The Acting Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, has warned the pubic against falling prey to fraudsters who have again cloned her Facebook Page to dupe people.

Semenitari, who distanced herself from claims of ongoing empowerment by NDDC, said the fraudsters have been demanding huge cash from unsuspecting members of the public as part of the so-called empowerment which is non-existent.

The NDDC Boss, who frowned that her name could be used to defraud Nigerians, debunked the empowerment claim, saying that at no time did she authorise anybody to embark on any solicitation for prospective beneficiaries of the imaginary programme.

She said in a statement issued Tuesday morning in Port Harcourt by her Media Aide Bekee Anyalewechi: “At no time did I, either in my personal capacity or in official role as the Acting Managing/Chief Executive Officer, Niger Delta Development Commission, commission, authorise or delegate any individual or member of management of the Commission, or other personnel, to solicit for, recommend or collect money from the public in the name of empowerment. I find this latest project to smear my noble reputation disgusting and shows how deep some persons have degenerated.”

Mrs. Semenitari expressed regret that dubious persons have devised the means of name-dropping to feed fat on the heat on the labour market.

She acknowledged that NDDC under her leadership has pursued the empowerment of people vigorously through award of scholarship, promotion of girl-child science education, development of road infrastructure to promote rural-urban transportation network, completion of critical projects and re-engagement of stalled ones, intervention in medical emergencies in rural and urban areas, donation of tractors to farmer co-operative societies and enhanced contractors’ payment processes. She, however, stressed that the commission does not give cash to individuals. “So, the fraudsters’ claims that NDDC was doling out cash to individuals in the minimum of N5 million in the name of empowerment, is false and deliberate mischief and should be ignored. The public should ignore any message that solicits for cash and refers them to one ‘Engineer Charles George on 09050243095’ purported to have been delegated by me,” she said.

Semenitari reaffirmed her earlier disclosure that she runs only one Facebook Account operated by her, adding that any other FB Account outside https://web.facebook.com/ibim.semenitari is fake and should be ignored.

“I have only one Facebook Account and so any other purported to be in my name is fake and has nothing to do with me,” the Ag. MD/CEO emphasised.

Semenitari called on security agencies to track down the fraudsters behind the latest Facebook claim as to save Nigerians falling prey.

•Photo shows NDDC Acting MD Ibim Semenitari.

Update news