Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has warned Nigerians to be wary of a housing scheme allegedly using his name, official title and photograph to attract unsuspecting members of the public.
The minister said he had no connection with the scheme and had not endorsed any housing project, investment programme or financial venture seeking money from Nigerians.
The warning followed reports that some individuals or groups were allegedly using Musa’s identity in a WhatsApp group to promote the housing offer and solicit payments.
In a statement issued in Abuja and signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Leah Katung-Babatunde, the minister’s office described the development as an attempt to mislead the public through the unauthorised use of a public official’s identity.
Musa’s office urged Nigerians not to fall for such promotions, advising them to verify investment offers before parting with their hard-earned money.
Christopher Musa Denies Involvement in Housing Scheme
The defence minister’s office has distanced him from the alleged housing scheme, insisting that he neither authorised the use of his photograph nor gave permission for his name and official position to be used to attract subscribers.
According to the statement, Musa is not affiliated with the programme or any financial venture soliciting money from the public under his identity.
The office also warned Nigerians to be cautious of messages, advertisements and promotional materials circulating on WhatsApp and other social media platforms that suggest the minister’s involvement.
It urged members of the public to disregard any offer requesting payments in his name unless its authenticity can be independently established.
The clarification comes amid concerns that the use of a prominent public figure’s image could mislead potential subscribers into believing that a scheme is genuine.
Defence Minister Threatens Legal Action Against Those Behind Scheme
The minister’s office has warned that anyone found to be using Musa’s identity to solicit money without authorisation could face legal consequences.
It said it was prepared to initiate legal action and work with security agencies to investigate and prosecute any individual, group or organisation found responsible.
However, the statement did not name any suspects or provide details about the people allegedly operating the housing scheme.
It also did not disclose how much money the promoters were requesting or confirm whether anyone had already paid to participate in the programme.
The office urged Nigerians who come across suspicious messages or promotional materials linked to the scheme to report them to the appropriate authorities.
Nigerians Get Warning Over Online Housing Investments
The development has renewed calls for Nigerians to exercise caution when dealing with housing investments and other money-making opportunities promoted online.
Scammers can use the names, photographs and official titles of prominent individuals to make questionable offers appear credible. However, the appearance of a public figure in an advertisement does not automatically mean the person has approved or endorsed the project.
The minister’s office advised prospective subscribers to verify the people and organisations behind any housing scheme before making financial commitments.
Nigerians were also encouraged to check official communication channels and confirm claims directly with the relevant office rather than relying solely on WhatsApp messages, social media posts or forwarded advertisements.
Anyone who suspects that they have encountered a fraudulent offer should keep relevant messages, payment instructions and account details that could assist an investigation.
Those who have already transferred money to a suspicious scheme should contact their financial institutions promptly and report the matter to law enforcement agencies.
As of Monday, October 12, 2026, the minister’s office had not announced any arrests, prosecutions or confirmed financial losses linked to the alleged scheme.
The office reiterated that Christopher Musa had no involvement in the programme and warned Nigerians against making payments to anyone falsely using his name or image to promote housing investments or other financial ventures.
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