The Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, has alerted members of the public to the activities of fraudsters impersonating him on Facebook, WhatsApp and other social media platforms to extort money from unsuspecting job seekers with false promises of securing employment in the Delta State Civil Service.
In a disclaimer issued on Wednesday, the Commissioner said the syndicate had been using fake social media accounts and the WhatsApp phone number 07055502867 to falsely present themselves as him while demanding financial payments from victims in exchange for purported job placements in the state’s civil service and other government establishments.
Dr. Onojaeme categorically denied any association with the phone number, stressing that it does not belong to him.
He also dismissed claims by the fraudsters that his official telephone line had been hacked, describing the allegation as a calculated attempt to deceive members of the public and give credibility to their criminal activities.
The Commissioner reiterated that neither he nor the Ministry of Health requests or receives money from anyone in exchange for employment or any government-related service.
He explained that recruitment into the Delta State Civil Service and the Ministry of Health is conducted strictly through established government procedures that are transparent, merit-based and free from any form of financial inducement.
Onojaeme therefore urged members of the public to ignore calls, messages and social media communications from individuals claiming to represent him or offering employment opportunities in return for money, warning that anyone who deals with such fraudsters does so at their own risk.
He further advised residents to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious communication or recruitment-related scam to the nearest law enforcement agency or other relevant security authorities for investigation and prosecution.
The Commissioner assured the public that the Ministry of Health was working closely with security agencies to identify, apprehend and prosecute those behind the fraudulent scheme.
He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to protecting the public from criminal elements and maintaining transparency in all government recruitment processes.
