5th September, 2014
Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta
Members of the public have been warned by the Ogun State Government to watch out for fraudsters that are sending text messages to residents asking them to pay amount into private bank account in respect of the ‘Homeowners’ Charter Programme’.
In a release signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu Thursday evening, it indicated that information reaching the State government shows that a number of fraudulent text messages are in circulation, purporting to be from Homeowners’ Charter Programme.
It stated that these messages were concocted to deceive residents to pay certain amount of money into private accounts in order to obtain their Certificate of Occupancy, C of O.
“Homeowners’ Charter is a direct programme between Ogun State Government and homeowners in the state, adding that, no consultant or agent has any role in the collection of funds or the issuance of Certificates of Occupancy.
“The programme is an initiative of the state government with the aim of allowing homeowners to regularise the legal status and documentation of their properties at a discounted rate.
“The programme has been an overwhelming success and officials of the state government are presently conducting inspection of property for those who registered for the programme.
“So, I want to advise members of the public to beware of suspicious messages going round. Any official text messages from Homeowners’ Charter team will never indicate any amount to be paid, but rather asked the affected person to collect their Assessment bill at the Administrative Department of the Ministry of Finance, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta or the nearest Homeowners’ Charter centres”, the statement revealed.
The commissioner, however thanked the people of the state for their co-operation and unalloyed support for the programme, promising that, “those behind the illicit acts would soon be brought to book,” Olaniyonu assured.