Imagine waking up one morning to find your face splashed across social media with a “Rest in Peace” watermark or being falsely accused of a crime you never committed. This is the reality for many who fall victim to misinformation and disinformation campaigns in the digital age.
While countless individuals unknowingly spreading false claims online, the real damage is felt by those caught in the crossfire — individuals, institutions, and public figures whose reputations and lives are upended by the viral nature of these false information.
In 2024, The FactCheckHub uncovered numerous instances where public figures were targeted with misinformation. We bring you our topmost 15 Nigerians on the list below:
1. Bola Ahmed Tinubu
The Nigerian president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, still remains our number one on this list. Before the nationwide protest by Nigerians which later took place in August 2024, a video purportedly showing Tinubu promising to reduce the purchasing power of citizens, slow down the economy and widen the tax net resurfaced online.
Our findings show that the claim is MISLEADING as Tinubu was quoted out-of-context. The video was also edited to suit the goal of the disinformation campaigners – to mislead the public.
Contrary to the viral video, Tinubu didn’t promise to reduce the purchasing power of Nigerians. What he called for was a stop to the proposal by former President Buhari’s economic team to increase VAT in the country.
READ: Top misinformation that dominated the media in 2024
Tinubu argued that increasing the VAT would result in a reduction of the purchasing power of Nigerians with the unintended consequences of further economic slowdown, according to the Channels TV report. Thisday newspaper also reported same here.
As an alternative, he proposed a broadening of the tax base which will get more people to pay their taxes and lead to increased tax revenue instead of placing additional tax burdens on Nigerians.
In May 2024, a video purportedly showing President Tinubu saying that he’s a supporter of Chelsea Football Club and that he suffers a heart attack anytime the English club loses surfaced online.
The FactCheckHub analyzed the video and it shows traces of manipulation. The speech and lip gestures of the president do not also correlate in the video – a common feature of deepfake. The original footage highlights Tinubu’s speech while breaking the Ramadan fasting with traditional rulers and religious leaders at the Presidential Villa in March 2024.
2. Ademola Adeleke
A video showing a man wearing a traditional cap with a wrapper once trended online this year with a claim that it shows the governor of Osun state, Ademola Adeleke, dancing to a music in a room.
The FactCheckHub conducted a thorough examination of the extended version of the viral footage to identify the individual therein. It was observed that the person in the video is not Governor Adeleke, despite a few resemblance in terms of physique.
3. Ben Ayade
In July 2024, a video clip of Ben Ayade, an ex-governor of Cross River State addressing youths surfaced on social media with a claim that Ayade was on the streets to caution youths to shelve the planned nationwide protests starting on August 1, 2024.
Our findings indicated that the claim is MISLEADING, as the video has been online since 2020.
4. Bello Matawalle
A photo showing some vehicles buried underground surfaced online with a claim that they were seized from Bello Matawalle, Nigeria’s minister of State for Defence and former Governor of Zamfara state in January 2024.
When the image was subjected to a Google Reverse Image search, the results showed that the photo was shared by a Reddit user in November 2023 with a claim that a former corrupt Afghan politicians hid the vehicles.
5. Mele Kyari
Following concerns over speculations that the Nigerian government is secretly paying fuel subsidies, a video showing the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari, saying there’s no subsidy on fuel imports resurfaced online.
Our findings revealed that the video shows when Kyari was addressing State House Correspondents at the Presidential Villa in Abuja in October 2023 where he vehemently denied the return of the fuel subsidy regime.
6. Kashim Shettima
In January 2024, a video showing Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, exchanging pleasantries with some tribal Fulani men resurfaced online with a claim that it shows the vice president during a visit to some terrorists.
Our findings showed that the video was posted by Shettima on his Facebook account in June 27, 2017, when he was the governor of Borno State. Shettima said the video shows when he went to inspect Lamisula Primary School in Maiduguri, Borno state where they were facilitating the construction of classrooms.
7. Godswill Akpabio
In June, a verified X user, @Frankekechukwu, claimed that the Nigerian Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said they “know Nigerians are hungry but that they will not stop to approve a private jet for Mr President.”
Our fact-check showed that the quote did not originate from the Senate President. A search online showed that claim was not reported by any local or international media platform. Akpabio’s media aide also debunked the claim.
8. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi
In June 2024, a video showing the reinstated Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, speaking on the failure of the Nigerian government to address various problems bedevilling the country resurfaced online.
In the footage, Sanusi urged Nigerians to get involved in governance and hold politicians to account. The video is being circulated with a claim that he delivered the speech after his reinstatement.
The FactCheckHub’s findings revealed that the earlier version of the video depicts Sanusi’s speech at the launch of a stage play titled “Emir Sanusi: Truth in Time” held in August 2022 in Lagos.
9. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Another victim of misinformation is the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who debunked a viral quote attributed to her regarding Nigeria’s debt profile and fuel subsidy removal.
Iweala was wrongly quoted to have said “Nigeria debt for the first time in history has risen to 24 trillion in just 2 months even after removing subsidy.”
10. Siminalayi Fubara
In May, a claim that the incumbent governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) resurfaced online.
DON’T MISS THIS: 2023 in Review – Major fake news that clouded Nigeria’s media space
Our findings showed that the announcement was made in 2022. However, the anti-graft agency was unable to investigate and tried him until he became the governor of Rivers State in May 2023.
In May 2022, the EFCC declared Fubara and 58 others wanted over an alleged N435 billion fraud. Fubara, and four other Rivers State government officials, among others, were wanted for suspected N117 billion fraud, alleged criminal conspiracy, money laundering, misappropriation of public funds, and abuse of office.
11. Babajide Sanwo-Olu
In April 2024, a video purportedly showing Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, announcing that the state government increased the minimum wage from N35,000 to N70,000 went viral.
Our checks showed that Sanwo-Olu’s speech which was made at the launching of the Lagos State Social Intervention Programme tagged: “Eko Cares” has been taken out of context. A review of the full video uploaded by TVC News on Thursday, April 25, 2024 showed that Sanwo-Olu did not increase the minimum wage for the state workers; rather, it said the state had implemented the N35,000 minimum wage as directed by the federal government.
12. Theodore Ahamefule Orji
In May 2024, an online news blog, Igbo Times Magazine, published a report that Theodore Ahamefule Orji, a former governor of Abia State, has threatened to cause unrest in the state if his pension as a former governor is stopped. Our findings showed that the claim is FALSE.
13. Betta Edu
A claim that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission released a list of some valuable properties recovered from the suspended Nigerian minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, surfaced online in January 2024.
The list which went viral on social media contains valuable items such as a filling station, an estate and millions of naira among other assets purportedly owned by the suspended minister.
The FactCheckHub reviewed the media handles of EFCC including Facebook, X and its website but we could not find the viral list. We also contacted the EFCC and they debunked the claim.
14. Okezie Ikpeazu
In February 2024, a photo showing a stack of cash surfaced online with a claim that the EFCC discovered $800 million (dollars) in cash stashed at the home of a former Abia state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu.
When subjected to Google Reverse Image search, the result showed that the image has been online since 2007 and it showed that cash and other valuable items were recovered by Mexican Police from a drug dealer whose house was raided.
15. Stanley Nwabali
Three photos showing Super Eagles goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali and a woman surfaced online with a claim that they showed the footballer with his wife.
The photos were posted by a Facebook user who claimed to be the goalkeeper’s wife following the Super Eagles’ victory against South Africa at the semi-final of African Cup of Nations. Our findings showed that the images were photoshopped.
Nurudeen Akewushola is a fact-checker with FactCheckHub. He has authored several fact checks which have contributed to the fight against information disorder. You can reach him via [email protected] and @NurudeenAkewus1 via Twitter.
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