Scammers Exploit ATBUTH’s Name for Fake Multimillion-Naira Laptop Contracts—Hospital Disowns Fraudulent Deals

In a shocking revelation, the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi, has exposed a fraudulent scheme involving fake procurement contracts allegedly linked to its Chief Medical Director, Professor Yusuf Bara Jibrin. The hospital issued a disclaimer on Friday, warning the public against scammers who are impersonating its leadership to defraud unsuspecting individuals.

According to the hospital’s Head of Public Relations, Usman Koli, fraudsters have been falsely claiming that the CMD is awarding contracts for 200 HP laptops as part of a Federal Ministry of Health-approved digitization program. Using the phone number ‘08167069701,’ the scammers have been reaching out to individuals via WhatsApp, phone calls, and SMS, attempting to lure them into the fake deal.

The revelation has sparked concerns over the growing trend of high-profile impersonation scams in Nigeria, raising questions about the security of public institutions’ procurement processes. Critics argue that such fraudulent activities persist because of weak enforcement and regulatory loopholes, allowing scammers to operate with little fear of consequences.

ATBUTH has distanced itself from the scam, emphasizing that all official contracts follow due process and legal procurement guidelines. The hospital management has vowed to work with security agencies to track down and prosecute the culprits. However, many Nigerians remain skeptical, questioning whether authorities will truly bring the fraudsters to justice or if this will be yet another case of financial deception swept under the rug.

As outrage grows, the public is left wondering: How did scammers gain access to such sensitive information, and what does this say about the vulnerability of Nigeria’s public institutions to fraud?