Secret Reporters No place to hide
Secrets Reporters
Following a report done by SecretsReporters titled “Content Creator Lucky Udu Allegedly Connives with Fake Gas Cooker Maker to Defraud Kogi Woman” published on its platform about 2 weeks ago, Muhammed Dalhatu a supposed Gas Cooker manufacturer promoted by a social media influencer Lucky Udu, known for his vibrant online presence, has made a refund of money money Defrauded a Kogi State woman, Esther Ijaja.
In the report published by SecretsReporters, Udu was accused of collaborating with Muhammed, a self-proclaimed inventor, to scam the unsuspecting woman out of ₦70,000 under the guise of purchasing a device purportedly capable of producing cooking gas from water.
The reports says “Approximately 12 weeks ago, Lucky Udu promoted Muhammed Dalhatu via Instagram as a young disabled innovator capable of producing cooking gas from water. Udu praised Muhammed’s supposed invention, describing it as a groundbreaking innovation with the potential to yield billions. Impressed by Udu’s endorsement, Esther contacted Muhammed, believing in the legitimacy of his invention. She agreed to purchase the device and made payments in tranches to Muhammed’s Jaiz Bank account, totaling ₦70,000. Muhammed claimed the funds would cover the cost of the device and its delivery. Since October, Esther has neither received the promised device nor any form of refund. Muhammed has reportedly become unreachable, leaving Esther without recourse.”
The report further stated that “Her brother attempted to escalate the matter by contacting Lucky via WhatsApp and Facebook. However, Udu’s responses have been sporadic and unhelpful, providing no clear plan for resolving the issue or recovering the money. When contacted by Secrets Reporters, Lucky stated he was “on the case.”
Weeks later, however, there was little evidence of progress, fueling suspicions of his involvement in the alleged scam. This case raises broader concerns about the practices of influencers who promote unverified products, services, or individuals on their platforms. Critics argue that by leveraging their credibility, influencers like Udu inadvertently—or intentionally—lend legitimacy to fraudulent schemes.
In an interview with Secrets Reporters, Esther expressed her frustration and disappointment. “I trusted Muhammed because Lucky vouched for him. It’s heartbreaking to think someone I admired could be part of such deceit,” she lamented.
Efforts to contact Muhammed for comments have were unsuccessful, as his social media accounts appear inactive. Similarly, Lucky’s continued silence raises questions about his role and whether this case is an isolated incident or part of a broader scheme.
However, SecretsReporters was contacted on Monday by a representative of the victim that her money has been refunded.
An opay transaction shared with SecretsReporters showed that Muhammed refunded Esther the sum of N70,000 which is the amount she paid without getting the items she paid for.
