ABUJA, Nigeria — The Office of the Honourable Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, has issued a strongly worded disclaimer warning government agencies and media outlets against a wave of fraudulent administrative appointments circulating within the territory.
The rebuttal was officially released on Monday morning, June 22, 2026, to halt the unauthorized misrepresentation of the minister’s executive office.
Okay News reports that the scandal centers around the recent activities of a certain Mr. Bin Usman Rano, who allegedly issued bogus appointment letters and official policy directives by falsely piggybacking on the FCT Administration (FCTA). In a clarification statement signed by the Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Austine Elemue, the minister declared that Rano is not an aide attached to her office and possesses zero authorization to issue public communications or execute administrative decisions on behalf of the ministry.
The ministry disclosed that Rano’s operational activities are entirely tied to the Dr. Mariya Support Group—an independent grassroots political movement. The FCTA explicitly distanced its official governance structures from the group, noting that the cell was established solely to mobilize youth and women demographics for the 2027 general elections, specifically pushing the re-election bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the second-term campaign of Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf. Urging stakeholders and security agencies to completely disregard any communication emanating from Rano, Mahmoud reaffirmed her absolute commitment to transparent institutional channels, warning that unauthorized political elements will not be permitted to compromise the administrative integrity of the state.
