower The Youth To Pay There School Adult To Do Business E.T.C Contact Number: 09035339533)
“Good News… To All Nigeria Youth And Adult. Federal Government Is Giving Out #700,000 Free Cash Transfer To All To Empower The Youth: Further Their Education’s, Open Good Business And Learn Good Works. Call Mr Adebayo Kola The Federal Government Cashier On 09035339533”.
Fashola is not the first in this new cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari to lament over fake account. The newly appointed Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire on 22nd August raised similar alarm over a false twitter account opened in his name.
However, the Minister described as unfortunate the fact that despite repeated warnings and disclaimers, certain unscrupulous elements still engage in the act of defrauding unsuspecting members of the public through different social media platforms falsely linked to him.
The call, he noted became necessary in view of the increasing activities of the scammers.
While appealing to the public to always clarify with the appropriate agencies of government at all levels before engaging in any dealings with his purported personal staffs, he urged the public to report to the law enforcement agencies so that those involved in the nefarious acts could be brought to justice.
Olugbenga heads the Investigations Desk at The ICIR. Do you have a scoop? Shoot him an email at oadanikin@icirnigeria.org. Twitter Handle: @OluAdanikin