Fundraiser: Opeyemi Falegan threatens lawsuit as UNICEF withdraws scam alert

Opeyemi Falegan, the ex-lover of Nkechi Blessing, has threatened a lawsuit against the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) over its recent scam alert.

The organisation had earlier distanced itself from a fundraising campaign organised by Falegan via his foundation known as Opeyemi David Falegan (ODF).

The politician had claimed that his foundation, in partnership with UNICEF, raised funds for those affected by the war in Ukraine.

But the organisation had said it was not aware of the “fictitious donation drive to raise funds”.

In an update on Monday, UNICEF said it has taken down the scam alert against the politician because he has stopped the fundraising campaign.

The organisation also clarified that the alert was issued because Falegan tried to promote his foundation while raising funds in its name.

“We are aware that funds can be raised for UNICEF with the Instagram feature that allows users to raise funds for an organization of their choice. However, no aspect of the fundraiser should include an unauthorized promotion, support, or fundraising for another organization,” the statement reads.

“We discourage intended or unintended affiliations with organizations we do not have a partnership with. In instances where this occurs, UNICEF can issue an alert through our office in the country where the unauthorized activity took place or where the organization operates in.

“Note: We have taken down the post with the scam alert as the fundraising activity in question has been discontinued.”

Reacting, Falegan called out UNICEF for allegedly portraying him as a scammer.

The politician also described UNICEF’s scam alert as “gross irresponsibility” which he said would “be lawfully handled”.

“You cannot take down the scam alert post made about me without proper procedure or due process, you knew you made a blunder because I never made a fundraising with you,” he wrote on Instagram.

“I did with @unicef which was the main organ of @unicef for Ukraine’s war victims which was allowed and acknowledged.

“The hatchet write up by the UNICEF_Nigeria and its sponsors has not only portrayed I,  Hon. Opeyemi David Falegan as a scammer in the public alone but it has depreciated my untainted image in Ekiti state, Nigeria and the world. This is pure gross of irresponsibility on your part and it shall be lawfully handled.”