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Fact-checking Sowore’s claims at ‘The Candidates’ presidential town hall series

Nurudeen Akewushola
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Fact-checking Sowore’s claims at ‘The Candidates’ presidential town hall series

The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, on Friday made several claims on the situation of the country and his plans for Nigerians if elected Nigeria’s president in the 2023 general elections.

He made the claims at the presidential town hall series titled ‘The Candidates,’ which was organised by Daria Media in partnership with News Central, and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), among others.

The town hall series features six presidential candidates ahead of the February 2023 presidential election alongside their running mates, starting from November 17 till November 23.

The presidential candidates are: Bola Ahmed Tinubu (APC), Peter Gregory Obi (LP), Atiku Abubakar (PDP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (NNPP), Omoyele Sowore (AAC) and Adewole Adebayo (SDP). Friday’s edition featured Sowore.

The Nigerian Fact-checkers Coalition (NFC) which includes The FactCheckHub, examined the veracity of these claims.

READ: Claim that Sowore, Kperogi endorsed Peter Obi for president is FALSE

CLAIM 1:

Obasanjo’s administration spent $16 billion dollars on the power sector – Sowore.

FINDINGS

There were allegations that President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration spent $16 billion on power projects. However, there are no publicly available official records that prove this. Some members of the Obasanjo administration have refuted the claim.

Also, a 2017 report on corruption in the power sector by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) records that Obasanjo’s administration spent $10 billion, not $16 billion on NIPP from the testimony of the former President’s Chief Economic Adviser, Taminu Yakubu, while testifying before the Senate probe committee.

Similarly, a breakdown published by the Vanguard shows that the Federal Government released a total sum of N374.65 billion or $2.9 billion to the Ministry of Power between 1999 to 2006 under Obasanjo’s regime.

According to the Vanguard, the breakdown was part of the report presented by the former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Godknows Igali, and the Managing Director, Niger Delta Power Holding Company, NDPHC, James Olotu, before a Senate Ad-hoc Committee probing the power sector from 1999 to 2015.

VERDICT

Sowore’s claim that Obasanjo’s government spent $16 bn on power is FALSE; as findings revealed that the figure is lower.

 

CLAIM 2:

Nigerian government still funds electricity in spite of privatization, says Sowore.

FINDINGS

The federal government privatised the power sector in November 2013, with six power generation plants and 11 electricity distribution companies handed over to the private sector.

The Federal Government, however, retained control of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

The sector was unbundled and partially privatised to establish a competitive market intended to improve management and efficiency, attract private investment, increase generation, and provide a reliable and cost-efficient power supply.

However, Daily Trust reported that the federal government spent N247 billion as an intervention fund for power sector in 2021 to mitigate the endless liquidity crisis affecting the industry and keep electricity generation and supply going.

Also, a report by the Premium Times quoted Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as saying that the federal government spent about N1.5 trillion as intervention funds for Nigeria’s power sector between 2017 and 2018.

VERDICT

Sowore’s claim that the federal government still funds the power sector is TRUE; as findings show that the Nigerian government spent billions of naira on the sector as intervention funds.

 

CLAIM 3:

The AAC presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, claimed that former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, is ‘being jailed in London currently.’

FINDINGS

The former Nigerian Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and his wife are currently facing trial at a British court for allegedly bringing a child to the United Kingdom for organ harvesting.

Multiple reports, including from the Sky News and Vanguard, indicate that Ekweremadu has spent over 130 days in custody of the UK authorities over human trafficking charges. A recent report by BBC shows that his trial has been moved forward from May 2023 to January 2023 while he remains in police custody. Although in detention, Ekweremadu is not jailed (yet).

VERDICT

Sowore’s claim that Ekweremadu ‘is being jailed in London currently’ is MISLEADING, as findings revealed that Ekweremadu is still in detention and under police custody and not in jail, as he’s yet to be convicted.

ALSO READ: Fact-checking Adewole Adebayo’s claims at ‘The Candidates’ presidential town hall series

CLAIM 4:

Sowore also claimed that Korea and Senegal do not have ‘Senates’

FINDINGS

A BBC report noted that the Senegalese MPs voted to abolish the Senate, in 2012, as part of moves to help the victims of floods. CBS news also reported that the Senegalese lawmakers dissolved the 100-seat Senate in the country to save money. Similarly, findings show that North Korea runs a unicameral national legislature.

VERDICT

Sowore’s claim that Korea and Senegal do not have ‘Senates’ is TRUE.

 

Nigerian Fact-checkers' Coalition

*This live-check was researched and written by members of the Nigerian Fact-checkers’ Coalition (NFC) and edited by Kemi Busari (Dubawa Nigeria), David Ajikobi (Africa Check Nigeria), Ajibola Amzat and Opeyemi Kehinde (FactCheckHub).

Fact-checking Adewole Adebayo’s claims at ‘The Candidates’ presidential town hall series

Raji Olatunji
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Fact-checking Adewole Adebayo’s claims at ‘The Candidates’ presidential town hall series

AHEAD of Nigeria’s 2023 general elections, the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, made an appearance at a town hall debate where he spoke on several issues relating to the country’s economy and health, among others.

The event, held on Thursday, 17th of November, 2022, was part of ‘The Candidates’ presidential town hall series being organised by Daria Media with the support of the Macarthur Foundation.

Speaking on his plans for Nigeria if elected president in 2023, Adebayo claimed that 80 per cent of Nigeria’s crude oil is being stolen.

READ: Fact-checking Kwankwaso’s claims at ‘The Candidates’ presidential town hall series

He also claimed that he would, for the first time, in a long time, appoint an economist as the head of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) if elected.

Adebayo further claimed that the counterpart health funding is not being paid by state governments in Nigeria.

Adebayo, a prince, lawyer and founder of KAFTAN Television, emerged as the flag bearer of the SDP in June 2022 after clinching the highest votes in the primary election held by the party in Abuja.

CLAIM 1:

Adebayo claimed that 80 per cent of Nigeria’s crude oil is being stolen.

FINDINGS

Findings by the Nigerian Fact-checkers Coalition show that the claim is FALSE.

 

The coalition did a live check during the interaction and found that the amount of crude oil the country lost to theft and vandalism was way lesser than 80 per cent.

The official figures cited from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) revealed that Nigeria lost 115,000 barrels of crude oil per day (bpd) between January and February 2022.

The data shows that the crude oil loss was less than 10 per cent of the country’s regular daily production of about 1.5 million barrels a day.

VERDICT

Adebayo’s claim that 80 per cent of Nigeria’s crude oil is being stolen is FALSE.

 

CLAIM 2:

Adebayo claimed that an economist has not served as the governor of CBN in a long time.

FINDINGS

The fact-checkers coalition’s findings show that the claim is FALSE.

 

 

An extensive keyword search by the Coalition revealed that several economists have served as governors of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Former governors Sanusi Lamido, Charles Soludo, Aliyu Mai Borno and Clement Nyong Isong, were said to be among the economists who have headed the country’s apex bank.

VERDICT

Adebayo’s claim that an economist has not served as the CBN governor in a long time is FALSE.

 

CLAIM 3:

Adebayo claimed that the counterpart health funding is not being paid in Nigeria.

ALSO READ: 2023 polls: Seven ways to avoid election misinformation

FINDINGS

Findings by the Coalition show that the claim is TRUE.

In a news report, a representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in July 2022 called on state governments across Nigeria to pay their counterpart funds.

This was to enable them to qualify for benefits from global organisations’ support for health infrastructure, ThisDay reported.

VERDICT

Adebayo’s claim that the counterpart health funding is not being paid in Nigeria is TRUE.

 

 

Nigerian Fact-checkers' Coalition

*This live-check was researched and written by members of the Nigerian Fact-checkers’ Coalition (NFC) and edited by Kemi Busari (Dubawa Nigeria), David Ajikobi (Africa Check Nigeria), Ajibola Amzat and Opeyemi Kehinde (FactCheckHub).

Unrelated video used to depict Nigerian Senator hiding stacks of money in house

Editorial
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Unrelated video used to depict Nigerian Senator hiding stacks of money in house

By Nigerian Fact-checkers’ Coalition.

Claim

A LinkedIn user alleged that Orji Uzor Kalu, a serving Senator and former Governor of Abia State, is hiding stacks of money in his house.

 A screenshot from the alleged video
A screenshot from the alleged video.

 

Verdict

Video of an alleged stack of money linked to Orji Uzor Kalu, a serving Senator and former Governor of Abia state, is FALSE. The alleged clip has been in circulation since 2019 and was originally crafted by Alejandro Monge, a Spanish artist.

READ: Viral video does not show bundles of naira notes in warehouse

Full text

From sensational stories about a “tribe where the bride’s aunt must have sex with the groom to test his potency-Bayonkole Tribe”, to controversial pro-China-Russia propaganda riddled on his LinkedIn timeline, EkeneDiliChukwu Okafor, who described himself as an independent Journalist and Entrepreneur has shared several false information in recent times. 

His latest, a video depicts stacks of cash piled in a room which, according to Mr Ekene, were discovered in the home of Orji Uzor Kalu, a former governor of Abia, a state in the southeastern parts of Nigeria. Mr Ekene shared alongside the video a short caption calling the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to go after Kalu. 

“EFCC needs to go after @Orji Uzo Kalu, former governor of Abia state. Look at how he starched European currency in his house.”

Within 24 hours, the post attracted diverse remarks. While many users who commented on the post expressed  doubts, others affirmed it, expressing satisfaction with the recent decision by the Central Bank of Nigeria to change the Nigerian currency.

One Twitter user, Temitope Kade, who probably believes the claim, gave a sigh of resignation. 

“Oh my days!!! What a nation,” she remarked. 

Marc-Oliver Nguenti, another user, described  the post as fake news. In his view, the claim is a made-up movie. 

“Fake news!!! This was made up for a movie,” he challenged. 

Orji Uzor Kalu is a Nigerian politician with a controversial past.He is a current Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District, and  Senate Chief Whip. The senator  was alsoa two-term Governor of Abia State from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007. 

In December 2019, a court of law convicted and sentenced Kalu to 12 years imprisonment for N7.65 billion  fraud. However, on Friday, 8th May 2020, the Supreme Court of Nigeria ruled that his trial was wrongly executed and freed him. Being a member of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC),  false allegation as widely spread on social media about can trigger public condemnation about Kalu and his party

 

Verification 

When the Nigerian Fact-Checkers Coalition (NFC) subjected the alleged video to analysis on the InVid video verifier tool, results showed the clip had surfaced in different contexts with similar narrative. 

In 2019, the video appeared in the Cameroonian social media space, alleging that the Cameroonian minister of defence was hiding money in his house and his wife was attempting to burn it before police discovered it. The claim‌ referred to Edgar Alain Mebe Ngo’o, former Cameroonian minister of defence, suspected of embezzlement.

The same video also made headlines in Russia in the same year, alleging that Rauf Arashukov, a Russian Senator, had discreetly tried to burn money he had embezzled and stashed in his office. The claim came around the time when Arashukov was arrested on the accusations of murder. 

However, none of these narratives was true. The actual story links back to Alejandro Monge, a Spanish artist who crafted a three-metre-tall sculpture of money stashed in a room. The art was titled the “European Dream” and was entirely hand-painted to give it a money-like look. Since then, it has been displayed in the 3-Punts gallery in Barcelona and somewhere in Madrid, the Spanish capital. 

Monge’s post on Instagram debunking the claim (translated).

Monge posted this video on his Instagram page and further debunked the heralding claims. His post, originally in Spanish, highlights the need for people to question whatever they see on the internet before believing it. He expressed dismay, adding that it is essential for people to know who first shared a post and the reason behind it before sharing it. 

“Monge_art: It’s what the internet has that something is not known because it goes viral… and then no one knows what it is or to whom it belongs… thank you for sending me where you are going to see them from NY to WhatsApp groups all over the world.. well if people knew it’s a sculpture and the notes are hand painted.. @monge_art.”

In 2019, Monge told France24 that the way his art was depicted on social media came to him with mixed feelings. Admitting that, he felt flattered and at the same terrified. 

“When I saw that my installation had been misappropriated in Russia, I had mixed feelings about it. At first, I laughed a lot and was flattered that my sculpture could fool so many people, which meant it was really realistic. But then I started to get a bit afraid because it was connected with a scandal in Russia, and I didn’t want to be associated with that in any way,” Monge said. 

He explained that his art speaks about modern society and money’s influence in almost everything people do.

“My installation is a commentary on modern society and how everything revolves around money. I believe that money is the god of contemporary society.”

Monge clarified that the money is not real and it’s, in fact, hand-painted.

ALSO READ: Vo! Video does not show kidnappers of Ekiti school pupils

“My sculpture is made up of about 500,000 hand-painted fake bills made out of resin,” he stated. 

Monge in 2018 working on his sculpture of the stacks of euros. Photo credit: @monge_art
Monge in 2018 working on his sculpture of the stacks of euros. Photo credit: @monge_art.

 

Conclusion

The alleged video depicting a room stashed with money, said to be hidden by Orji Kalu, in his house is mis-contextualised. Monge, a Spanish artist originally shared the video on his Instagram page to showcase a piece of art he crafted as money stashed in a room.  This claim is FALSE.

 

* This fact-check was done by members of the Nigerian Fact-checkers’ Coalition.

Nigerian Fact-Checkers’ Coalition joins Arise News presidential town hall series

Raji Olatunji
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Nigerian Fact-Checkers’ Coalition joins Arise News presidential town hall series

THE Nigerian Fact-Checkers’ Coalition (NFC) has announced that it has joined the Presidential Town Hall series being hosted by the Arise TV News.

A statement released on Saturday, November 12, 2022 by the NFC Secretariat, said the Coalition will be participating in the Arise TV Town Hall meeting scheduled for Sunday, November 13.

The Coalition said the development was part of its civic responsibility to combat disinformation in Nigeria.

The November 13 edition of the town hall series features the presidential candidates of Africa Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore; Action Democratic Party (ADP), Yabagi Sani; All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Peter Umeadi and Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo.

The NFC will conduct a live fact-checking of claims and counterclaims that will be made by candidates during the town hall meeting.

The Coalition comprises leading Nigerian newsrooms and think-tank groups such as Africa Check, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), and Daily Trust.

Other members include Digital Africa Research Lab, Dubawa, FactCheckHub, FactsMatterNG, International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), Premium Times, The Cable, and The Insight.

The Managing Editor of ICIR, Ajibola Amzat, described the town hall meetings as an important opportunity for candidates to share their thoughts with Nigerians.

“But we should not take it for granted that the information the politicians will provide is gospel. That is why the role of the Nigerian Fact-checkers’ Coalition is crucial in the town hall meeting series,”Amzat said.

Dubawa’s Editor, Kemi Busari, also expressed satisfaction with the contribution of the Nigerian Fact-checkers’ Coalition so far.

According to him, the Coalition is set to engage important facts on the election and continuously help in curbing the spread of falsehood and avail citizens with accurate information to make political decisions.

Also commenting, The FactCheckHub’s Editor, Opeyemi Kehinde, stressed the Coalition’s objective to provide the electorate with accurate information.

He said, “As a member of the Coalition, we believe the success of Nigeria’s 2023 election holds the ace to advancing good governance, peace and security in the West African sub-region, thus our resolve to ensure that the Nigerian electorate have access to factual information that could enable them make informed decision during the election and beyond.”

The first edition of the presidential town hall series was held last Sunday, November 7, 2022.

It featured the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, who was represented by his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa; Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Abdulateef Kolawole Abiola, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso and Peter Obi of Labour Party (LP).

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was absent with no representative.

2023: How El-Rufai’s arrest during 2013 Anambra election spurs misinformation online

Raji Olatunji
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2023: How El-Rufai’s arrest during 2013 Anambra election spurs misinformation online

KADUNA State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai claimed that the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, at the time he was governor of Anambra State, ordered his arrest when he visited Anambra in 2013.

According to him, Obi, who was governor on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), got him arrested and detained for forty-eight hours.

El-Rufai disclosed this while speaking at an interactive session between the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, and the Arewa Joint Committee in Kaduna on Monday, October 17, 2022.

“In 2013, I went to Anambra State as an official of the APC to witness the bye-election for governorship. Your next guest, Peter Obi, as governor, got me arrested and detained for 48 hours in my hotel room.

“Now, I’m the Governor of Kaduna State, and he’s coming to Kaduna. In addition to the police and the State Secret Service, I have one Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army here, if I need to arrest and detain anyone. But we are northerners, we are civilised. We don’t do things like that. I wish you all safe journey back to your destinations,” El-Rufai said.

El-Rufai’s statement has since gone viral on social media and as well sparked mixed reactions, especially on Twitter.

The governor himself retweeted some of the tweets quoting him on his verified Twitter handle.

It was observed that some of the tweets quoted him as saying he would not arrest or detain Peter Obi, which was not part of his actual statement.

A screenshot showing some of the Twitter posts retweeted by El-Rufai.

The Spokesman for APC 2023 Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo, also posted the viral video of El-Rufai’s statement on his verified Twitter handle.

 

However, El-Rufai, who was the Deputy National Secretary of the APC at the time and who went to Anambra state to support the party’s governorship candidate, Chris Ngige, had earlier claimed that authorities from Abuja were responsible for his alleged arrest.

In an interview granted after the alleged arrest, El-Rufai said, “I left my hotel room to go eat, to have breakfast and I was blocked by three SSS officials holding AK-47, threatening me that they have directives from Abuja to restrict me to my room”.

He condemned the alleged act and further threatened to approach the court of law over the development.

“I tried to leave the hotel at about 3 pm and they blocked the entrance to the hotel. They stopped everyone coming in and out. There are journalists from Radio France that came to interview me. They chased them away. These people are uncivilised, they are savages. But these are matters for the law,” El-Rufai added.

A Tweep, Adetutu Balogun, MBA via her Twitter handle @Tutsy22, who referred to the interview, called El-Rufai a “compulsive liar”.

El-Rufai, who later reacted to Balogun’s tweet, claimed that Peter Obi later admitted that he was behind the alleged arrest.

 

Meanwhile, in an interview with Arise TV, Peter Obi queried the claim by El-Rufai as he said he had no authority over the Police and SSS as the then governor of Anambra State.

Obi, who granted the interview when he was contesting as a Vice President on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), said, “As a sitting governor, I have never, on election day, go and arrest anybody in Anambra State.

“El-Rufai came to Anambra on election day and said he wants to move around the local governments, the State Security Services said you cannot move around; not even the governor is allowed to move around.”

Obi said the Agency had told El-Rufai to remain in his hotel for his safety.

He further explained that when he was asked to speak to the issue in an interview, he said, ” I Peter Obi wouldn’t want to be in Kaduna for the same reasons on an election day.”

In Obi’s latest reaction to the comment made by El-Rufai, he reiterated that he couldn’t have ordered the said arrest.

According to him, he had no power over SSS officials controlled by Nigeria’s federal government.

Obi queried how the incident El-Rufai’s referred to was connected to bigotry, cautioning on the need to avoid reckless speeches and utterances that could divide and destroy the country.

According to Obi, the Anambra State police commissioner at the time was from Adamawa State, and the AIG was from Nasarawa State.

He said the GMD that was planning for the election was from Kano, adding that there was no way he could have ordered the arrest of El-Rufai.

Findings by The FactCheckHub revealed that the SSS and the Attorney-General of the Federation were the respondents in the lawsuit filed by El-Rufai to contest his detention at the Finotel hotel in Awka, Anambra State.

In the ruling delivered on Monday, September 29, 2014, a court sitting in Awka ordered the SSS to publish an apology in two national dailies and pay El-Rufai N2 million in damages for the detention.

The court described El-Rufai’s arrest as an unlawful and unconstitutional violation of his liberty.

Justice Ibrahim Bature Gafai held that the SSS had no statutory powers under any Nigerian law to detain El-Rufai without cause to a court of competent jurisdiction.

Africa Facts Summit 2022: Experts call for increased use of radio for media literacy

Olugbenga ADANIKIN
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Africa Facts Summit 2022: Experts call for increased use of radio for media literacy

FACT-CHECKERS in Africa have been urged to use radio broadcasts more for media literacy as part of strategies towards combating misinformation in the continent.

Some experts made the call on Wednesday at the opening of a 2-day international summit organised by the Africa Check at the United States International University (USIU) in Nairobi, Kenya.

The conference, which doubled as the 10-year anniversary of the Africa Check, also had in attendance fact-checkers, journalists, researchers, university scholars, students and representatives of tech platforms, among other stakeholders.

READ: Impact of ICIR‘s Countering Misinformation and Promoting Media Literacy project

In her opening remarks, the USIU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Margee Ensign, reaffirmed research findings of how misinformation spread farther, and faster through social media.

She cited an instance in the United States, where about 86 per cent of adults in the States source their news from social media platforms.

“We know at least in the US that at least 86 per cent of adults get their news through social media.

“Misinformation during the pandemic led people to death. Right now, I believe it (misinformation) is undermining democracy in so many locations across the world,” she said.

Africa Facts Network

However, Ensign advised fact-checkers to further study misinformation patterns, especially through politics and collectively find a sustainable solution to combating the trend.

She reaffirmed the university’s commitment to finding more creative ways to keep supporting the drive to combat misinformation in the society.

“Let’s work together to improve digital literacy. We need to do more. Let’s fix the social media algorithm on this (fake news) problem, so the outcomes are evidence-based for the common good,” she said.

In his presentation titled: Reaching Audiences Online and Offline for Impact, the CEO of Nendo, Mark Kaigwa, emphasized the need to consider story reach rather than engagements when debunking fake news.

He rolled out other strategies such as the use of Facebook advertisements to push further debunked misinformation out for better reach.

Also speaking, The FactCheckHub‘s editor, Opeyemi Kehinde, highlighted the dynamics of becoming a verified member of the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN).

“These three things are important to get enlisted as an IFCN signatory: Before starting your fact-checking operation, understand the five IFCN’s codes of principles; Set clear goals to abide by them when starting and Engage other fact-checking organisations to learn from them,” he said.

ALSO READ: Why media houses should set up fact-checking desks to counter fake news

While speaking on another session titled: “Show and Tell: Reaching Rural Audience,” Kehinde rolled out the use of radio broadcasts, and the translation of fact-checks in local languages as some of the moves deployed to combat misinformation and garner greater impacts.

Kehinde, who was joined by the IFCN Community Manager, Enock Nyariki, during the session, urged interested fact-checking organisations across the continent to ensure they meet the eligibility requirements set by the IFCN before applying to the global body for verification as a signatory.

 

EDITOR’S NOTE:

The main featured image was changed to those of participants at the Africa Facts Summit 2022 held in Nairobi, Kenya on Wednesday.

False claim circulates that Didier Drogba has converted to Islam

Nurudeen Akewushola
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False claim circulates that Didier Drogba has converted to Islam

AN image showing a retired professional Ivorian footballer, Didier Drogba, raising his hands has circulated online with a claim that the footballer has converted to Islam.

In the image, Drogba was seen with his hands raised the way Muslims raise their hands during supplication while a middle-aged man seen beside him rubbed his face with his palms.

READ: Did UK officially recognize Nigeria as an Islamic state?

A Facebook page, Fulani news media posted the claim (now deleted) with a caption that read: 

“The famous former Ivorian footballer Didier Drogba reverted to Islam.

Alhamdulillah! Alhamdulillah!! the more they try to taint Islam the more its keeps spreading like bush (wild) fire.

May Allah (SWT) make him steadfast in his new faith, guide, protect and grant him more wisdom to understand and spray the beautiful massage of Islam to others.”

The claim has generated more than 1,000 likes, over 400 comments and shares as of Tuesday, 8th of November, 2022. 

Another Facebook page, Ispar TV English, posted the claim with another caption thus: 

“Allahu Akbar! Reports that the Chelsea FC and Ivory Coast footballing legend, Didier Drogba (@didierdrogba) has reverted to Islam, according to @dr_muhammad_salah. 

May Allah forgive his sins, and keep him upon the right path.”

The post has also generated over 1,000 likes, more than 200 comments and shares as of same Tuesday.

A Twitter user, Frank Khalid, also tweeted the claim with a caption thus:

“Chelsea legend @didierdrogba has converted to Islam. 💚💙”

The tweet garnered over 3,000 retweets, alongside more than 38,000 likes.

CLAIM

Didier Drogba has converted to Islam.

THE FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE.

Drogba has debunked the claim on his verified Facebook and Twitter accounts, adding that he was only paying tribute to his brothers whom he visited in his village.

ALSO READ: Is Islam the second-largest religion in the United Kingdom?

“This story is going viral, but I haven’t changed my religion. I was just paying tribute to my Muslim brothers whom I visited in my village A moment of friendliness.

“Much love and blessings to all. Who doesn’t like blessings,” he posted. 

THE VERDICT

The claim that Didier Drogba has converted to Islam is FALSE, as the image was taken out of context.

False claim that Nyesom Wike has defected to APC resurfaces online

Nurudeen Akewushola
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False claim that Nyesom Wike has defected to APC resurfaces online

A video showing the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, in a virtual meeting has resurfaced online with a claim that he has defected from his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The video, which had earlier surfaced in June with a similar claim after the party’s primary election, re-emerged on several social media platforms, especially WhatsApp.

Wike, who was a runner-up to Atiku Abubakar during the PDP presidential primary election held in May 2022, has always been at loggerheads with the party’s flagbearer (Atiku) since his defeat. The crisis worsened after he failed to secure the vice-presidential ticket of the party.

READ: Dino Melaye shares misleading video of Nigerian Army accusing Wike of attempting to compromise election

A Facebook user, Comr Collins Uduaghan Tosan, posted the video with a caption that read: 

“Gov Wike of Rivers Decamp to APC.”

The video has generated over 900 views as of Friday, November 4, 2022.

A TikTok account, @anobijones, also shared the claim with a caption thus:

“Breaking news! Wike Joins APC.” 

CLAIM

Wike defects to APC.

THE FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE.

Checks using keyword searches online show that the video had surfaced online with similar claims around June 2022 after the PDP presidential primary election.

Analysis of the video shows that it was cut from Wike’s interview with Arise TV broadcast on July 2021.

In the original video, Wike was reacting to the defection of some governors and legislators from the PDP to the ruling APC.

Prior to the interview, PDP had lost three governors and other party members to the APC in the space of seven months.

The River State governor responded to the question by the Arise TV anchor, Oseni Rufai, who asked if the reason members of the party, especially from the South-East, were leaving the party was because the party did not consider zoning. 

In the full video (29:00-32:00 minutes), Wike argued that the defectors could not justify their reasons for leaving the party. 

He added that their reasons should be in the interest of their people and their region and not because of their political relevance.

“What makes you a man is to be able to tell your people a simple truth,” Wike said.

Citing an instance, he said in the 57 minutes video: “I am leaving PDP to APC today because PDP have not done anything for South-South, PDP have not done anything in Rivers State, PDP have not done anything for my people. I would catalogue everything. I’m leaving PDP to APC. See the reasons why I’m leaving PDP to join you. Tell me, are you willing to do all these things that PDP didn’t do for me….” 

ALSO READ: Viral video does not show APC national chairman being stripped naked in Nasarawa

Meanwhile, Kelvin Ebiri, the Media Aide to Wike, had in June 2022 debunked the viral video, adding that it should be disregarded.

THE VERDICT 

The claim that Nyesom Wike has defected to the APC is FALSE; findings revealed that the video clip accompanying the posts was taken out of context.

Nigerian information minister calls for more funding to tackle fake news

Nurudeen Akewushola
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Nigerian information minister calls for more funding to tackle fake news

NIGERIA’s minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has called for an upward review of the budgetary allocation for the ministry of information and culture to combat fake news, disinformation, and hate speech across the country.

Mohammed said his ministry was incapacitated in the war against fake news, disinformation and hate speech currently ravaging the nation.

The minister, who decried the low 2023 budgetary allocation to the Ministry of Information and Culture and its parastatal agencies, raised concerns on Wednesday in Abuja during the 2023 budget defence session organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Information.

READ: Nigerian police to clamp down on fake news purveyors

He said that in the 2022 budget, the sum of one billion Naira was allocated to the information component of the ministry.

Mohammed said that in the 2023 proposal, only the sum of N345 million was allocated for capital expenditures for the information ministry.

He noted that given the circumstances in the country, the ministry should be given more money and not less.

He said that the country was going into an election and population census in 2023, adding that there is a need for increased advocacy to sensitize Nigerians.

He said that there would be a need to organise town halls, produce and broadcast documentaries, and visit Federal Government project sites, among many other activities in the fiscal year.

ALSO READ: IFCN awards $1million to 20 fact-checking organizations to expand operations

“I fully understand the economic challenges the country is facing, but I do not agree that the Ministry of Information and Culture should have less; actually, it should have more.

“This is because it is in times of challenges and hardship that you need your Ministry of Information not just to chronicle, despite lack of funds, but to combat fake news, disinformation, and hate speech which today has attained a height that is threatening our very existence as a nation.

“While I admit that our revenue is dwindling, there is no better time to have more money for the Ministry of Information and Culture,” Mohammed said.

He urged the committee to do all within its power to increase the budgetary allocation for the ministry for better service delivery.

Claim that UI lecturer rewarded ten students with $100 each is FALSE

Raji Olatunji
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Claim that UI lecturer rewarded ten students with $100 each is FALSE

A blog post has gone viral with the claim that a lecturer at the University of Ibadan gave $100 each to ten students of the institution who attended his first class.

The report, published by CorrectNG on October 25, 2022, has stirred reactions from netizens.

Screenshot of the viral report that a UI lecturer rewarded 10 students with $100 each.

The report, archived here, was shared on the Facebook page of the news blog, Correct Bro, and has since garnered over 6,900 likes, more than 900 comments and 69 shares as of Saturday, October 29, 2022.

READ: Claim that FUOYE students designed a waiter robot is false!

According to the report, a UI lecturer, identified as Dr Bisi in the Faculty of Arts, rewarded ten students with 100 dollars each for showing up in his first class since the suspension of the eight-month-old strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

“Dr Bisi, who is in the art department, called for lectures, but when he reached the hall, he saw only 10 students.

“He then handed each of them a $100, and they decided to take photos of the rare unexpected moment,” part of the report authored by Henry Iheanacho read.

CLAIM

A University of Ibadan lecturer rewards ten students with $100 each for attending his class.

THE FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE.

The UI lecturer, Dr Bisi Olawuyi, debunked the claim via his Twitter handle, @bisiolawuyi, after the report went viral on social media.

“My attention has been drawn to a tweet circulating that I gave $100 each to 10 students. This is not in any way true. Please kindly disregard. Thank you,” his tweet read.

ALSO READ: NBS pulls down misleading education statistics after fact check by ICIR

When contacted for further clarification, Dr Bisi told The FactCheckHub that the show of dollar notes was a prank by his students to get other students who were not present to come to the class.

“Nothing like that happened, sir. It was a prank by students trying to get other students to come to class,” Dr Bisi said.

THE VERDICT

The claim that the UI lecturer, Dr Bisi Olawuyi, rewarded ten students with $100 each for attending his class is FALSE; the lecturer confirmed that it was a prank by some students who wanted to get the attention of other students to return to class.

 

EDITOR’S NOTE:

In the third paragraph, the date was changed to October 29.

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