By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
The management of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) Bauchi has alerted the general public about fraudulent activities perpetrated by individuals impersonating the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof. Yusuf Bara Jibrin, using both online and offline.
The alarm was raised by Usman Abdullahi Koli, Head, Public Relations Unit, ATBU Teaching Hospital, Bauchi in a statement he issued to Journalists on Thursday.
According to him, “These scammers falsely claim that the CMD is awarding contracts, particularly concerning the purchase of 200 HP laptops, purportedly approved by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for operational use as part of the hospital’s digitization programme.”
He added that,”The fraudsters have been using the phone number *08167069701* to contact unsuspecting individuals via WhatsApp, phone calls, and SMS, attempting to deceive and defraud them.”
“We categorically state that ATBUTH Bauchi has not initiated any such procurement process through unsolicited individual offers,” he emphasized.
The PRO stressed that, “The CMD or any official of the hospital does not award contracts through unofficial channels. All legitimate procurement activities follow due process and official procedures as stipulated by law.”
The general public is strongly advised to be vigilant and disregard any communication from such scammers.
Usman Abdullahi Koli stated that,”Anyone contacted with such fraudulent claims should report to the appropriate authorities immediately.”
He concluded stating that, “Be assured that the hospital management is collaborating with security agencies to track, apprehend, and prosecute those responsible.”