The Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) in Bauchi has alerted the public about a fraudulent scheme involving impersonation of its Chief Medical Director, Professor Yusuf Bara Jibrin. Scammers are falsely claiming to award contracts for the procurement of 200 HP laptops, allegedly approved by the Federal Ministry of Health, as part of the hospital’s digitization efforts.
In a statement issued by Usman Koli, Head of Public Relations at ATBUTH, the hospital clarified that no such procurement process has been initiated. The scammers have been using the phone number ‘08167069701’ to contact unsuspecting individuals via WhatsApp, phone calls, and SMS, attempting to deceive them into believing the legitimacy of the contract.
Koli emphasized that all official procurement activities at ATBUTH strictly follow due process and legal procedures. He urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious communication to relevant authorities immediately. The hospital management is collaborating with security agencies to identify and prosecute those responsible for the scam.
This warning comes amidst increasing cases of fraudulent contract schemes in Bauchi State. In a related incident in 2022, a civil servant was sentenced to two years imprisonment for forging documents and fraudulently awarding fake laptop contracts. Such scams highlight the need for heightened public awareness and caution when dealing with unsolicited offers.
ATBUTH reassures stakeholders of its commitment to transparency and accountability in all operations while working to protect the public from fraudulent activities.
