Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), has warned members of the public against a housing scheme allegedly using his name, official title and photograph to solicit money from unsuspecting Nigerians.
The minister issued the warning on Monday, 12 October 2026, following reports that his identity and photograph were being used without authorisation in a WhatsApp group promoting the scheme.
In a statement issued in Abuja and signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Leah Katung-Babatunde, Musa clarified that he had no connection with the housing scheme or any investment programme or financial venture seeking funds from the public.
The minister described the development as a deliberate attempt by individuals or groups to mislead Nigerians and obtain money from unsuspecting citizens.
He urged Nigerians to disregard advertisements, social media posts and other promotional materials that use his name or photograph to solicit payments for housing projects or investment opportunities.
The statement stressed that the Minister of Defence was not associated with, affiliated with or involved in any such scheme.
Musa also warned that those responsible for using his identity without authorisation could face legal action and prosecution.
According to the statement, his office would not hesitate to work with security agencies to identify, arrest and prosecute individuals or organisations exploiting his identity for financial gain.
The minister’s office further advised Nigerians to report suspicious messages and suspected fraudulent schemes involving his name to the appropriate law enforcement authorities.
It also urged members of the public to verify the authenticity of housing projects and investment opportunities before making financial commitments, particularly where the names, titles or photographs of public officials are used to attract subscribers.
The warning serves as a reminder to Nigerians to exercise caution when responding to investment offers circulated through WhatsApp and other social media platforms, especially those that demand payments while claiming links to prominent public officials.
