April 13, (THEWILL) – The United Nations Children Trust Fund has deleted and withdrawn the scam alert issued against Opeyemi Falegan, actress Nkechi Blessings estranged lover.
Falegan had claimed to be on a fundraising drive for the people of Ukraine with his charity organisation, ODF Foundation in collaboration with UNICEF on his Instagram page.
The Nigeria arm of the organisation thereafter, debunked the claim on Instagram on Friday and tagged it as scam.
Despite the alert, Falegan posted a video to support his claim that he has indeed raised 16 Euro’s to be donated to UNICEF’s relief effort in Ukraine.
The video demonstrated how a link was generated from UNICEF Instagram to create a fundraiser on his Instagram.
The Instagram donation features ensure that donation made with the link will be directly remitted to the organisation’s account.
However, Falegan also solicited funds and added account details of his foundation in the fundraising post.
On Monday, the UNICEF branch in Nigeria made a U-turn by deleting the scam alert post.
They also clarified that the alert was issued because Falegan tried to promote his charity organisation, while raising fund in the name of UNICEF.
“We are aware that funds can be raised for UNICEF with the Instagram feature that allow users to raise funds for an organisation of their choice, the caption reads “However, no aspect of the fundraiser should include an unauthorised promotion, support or fundraising for another organisation.
“We discourage intended or unintended affiliation with organisation we do not have a partnership with. In instance where it occurs, UNICEF can issue an alert through our office in the country where the unauthorised activity took place or where the organisation operates.
“We have taken down the post of the scam alert as the fundraising activity in question has been discontinued.”
In response to UNICEF, Falegan threatened a lawsuit against the Nigeria branch of the organisation. He stated, “You cannot take down the scam alert post made about me without proper procedure or due process, you know you made a blunder because I never made a fundraiser for you.
“I did with @uniclef which is the main organ of @unicef for Ukraine war victims which was allowed and acknowledged.
“The hatchet write-up by the UNICEF_Nigeria and it’s sponsors has not only protrayed I, Hon. Opeyemi David Falegan as a scammer in the public but it has depreciated my untainted image in Ekiti State Nigeria and the world. This is pure gross irresponsibly on your part and it shall be lawfully handled.”
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