By Amara Agha, Abakaliki
The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Francis Ori, has alerted the public to the activities of fraudsters impersonating him to extort money from unsuspecting citizens under the guise of offering government contracts and job opportunities.
Raising the alarm in Abakaliki, the Commissioner revealed that several innocent individuals have been defrauded of millions of naira by criminal elements claiming to represent him. He warned that government contracts are not awarded through phone calls or private arrangements.
“It’s my pleasure to have you people in my office today to put the record straight. A few weeks ago, I received a call from someone claiming I promised him a job. I was shocked because I had no such discussion with him,” Ori said.
According to him, numerous victims have visited his office alleging that fraudsters were using his name and photograph to promise contract approvals and job placements in exchange for money. “In one instance, a victim lost over ₦1,050,000, while another group paid ₦650,000 to the same impersonator,” he disclosed.
The commissioner explained that the scammers used a mobile number displaying his name — a tactic that convinced their victims of the scam’s authenticity. “When I showed them my official portrait, they realized they had been deceived. We immediately reported the matter to the police, DSS, and other security agencies,” he added.
Ori emphasized that all contracts and employment opportunities in the Ministry follow due process and are supervised by the Ebonyi State Public Procurement Council. “We have never awarded any contract without it going through the proper channels. Jobs are publicly advertised, and only qualified companies or individuals are considered. Nobody should claim to offer jobs on my behalf,” he stressed.
He urged members of the public to verify any claims directly with the Ministry rather than relying on social media or phone communications. “If anyone claims to be the Commissioner for Housing and offers you a job or contract, walk into the Ministry to confirm. If you don’t meet me in person, you are dealing with a fraudster,” Ori cautioned.
The Commissioner further noted that the police and DSS are already investigating the matter, assuring that the culprits would be brought to justice. He also appealed to the media to help publicize the warning to prevent more people from falling victim.
“An impostor is damaging my reputation. I don’t know how many more people he has defrauded. Please help me put the record straight,” he appealed.
