Please note that the FactCheckHub has not obtained any right from the authors or copyright owners of all third-party contents from embedded links and shall incur no liability in this regard.
Please note that the FactCheckHub has not obtained any right from the authors or copyright owners of all third-party contents from embedded links and shall incur no liability in this regard.
Please note that the FactCheckHub has not obtained any right from the authors or copyright owners of all third-party contents from embedded links and shall incur no liability in this regard.
Please note that the FactCheckHub has not obtained any right from the authors or copyright owners of all third-party contents from embedded links and shall incur no liability in this regard.
A United States federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump administration’s policy that targeted foreign nationals studying online disinformation, hate speech, and content moderation with visa denials and deportation.
Chief District Judge James Boasberg in Washington, an appointee of former Democratic President Barack Obama, ruled on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, in favour of the Coalition for Independent Technology Research (CITR).
The judge found that the administration’s policy likely unlawfully burdens the speech of non-citizen researchers in the United States, in violation of the First Amendment.
The legal challenge was filed on behalf of the coalition by the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University and Protect Democracy.
They argued that the policy, while framed as an effort to combat online censorship, was actually being used to execute a far-reaching campaign targeting independent researchers, fact-checkers, and advocates.
The policy was first announced by Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, in May 2025, banning foreign nationals deemed “complicit in censoring Americans.” Rubio asserted that the measures were designed to secure the free-speech rights of Americans by deterring foreign censorship.
However, the lawsuit argued that the policy quickly expanded beyond foreign government officials. In December 2025, the State Department targeted five prominent Europeans with visa bans, calling them figures of a “global censorship-industrial complex.”
The visa bans were issued shortly after European Union tech regulators fined Elon Musk’s social media company, X (formerly Twitter), 120 million euros ($140 million). The fine was the first major sanction under the EU’s Digital Services Act, which is designed to combat hate speech and disinformation.
Among the individuals hit by the State Department’s visa bans following the fine on Elon Musk’s platform were Imran Ahmed, the British CEO of the US-based Center for Countering Digital Hate, and Clare Melford, co-founder of the Global Disinformation Index. Both of their groups are members of the Coalition for Independent Technology Research.
The State Department also instructed consular officers to scrutinize visa applicants for evidence of their work in fields such as misinformation, disinformation, fact-checking, content moderation, trust and safety, and compliance.
In his decision, Judge Boasberg sided with the researchers, concluding that the policy unconstitutionally discriminates against one set of viewpoints in the public debate surrounding social media.
The judge wrote that the policy sweeps a substantial measure of protected research, reporting, advocacy, and association into the category of “foreign censorship.” He added that non-citizens could reasonably understand the policy to place their immigration status at risk simply because they work in content moderation.
According to the lawsuit, the visa policy had already caused an effect across the research and fact-checking community. CITR reported that several of its non-citizen members living in the US had stopped working on research projects, ceased public speaking engagements, and declined invitations to international conferences for fear of being denied re-entry or facing deportation.
Carrie DeCell, a lawyer for the coalition at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, welcomed the judge’s ruling in a statement. She noted that the decision “recognized the serious constitutional harms this policy is already causing.”
“This policy punishes researchers for work the public needs and the First Amendment protects,” she added.
Brandi Geurkink, the executive director of the Coalition for Independent Technology Research, also supported the decision.
She stated that the ruling prevents the government from using immigration threats to intimidate and censor independent researchers who provide a critical window into how digital platforms impact communities.
In December 2025, FactCheckHubreported that the United States introduced a new policy that would see H-1B visa applicants denied entry if they have worked in fact-checking, content moderation or online safety — fields considered crucial in combating misinformation.
Reuters reported that an internal memo issued by the US State Department directed consular officers worldwide to scrutinise applicants’ past roles for any involvement in what Washington now describes as ‘censorship’ of free speech in the US.
The directive, dated December 2, also instructs visa officers to review LinkedIn profiles and résumés of applicants and their accompanying family members to determine whether they have worked in fact-checking, compliance, moderation or misinformation-related roles.
AN X user, @iamscrummy_, has shared a video showing a flooded roadway with the claim that it depicts the situation in Lekki, Lagos, following recent heavy downpours.
The video shows a major road near a bridge submerged in water, with several vehicles struggling to move through the flood.
The user shared the clip on July 14 with the caption: “Situation Report: Lekki, Lagos 💔😭”
As of July 14, 2026, the post had generated over 700 reposts and more than 1,000 likes.
CLAIM
The video shows recent flooding in Lekki, Lagos.
screenshot of the viral post
FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.
The claim surfaced amid growing concerns over flooding in parts of Lagos following weeks of heavy rainfall. In recent weeks, several communities across the state have experienced flash floods caused by intense downpours, poor drainage systems, and rising water levels.
However, checks by The FactCheckHub show that the viral video was not recorded in Nigeria.
The FactCheckHub subjected keyframes from the video to a Google Reverse Image Search. The results traced the footage to Banani, an upscale district in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
An earlier version of the video was posted on YouTube on July 12, 2026, with the caption “Banani Sea Beach”, a sarcastic reference to the severe flooding that affected the area. The same video also surfaced here with a similar caption.
Further checks show that the footage corresponds with reports by The Daily Star, a Bangladeshi newspaper, which reported that hours of heavy rainfall on June 11, 2026, left several parts of Dhaka, including Banani, submerged in ankle- to waist-deep water.
According to the report, about 100 millimetres of rainfall fell within nine hours, causing severe waterlogging, disrupting traffic, forcing businesses and schools to close, and exposing longstanding drainage challenges in the city.
Visual comparisons between the viral clip and images from news reports on the Dhaka flooding confirm that the location is in Bangladesh and not Lagos.
VERDICT
The claim that the video shows flooding in Lekki or anywhere in Lagos is MISLEADING. It depicts flooding in the Banani area of Dhaka, Bangladesh, and is being falsely shared as a recent scene from Lagos.
A POST circulating on social media claims that the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Oyo State regained their freedom after spending more than 170 days in captivity.
The post further alleges that the victims were freed through the efforts of Sunday Igboho and his security team, known as Iru Ekun.
It was shared by an X user, @HonestarsenalF, with the caption:
“The kidnapped Oyo pupils and teachers have regained their freedom after spending more than 170 days in the Den of bandits. Reports say they were freed with the help of Sunday Igboho and his team, (Iru Ekun). Some of the bandits involved were apprehended. The government has also promised to support every affected family and rebuild the school.”
As of July 11, the post has generated over 14,000 views, 19 reposts and over 100 likes.
Oyo State pupils and teachers were rescued by Sunday Igboho’s team after spending over 170 days in captivity.
screenshot of the viral post
FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.
The ICIRreported that the victims were abducted on May 15, 2026, when heavily armed men launched coordinated attacks on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esiele; and L.A. Primary School in Oriire Local Government Area.
The attackers abducted 39 pupils and seven teachers after killing one teacher during the assault before forcing the victims into the forest.
According to a statement released on July 10, 2026, by Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma on behalf of the 2 Division Army Public Relations, the rescue was executed by troops of the Nigerian Army in collaboration with joint security forces.
Led by Major General CR Nnebeife, the multi-agency operation included officers from the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Directorate of State Services (DSS), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and local vigilante groups who pressured the terrorists into unconditionally releasing the victims at the Old Oyo National Park Forest.
Even though media reports indicate that Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, joined the efforts at one point to assist in the search of abductees, deploying drones alongside his team to scan the Old Oyo National Park in support of the rescue operations, such effort could only complement those of the nation’s security forces.
Furthermore, a timeline verification reveals that the victims did not spend 170 days in captivity. The ICIR and other media outlets report that the abduction occured on May 15, 2026, and the victims were successfully rescued on July 10, 2026.
This indicates they spent exactly 56 days in captivity, contrary to the viral social media claim.
VERDICT
The claim that Sunday Igboho’s team rescued the Oyo pupils and teachers after 170 days is MISLEADING. Official records show the final operation that secured their freedom was executed by the Nigerian Army and joint security forces after the victims spent 56 days in captivity.
A GRAPHIC circulating on social media claims that the Federal Government of Nigeria has officially announced the relocation of Kwara State from the North Central geopolitical zone to the South West.
The picture alleges that as part of this boundary restructuring, the state will also be renamed “Odo Oya State” with the change expected to take official effect from October 1st, 2026.
The claim has been widely shared across Facebook groups here and here, triggering debates among users over the political implications of the purported realignment.
Kwara State is moving to the South West geopolitical zone and changing its name to Odo Oya State on October 1st, 2026.
screenshot of the viral graphic.
FINDINGS
Findings by TheFactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE.
On February 7, 2025, BBC reported that the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review made a proposal to the government for creation of new states in the country. The chairman of the committee, Benjamin Kalu proposed the creation of six new states for North Central, four for North East, five for North West, five for South East, four for South-South and seven for South West.
Similarly, on January 29, 2026, Legit.ng reported all the additional states proposed for creation in the Southwest region, beyond the six existing states. Which were: Ijebu State from Ogun State, Coastal State from Ondo State, Igbomina State from parts of Osun, Ekiti and Kwara States, Ibadan State from Oyo State, and New Oyo State from Oyo State
However, a look at the actual ongoing legislative proposals and bills reveals that none of them mention moving Kwara State out of the North Central zone, nor do they include any plans to rename it as Odo Oya State.
A reverse image search conducted by TheFactCheckHub on the graphic shared showed that it did not originate from any official government channel. The flyer, which mimics an official federal government announcement by using national emblems and a photograph of President Bola Tinubu, is completely fabricated and has not been published by any credible or verified media organisations.
Furthermore, changing a state’s name or altering geopolitical boundaries in Nigeria is a statutory process governed by Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution. It requires a two-thirds majority vote in the National Assembly, a formal referendum, and approval by at least 24 State Houses of Assembly. No such legal or legislative steps have been taken concerning Kwara State.
VERDICT
The claim that Kwara State is moving to the South West and changing its name to Odo Oya State is FALSE. The misleading graphic is digitally manipulated and does not originate from any official government channel.
THE race between generative Artificial Intelligence tools and the software built to detect them is heavily lopsided. While AI image and video generators are improving at a rapid pace, automated detection tools are failing to keep pace. This technical gap is creating a significant challenge for fact-checkers, as software built to catch fabrications is now flagging them as authentic.
When these automated tools fail, fact-checkers are left with either debunking AI-generated misinformation based on their intelligence or leaving it out, because the software used to flag it can no longer be trusted.
For Mutalib Jibril, a fact-checker with FactCheckAfrica, this technical failure turned a standard investigation into a game of trial and error. Working to debunk a viral video that carried distinct visual anomalies, Jibril ran the file through an AI detection tool. He expected the analysis to return a high probability score confirming the video was synthetic. Instead, the tool stated the video was real, showing only a 17 per cent probability of AI generation.
“There was a story I was working on, a video I was trying to debunk was AI-generated, and had the attributes of AI in it, but when I ran it by AI detection tools with the expectations that it would be 90 per cent probability or above, the analysis came out with 17 per cent probability, and stated that the video was real,” Jibril noted. “I had to run it on another detection tool, which later came out with an 87 per cent probability.”
Jibril is not the only fact-checker who has faced this kind of challenge. Mohammed Taoheed, a researcher at Dubawa, said he has encountered similar challenges while verifying suspected AI-generated content. He explained that although he could often identify AI-generated content through visual cues, he still needed forensic analysis to support his findings. However, when AI detection tools incorrectly classify deepfakes or AI-generated content as authentic, fact-checkers are sometimes left with no choice but to abandon the claim.
“I’ve experienced this many times, and most of my work has been turned down because of it. While I could tell that the content was AI-generated, I still needed forensic analysis to back it up. But when AI detection tools flag deepfakes and AI-generated content as real, I had no choice but to leave such claims,” Mohammed said.
He added that as AI-generated tools continue to advance, AI detection systems must also improve to keep pace.
Failure of AI detection tools
The rise of disinformation and misinformation due to Artificial intelligence is alarming. According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2026, misinformation and disinformation ranked as the second most severe risk in the short-term horizon, driven by AI-generated content and synthetic media.
As a result, the integrity of online news and information is increasingly under threat, as distinguishing between authentic and synthetic content, whether video, audio or written, is becoming more difficult.
According to a survey by the Reuters Institute, 58 per cent of respondents globally are concerned about how to distinguish truth from falsehood in online news. The figure rises to 73 per cent in both Africa and the United States.
The FactCheckHub has observed various instances where AI detection tools fail to detect clearly AI-generated visuals.
For instance, ZeroGPT’s website states its multi-model detection technology achieves 98.5 per cent accuracy across GPT-4, Claude, Gemini, and other large language models. The company says it uses Deep Analyse Technology to scan text patterns.
In an independent benchmark conducted by researchers from the Universities of Kansas and Rochester, Sightengine ranked #1 in AI-media detection accuracy with a 98.3 per cent accuracy rate on 80,000 images.
For instance, The FactCheckHub recently debunked a collage of images shared by the former lawmaker, Dino Melaye. The image purportedly showed heavily armed bandits in Katsina State handing over a casket to a local delegation.
While the image showed clear signs of AI generation, including distorted background features and inconsistent framing. Yet, when The FactCheckHub ran the imagery through Hive Moderation, an AI detection tool, the system returned only a 35.5 per cent probability of it being synthetic, concluding the image was real and had no AI-generated or deepfake content. The FactCheckHub then subjected the same image to Deep AI, another AI detection tool, which delivered a nine per cent probability, stating that the image was real.
Collage of the wrong forensic analysis
While alternative forensic checks eventually confirmed the images were fake, the initial failure of the two major detection platforms proved that automated tools are falling behind current generative technology.
This isn’t all. The FactCheckHubdebunked viral images of the late former president Buhari on May 19, 2026.
An X user posted Buhari’s images, claiming that he was alive and residing in Egypt. Many comments on the post showed people were confused because the former president had died months before the images surfaced online.
To verify the authenticity of the images, The FactCheckHub analysed them using DeepAI, and the result returned a three per cent probability and still declared the images to be real. The FactCheckHub then subjected the images to another tool, Hive Moderation, which then returned an 84.3 per cent probability score for a deepfake face swap and a 31.9 per cent score for fully AI-generated images.
The ICIR and other media outlets had reported the death of the late former president on June 13, 2025, ten months before the images surfaced online.
screenshot of the forensic analysis on DeepAI
Also, in February 2026, FactCheckHubdebunked a viral video of American soldiers eating egusi soup and fufu, a starchy African food in Nigeria, which surfaced online. The anomalies in the video reeked of AI-generated content due to the inconsistent movements in the video.
When The FactCheckHub subjected the video to an AI detection tool, ZeroGPT, for analysis, the result said that the video was 89 per cent real. The video was subjected to another AI detection tool, DeepAI, which corroborated that the video was real. It was after a series of verifications and human verification that the result showed that it was AI-generated.
A reverse image search done by The FactCheckHub led to the account that first posted it on social media. The account showed a consistent pattern of posting AI-generated content.
collage image of the result of two detector tools used.
Speaking with The FactCheckHub, the editor of Dubawa, Kemi Busari, noted that a fact-checking organisation risks becoming a validator for falsehood when its internal tools fail.
“The understanding is that a fact-checking organisation helps you decipher truth from falsehood, but when such an organisation becomes a conduit for fake content, it means they are giving some kind of validation or amplification for a deepfake,” he explained.
Busari warned that repeated failures to detect deepfakes could erode public trust in news organisations and fact-checking platforms. According to him, if audiences repeatedly see manipulated content slip through an organisation’s verification process, they may lose confidence in its ability to distinguish fact from fiction.
He noted that the consequences could be particularly severe during elections, where misinformation can influence voters’ decisions. Busari said that if a fact-checking organisation mistakenly verifies a fake video as authentic, the public could rely on that false information when deciding whether or not to vote.
On her part, disinformation researcher Rejoice Taddy explained that resolving the failure of AI-detection tools requires journalists to prioritise human analysis over software results, adding that verification must start with human observation rather than an algorithmic score.
“It often starts with a human sense of what feels AI-generated or manipulated,” Taddy said. “That then guides how you approach the tools available to you. Sometimes you also have to question what the tools are saying because you might look at something and be convinced it is not realistic, even when a system is flagging it as not synthetic. That is where deeper verification becomes necessary.”
She said while these tools are good at recognising patterns, flagging harmful language, and identifying known narratives, they still rely heavily on human input, adding that human verification is what brings context, helps assess intent, identifies coordinated behaviour, and applies ethical judgment that machines cannot fully replicate, especially in high-risk situations.
To address the limitations of existing detection tools, Busari called for greater collaboration among technology companies, researchers and journalists to develop attribution systems that embed verification data directly into digital media.
According to him, such systems would enable anyone viewing an image or video to see the verification checks it had undergone and independently replicate the process before accepting the outcome.
Busari, however, stressed that no software should replace editorial judgement. He maintained that while artificial intelligence could support verification, decisions on the authenticity of content must ultimately rest with human reviewers.
He urged fact-checkers to treat AI-powered detection tools as assistants in the verification process rather than as final arbiters of truth.
“We need to keep humans in charge,” Busari emphasised, stressing that “Whatever you’re getting from AI detection tools must also go through your own human detection process to be sure that it’s accurate. Eventually, we have all these tools to help us, but your most important tool is still your own brain, your own instinct.”
On July 2, FactCheckHub published a fact-check, rating an infographic by Daily Trust claiming to show the Top 20 Nigerian Institutions on World University Rankings as MISLEADING.
The newspaper subsequently published a rebuttal, arguing that FactCheckHub compared the infographic against the wrong dataset. According to Daily Trust, the universities listed in the graphic were drawn from the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings (also known as the Sustainability Impact Rankings), not the 2026 THE World University Rankings.
The newspaper, therefore, argued that FactCheckHub conflated two ranking systems published by Times Higher Education.
However, a closer review by FactCheckHub shows that the rebuttal does not address the central reason the infographic was rated as MISLEADING.
CLAIM
Daily Trust’s infographic accurately represents an official Times Higher Education ranking.
screenshot of the Daily Trust infographics
FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the newspaper’s rebuttal does not resolve the misleading nature of the infographic.
The issue identified in our earlier report was not whether Times Higher Education(THE) publishes multiple rankings. It does.
Rather, the issue lies in how Daily Trust labelled its infographic.
The graphic prominently states: “Top 20 Nigerian Institutions on “World University Rankings” instead of “Sustainability Impact Ratings”.
This distinction matters because “World University Rankings” is not merely a generic description of universities ranked globally. It is the official title of Times Higher Education’s flagship global ranking, which evaluates universities primarily on teaching, research quality, research environment, industry engagement and international outlook.
By contrast, the Sustainability Impact Ratings assess universities according to their contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), using an entirely different methodology.
Consequently, the two rankings are not interchangeable.
A reader seeing the headline “Top 20 Nigerian Institutions on World University Rankings” would reasonably understand it to mean the official THE World University Rankings, not the Sustainability Impact Rankings. A look at the comment section under the infographic confirms this.
Ranking
University
Ranking
University
1
University of Ibadan
13
Ekiti State University
2
University of Lagos
14
Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta
3
Bayero University Kano
15
Federal University of Technology, Akure
4
Covenant University
16
Federal University of Technology, Owerri
5
Landmark University
17
Federal University Oye-Ekiti
6
Ahmadu Bello University
18
Ladoke Akintola University of Technology
7
Federal University of Technology, Minna
19
Lagos State University
8
University of Ilorin
20
Nnamdi Azikiwe University
9
University of Jos
21
Obafemi Awolowo University
10
University of Nigeria, Nsukka
22
University of Benin
11
Babcock University
23
University of Calabar
12
Delta State University, Abraka
24
University of Port Harcourt
Source: Top 20 Nigerian Universities on 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) “World University Rankings”
That is precisely why the infographic becomes misleading.
Daily Trust’s rebuttal argues that institutions such as Afe Babalola University, Redeemer’s University, Al-Hikmah University, Godfrey Okoye University and Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria appear in the Sustainability Impact Rankings.
FactCheckHub does not dispute that.
However, the rebuttal does not explain why the infographic omitted any reference to the Sustainability Impact Rankings while simultaneously using the phrase “World University Rankings.”
Consequently, readers are left with the false impression that the listed institutions occupy those positions in the flagship THE World University Rankings.
To show that the infographic is misleading, one of the Universities, Alhikmah University, is already touting itself as among the top 20 Universities on the World Universities Rankings. Many users under the comment section were wondering how the top Universities were missing on the list. This is how misinformation spreads.
Had the infographic been titled: “Top Nigerian Universities in the 2026 THE Impact Rating” or “Top Nigerian Universities in THE Sustainability Rankings”, it would not have been misleading.
Instead, the title points readers to an entirely different THE ranking system.
The fact that the universities originate from another official THE ranking does not remove the misleading presentation created by the headline used in the infographic. The FactCheckHubrates claims as misleading if it is in connection with elements like photographs, infographics, videos, texts, data, quotes, etc. that are real but placed in a wrong context, accompanied by a false explanation or manipulated.
VERDICT
Daily Trust’s rebuttal does not invalidate FactCheckHub’s verdict. While the listed universities correspond to the 2026 Times Higher Sustainability Impact Rankings, the infographic labels them as “World University Rankings”. THE World University Rankings and THE Impact Rankings are distinct official rankings that measure different indicators; presenting one as the other creates a misleading impression for readers.
A POST circulating on social media claims that Justice Simon Haruna Tsammani, the Court of Appeal judge who chaired the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal that affirmed President Bola Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 presidential election, has gone blind after undergoing an eye surgery in London.
The post alleges that the judge was admitted to a specialist hospital in London for what it described as a routine eye procedure but suffered complications during the operation, resulting in the complete loss of his eyesight.
The claim was shared by an X user, @Uno_009, with the caption:
“Breaking: Judge Tsamma Abubakar, who declared Tinubu winner in the 2023 presidential election, reportedly goes blind in a London hospital after undergoing eye surgery. According to reports, the judge was admitted to a specialist hospital in London for what was described as a routine eye procedure. However, doctors allegedly encountered unexpected complications during the operation, resulting in the complete loss of his eyesight.”
As of July 4, the post had generated over 350,000 views, 4600 likes, and over 1200 reposts.
It was also circulated on various social media platforms.
Justice Simon Haruna Tsammani reportedly went blind after undergoing eye surgery in a London hospital.
screenshot of the viral post
FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE.
Justice Simon Haruna Tsammani is a Justice of the Court of Appeal who chaired the five-member Presidential Election Petition Tribunal constituted to hear petitions challenging the outcome of Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election.
Following the February 25, 2023, presidential poll, the candidates of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, challenged the declaration of Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the election winner. On September 6, 2023, the tribunal, led by Tsammani, unanimously dismissed the petitions and affirmed Tinubu’s victory.
A review of the viral post by TheFactCheckHub, however, reveals inconsistencies.
The image used in the post is not that of Tsammani. The photograph actually belongs to Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, the Chief Justice of Ghana. Justice Tsammani is male, while the person depicted in the image is Ghana’s female Chief Justice, indicating that the post falsely identifies the individual it claims to be reporting about.
The top image is of Judge Haruna Tsammani and the one below it is of Chief Justice of Ghana, Gertrude Torkornoo
When contacted, Festus Akande, director of Information and Public Relations at the Supreme Court, dismissed the claim.
“He is still a sitting judge, so how can he be blind? The poster doesn’t know what he’s saying,” he added.
Furthermore, searches across credible media organisations found no report that Justice Tsammani underwent eye surgery in London or lost his eyesight. Given his high-profile role in the 2023 election tribunal, such a development would almost certainly have been reported by reputable news organisations if it occurred.
VERDICT
The claim that Justice Simon Haruna Tsammani went blind after undergoing eye surgery in London is FALSE. The viral post uses the photograph of Ghana’s Chief Justice, Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, to falsely depict the Nigerian judge, and there is no credible evidence that he underwent such a procedure or lost his eyesight.
A VIRAL infographic shared by Daily Trust claims to show the top 20 Nigerian universities following the release of the prestigious 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings.
According to the infographic shared across social media, Afe Babalola University, Covenant University, and Redeemer’s University are Nigeria’s top three universities, ahead of the University of Lagos and University of Ibadan.
The graphic has been widely shared on social media, with many Universities like Al-Hikmah University, Kwara State celebrating their purported emergence as top 20 Universities in this year’s ranking.
CLAIM
The infographic shows the top 20 Nigerian universities in the 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
screenshot of the viral infographics
FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.
The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings assess research-intensive universities across the world using internationally recognised performance indicators covering teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.
It recently released its 2026 World University Rankings, in which 24 Nigerian universities secured places in the global and Sub-Saharan Africa rankings, the highest representation by any country in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Ranking
University
Ranking
University
1
University of Ibadan
13
Ekiti State University
2
University of Lagos
14
Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta
3
Bayero University Kano
15
Federal University of Technology, Akure
4
Covenant University
16
Federal University of Technology, Owerri
5
Landmark University
17
Federal University Oye-Ekiti
6
Ahmadu Bello University
18
Ladoke Akintola University of Technology
7
Federal University of Technology, Minna
19
Lagos State University
8
University of Ilorin
20
Nnamdi Azikiwe University
9
University of Jos
21
Obafemi Awolowo University
10
University of Nigeria, Nsukka
22
University of Benin
11
Babcock University
23
University of Calabar
12
Delta State University, Abraka
24
University of Port Harcourt
Source: 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings
However, checks by The FactCheckHub show that the infographic published by Daily Trust does not accurately reflect the official rankings.
According to the official 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, the University of Ibadan is Nigeria’s highest-ranked university, followed by the University of Lagos and Bayero University, Kano. Covenant University ranks after these institutions, contrary to the infographic, which places Afe Babalola University, Covenant University, and Redeemer’s University as Nigeria’s top three universities.
The official rankings show that Nigeria’s 24 ranked institutions comprise 17 federal universities, three state universities and four private universities, reflecting the country’s growing presence in global higher education.
Contrary to what was in the infographics, universities like Al-Hikmah University, Godfrey Okoye University, Mariam Abacha University are not among the top 24 Universities on the list.
Reacting to the latest rankings, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, described the achievement as a significant milestone for Nigeria’s higher education sector, saying it demonstrates the impact of ongoing reforms aimed at improving teaching, research, innovation and global competitiveness.
VERDICT
The claim that infographic represents the 2026 Times Higher Education World University Ranking is MISLEADING. The official rankings place the University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, and Bayero University, Kano as Nigeria’s top-ranked universities, not Afe Babalola University, Covenant University, and Redeemer’s University as claimed.
A VIDEO circulating on social media claims to show a recent devastating flood sweeping away a resident in Lagos State.
The post, published by an X user, @Queen Bee, features footage of a heavy deluge with the caption,
“No be person way flood dey carry go like this for Tinubu Lagos? Just because he wants to Tiff money, Tinubu carry Nigeria money buy Wahala for Lagosians.”
As of June 30, 2026, the post has generated over 34,000 views, 300 likes and over 200 reposts.
A viral video shows a man being swept away by heavy floods in Lagos.
Screenshot of the viral post
FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.
Since Sunday, June 28, and continuing through Tuesday, June 30, heavy rainfall has swept across Lagos State, triggering widespread outrage on social media as residents criticise the Lagos State government over recurring flooding.
Pictures on social media show that major roads in Gbagada, Iyana-Ipaja, Agege, and other areas have been submerged, leaving residents stranded and homes underwater.
However, a digital footprint check reveals that the poster lifted the viral video from another online account that had explicitly stated the incident occurred in Ghana.
Also, a reverse image search done by The FactCheckHub traced the original footage to a verified Ghanaian blogging and media account on Instagram, tv3_ghana.
The account posted the same video with the caption: “heartbreaking scenes as residents watch helplessly while floodwaters sweep away a man inside his wooden kiosks, with no immediate rescue in sight.”
According to TVC news, at least 13 people have died after torrential rainfall triggered severe flooding across Ghana’s capital, Accra, with emergency responders warning that the death toll could rise as rescue operations continue.
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) said more than 470 people had been rescued from floodwaters that submerged homes, vehicles and businesses following heavy downpours on Sunday night.
The flooding also sparked a major fire at a rubber factory in Accra, while electricity supply was temporarily cut to several affected areas after floodwaters damaged power infrastructure.
Markets, businesses and schools in several parts of the capital remained closed as floodwaters gradually receded and residents began assessing the damage.
VERDICT
The claim that the viral video shows a recent flood disaster in Lagos is MISLEADING. Reverse image searches and source tracking prove the incident occurred in Accra, Ghana.
A VIDEO circulating on social media claims to show the Deputy Governor of Ogun State and members of the State Executive Council prostrating before Governor Dapo Abiodun after allegedly falling out of his favour.
The eight-second clip was shared by a Facebook user, Olayinka Samuel with the caption:
“This is Ogun State. Whenever their governor isn’t happy with them, this is how the deputy governor and commissioners come and apologise. People that are supposed to hold him accountable.”
The post attracted several reactions, with many users criticising the governor and believing the individuals in the video were senior state officials.
The video has also surfaced on several other Facebook accounts as can be seen here and here.
CLAIM
The video shows the Ogun State Deputy Governor and commissioners prostrating before Governor Dapo Abiodun.
Screenshot of the viral post
FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.
A reverse image search conducted by The FactCheckHub traced the video to September 2023, long before it resurfaced with the current claim.
Checks show that the individuals in the footage were not the deputy governor or commissioners. Instead, they were local government chairpersons who visited Abiodun following a political crisis involving the then chairman of Ijebu East Local Government Area, Wale Adedayo.
The controversy began after Adedayo accused Abiodun of diverting local government allocations and wrote petitions to former Governor Olusegun Osoba and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alleging that the state’s 20 local governments were operating without receiving their statutory allocations.
Following the allegations, other local government chairpersons visited the governor and publicly apologised over Adedayo’s remarks. During the meeting, they were seen prostrating before the governor – an incident captured in the viral video.
Subsequently, Adedayo was suspended and later removed from office by councillors in his local government, although he challenged the action in court.
In December 2025, the Ogun State High Court sitting in Ijebu Ode nullified his removal, describing the impeachment process as illegal, null and void. The court also awarded him N30 million in damages.
There is no evidence that the deputy governor of Ogun State or the commissioners were involved in the incident shown in the video.
VERDICT
The claim that the viral video shows the Ogun State deputy governor and commissioners prostrating before Governor Dapo Abiodun is MISLEADING. It shows local government chairpersons apologising to the governor during a political dispute involving former Ijebu East Local Government chairman, Wale Adedayo, in September 2023.
