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.
FOLLOWING the invasion of the Kaduna International Airport on Saturday, March 26, 2022 by bandits, a viral video has appeared online to portray the incident.
The video (now deleted) was tweeted by a Nigerian broadcast journalist, Olajumoke Alawode-James, with the Twitter user ID, @oluwaloninyo.
Although, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has said that the bandits who invaded the Kaduna airport on Saturday abandoned two motorcycles, however, the video in circulation used in portraying the bandits has been on the internet since 2018.
THE VERDICT
The claim that the video shows terrorists’ invasion of Kaduna airport is FALSE; checks revealed that the video is that of supporters of a politician who rode motorcycles on the Sokoto airport runway in 2018.
A video showing some officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) protesting has resurfaced on social media with a claim that it shows a recent protest by the police operatives against the leadership of the organisation.
A Twitter user, Achilleus, with the handle @AchilleusChud tweeted the video on March 26, 2022 with a caption: “Operatives of the @PoliceNG protesting openly against leadership of the force. In today’s Nigeria, university unions are on strike. Now, Policemen who put their lives on the line to secure the big people mostly, are protesting. What a statement on @OfficialAPCNg leadership.”
In the 45-seconds video (now deleted), some police officers were seen blocking the street, firing gunshots and causing public commotion while expressing their grievances over the non-payment of their salaries and calling on the Nigerian government to intervene in the matter.
THE CLAIM
The video shows a protest by some operatives of the Nigeria Police Force in March 2022.
A screenshot of the Twitter post with the video before it was deleted.
THE FINDINGS
Checks by the FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.
The full version of the video was uploaded by Channels TV on the 2nd of July, 2018, findings revealed.
According to the television station, the 95-seconds video shows some police officers in Borno State who stormed the streets of Maiduguri to express their grievances over unpaid allowances and poor welfare on Monday, 2nd of July, 2018.
It also reported that the police officers who were owed about 5 months’ salaries barricaded the state police command’s headquarters located on the Maiduguri-Kano expressway and demanded the sack of the then Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Kpotun Idris.
Reacting to the tweet via its official Twitter handle (@PoliceNG), the NPF debunked the claim.
A screenshot of the NPF reaction to the tweet.
In a statement signed by the Acting Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Nigerian police confirmed it’s an old video.
“The video above depicting mobile police officers protesting was an incident that occurred on 2nd July, 2018 in Maiduguri, Borno State. The public is hereby advised to kindly disregard the video and stop the spread of disinformation. The Nigeria Police remains a disciplined, committed and patriotic Police Force,” it reads.
THE VERDICT
The claim that the video shows some operatives of the Nigeria Police Force protesting in March 2022 is MISLEADING; as the video has been online since July 2018.
TWO days after former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi joined the 2023 presidential race, a post has circulated online alongside a claim that Omoyele Sowore and Farooq Kperogi have endorsed his candidacy.
The post which contains an image of Peter Obi and quotes purportedly made by Sowore and Kperogi was shared by a Facebook Page named MR BASH.
The post reads:
“Omoyele Sowore and Farook Kperogi Endorses Peters Obi For President
I acknowledge that Nigeria has a virile option in Peter Obi ~ Farook Kperogi
“Peter Obi is the only Nigerian politician that does not have corruption on his neck and he is also good at wealth management…
….If he gets PDP ticket, youths across Nigeria will vote for him because Nigerian youths are tired of corrupt leaders…. – Omoyele Sowore.”
As of 9:00 pm on Saturday, March 26, 2022, the post has garnered 260 likes, about 60 comments with over 80 shares.
Omoyele Sowore and Farook Kperogi Endorses Peters Obi For President
Screenshot of the viral Facebook post.
THE FINDINGS
Checks by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE.
Findings by The FactCheckHub revealed that Omoyele Sowore, who is also a presidential aspirant in the upcoming Nigeria’s 2023 general elections, has denied the claim.
Sowore, in a tweet on his verified Twitter page, stated that the claim that he said Peter Obi is not corrupt is completely false.
The news being circulated that I said @PeterObi is not CORRUPT is completely FALSE! I never said such a thing. My position is clear, Peter Obi is not different from his colleagues in @OfficialPDPNig and @OfficialAPCNg. They are one and the same! Thank you! pic.twitter.com/1DtcuTYuz5
Similarly, The FactCheckHub checked the Facebook page of Farooq Kperogi, a US-based Nigerian professor and columnist, who was also purported to have endorsed Peter Obi’s presidential ambition.
From his page, it was revealed that the only post made on Peter Obi’s ambition was shared on Friday, with the caption, “Peter Obi: Applying to Be Driver of a Knocked-Out Car.”
Kperogi, however, ended the post with a caveat that the post does not in any way means an endorsement of Peter Obi.
“This is not, by any means, an endorsement of Obi’s presidential bid. It’s simply an acknowledgement that Nigeria has a virile option in him,” the caveat reads.
VERDICT
The claim that Sowore and Kperogi have endorsed Peter Obi’s presidential ambition is FALSE; as both individuals debunked any endorsement claim regarding Obi.
AS NIGERIA prepares for its 2023 general elections, the Nigerian government has urged the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) to help in combating the menace of fake news in the country.
This call was made in Abuja by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, during the opening ceremony of the Digital Media Convention and the 76th General Assembly of Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria.
The minister tasked the media on the need to disseminate factual information to the public and provide necessary feedback from the public to the government.
He also appealed to the Nigerian media to continue providing accurate and verified information “that will promote the unity of our country and deepen our democracy.”
“Now that the politicking has started prelude to the 2023 general elections, the media as the fourth estate of the realm must adhere strictly to the rules as stipulated in the NBC code and other statutes, including the newly passed Electoral Act.”
“The broadcast media should help in combating the menace of fake news by disseminating correct information to the public and provide necessary feedback from the public to the government,” Mohammed said.
The minister, who was represented by Ayo Adewuyi, observed that the practical digitization in Nigeria which commenced with Buhari’s government in 2016 in Jos, Plateau State, has successfully been launched in 6 other states namely: Lagos, Kwara, Osun, Enugu, Kano and the FCT.
“All things being equal, Port Harcourt Digital switchover will take place before the end of April, 2022.”
He added that digital switchover is a capital intensive project, which demands a partnership between the Nigerian government and private investors to execute.
“All over the world, where Digital migration had been carried out successfully, they have employed the full participation of the private sector to drive it.”
“I am sure that this digital convention will bring to the front burner the essence of partnership by all stakeholders and industry players on achieving a collective digital migration,” the minister noted.
Earlier in his opening address, the BON Chairman, John Ugbe, said the organisation will continue to strive towards ensuring adherence to the laid down rules and ethical conduct in the broadcast sector.
Ugbe, who doubles as the Chief Executive Officer of Multichoice Nigeria Limited, unveiled the organisation’s plan to commence the training and retraining of broadcast practitioners in April 2022.
AN IMAGE of a dilapidated building is being circulated across different social media platforms as the Grade 1 Area Court in Kabusa, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.
The image shows a white signboard leaning against an old building with “ Grade 1 Area Court Kabusa, Federal Capital Territory,” written on it.
Some Facebook users have made posts decrying the poor state of the said court.
In a post made on March 4, 2022, a Facebook user, Izuchukwu Okoli, uploaded the image with a caption that reads: “Grade 1 Area Court Kabusa FCT.”
On the same day, another Facebook user, Paul Edoh Jnr, posted the image with a similar caption, “Grade 1 Area Court, Kabusa… our judiciary system here no try o,” he wrote in pidgin English.
Taking a swipe at the Nigerian government, another user, Comr Simon Nahor, posted the same image on March 5, 2022 thus:
“Grade 1 Area Court, Kabusa Federal Capital Territory Abuja.
“Tell me, can justice be delivered in this type of environment? Because even the Magistrate or Judge is suffering from injustice already by subjecting (sic) in this type of court. APC is evil,” he said.
The image was also uploaded on Twitter by a Human Rights Activist and lawyer, Professor Chidi Odinkalu.
Though he did not directly describe the old building as the Kabusa Area Court, Odinkalu posted the image with a hashtag that read: #WhereIsJustice?
The post had gathered 20 likes, 20 retweets, 3 quoted tweets and several comments by users on the platform as of the time of filing this report.
The archived version of the posts can be seen here, here, here and here.
The FactCheckHub, however, found that the image and accompanying claims are MISLEADING and FALSE.
During a visit to the Grade 1 Area Court, Kabusa, The FactCheckHub confirmed that the court was a different building from the viral image.
Grade 1 Area Court, Kabusa, Abuja.
The old building in the viral post was situated a few blocks away from the court.
According to a court official who pleaded anonymity for lack of authorisation to speak to journalists, said the signboard had been placed in front of the building (in the viral image) to give directions.
The official also told The FactCheckHub that the court has existed at its present location for over five years, but the picture of the old building started circulating in March 2022.
“That building in the picture is just one of these houses close by. The signboard was placed there to help people with directions, but we have since removed it from there.
“This court has been here for quite a while. I was posted here in 2019 and this court had been built long before then,” the official said.
A visit by The FactCheckHub to the location of the old building showed that it was one of the residential houses around the area.
Old building being circulated as Grade 1 Area Court, Kabusa without the court signboard. Photo Credit: The ICIR.
Other images of the Grade 1 Area Court, Kabusa can be seen below:
Grade 1 Area Court, Kabusa, Abuja. Photo Credit: The ICIR.
It is clear that the dilapidated building is not the Grade 1 Area Court in Kabusa; thus, the claim that the image in circulation shows the court is FALSE.
AS a Boeing 737-800 aircraft belonging to China Eastern Airlines crashed into the countryside near Wuzhou city, Guangxi region of China on Monday, March 21, 2022, a viral photo has been shared on social media to portray the crash.
The post which contains some texts and an image purported to be the wreckage of the crashed plane was published by a Facebook Page named Robert Mugabe Quotes.
“Its sad to see 133 people dying like chicken. A passenger plane has crashed in China & Africa is in tears. If you have a weak heart do not watch this video,” the post read.
The image was also used in the report here by newsoperator, a South African blog to portray the plane crash in China.
THE CLAIM
An image of the plane crash in China.
THE FINDINGS
Checks by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.
Both Google Reverse Image search and Tin Eye Image search of the image revealed that the photo has been online since August 1, 2018.
According to CBS News, the image is from a video captured by passengers of an Aeroméxico plane crash in Mexico in 2018.
“Video shot by a passenger shows the stormy weather an Aeroméxico flight encountered before crashing Tuesday. In the moments after, panicked passengers screamed and looked for the exits. CBS News national correspondent Manuel Bojorquez reports,” the report read.
The news of the Mexican plane crash was also reported here by BBC.
According to the report, the plane crashed just moments after take-off.
“All 103 passengers and crew on board the Aeroméxico flight survived the crash but 97 of them are injured,” the report added.
VERDICT
The image of aircraft wreckage used to portray the plane crash in China by the Facebook page is MISLEADING; the image is that of a 2018 plane crash in Mexico.
A FORMER Nigerian Senate President Bukola Saraki on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 claimed that the gesture of the young professionals who raised money for his political party’s presidential nomination forms is “a first of its kind in the history of Nigeria.”
Following Saraki’s official declaration to contest for the position of president in Nigeria’s 2023 general election, a group of young professionals led by Abubakar Danmusa had on Monday, March 21, 2022 paid N40 million to obtain the expression of interest and nomination forms for him to contest the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential primary election.
Saraki, who reacted to the development in a social media post, published on his verified Facebook and Twitter handles, as archived here and here, described the gesture as “a first of its kind in the history of our nation.”
Recall that, on the 17th of March 2022, the PDP commenced the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms for members of the political party wishing to contest in the 2023 general election. The presidential expression of interest form was pegged at N5 million while the nomination form goes for N35 million; thus making it a total of N40 million.
Saraki receiving the form from a representative in the group | PHOTO CREDITS: Saraki’s Facebook Page
“This symbolic gesture, a first of its kind in the history of our nation, is also a challenge to me. Now, I promise to work twice as hard as I originally intended. I promise to meet the yearning and aspirations of all our young people to run a modern government that can achieve sustainable development,” Saraki said in the post.
THE CLAIM
First time in Nigeria a group of people crowd-funded to buy the expression of interest and nomination forms for a politician.
THE FINDINGS
Findings by the FactCheckHub show that before Saraki, there have been many groups who reportedly raised funds to purchase nomination and expression of interest forms for Nigerian politicians to contest elective positions.
Here are a few instances of politicians who received the same gesture to contest for a presidential seat:
(1) Atiku Abubakar: On the 18th of March, 2022 – a few days before Saraki’s announcement, a business forum named North East Business Forum purchased the 2023 Presidential Nomination and Expression of Interest forms for the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.
The group, who later presented the forms to Atiku, a presidential hopeful at his Abuja residence, said the gesture was in fulfilment of their promise in 2021 to purchase the forms for him.
The former president reportedly received the same gesture in 2018.
(2) Muhammadu Buhari:The FactCheckHub recalled that in 2018, the incumbent Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari, also received the same gesture from a group called the National Consolidation Ambassadors Network (NCAN).
The group paid a sum of N45 million for his nomination and expression of interest forms in 2018 to contest under the aegis of All Progressives Congress (APC).
(3) Aminu Waziri Tambuwal: In 2014, some friends and political associates of the governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal also bought him a nomination form to contest in the 2015 presidential election under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
There are also several instances of Nigerian politicians who received free nomination forms from support groups to contest for other elective positions as can be seen here and here.
THE VERDICT
Saraki’s claim that the group’s gesture (of buying him presidential nomination forms) is the first of its kind in Nigeria is MISLEADING because it has happened multiple times before.
A VIRAL photo showing a man in uniform while holding a catapult with his two hands has surfaced on social media alongside a claim that it shows a new Ugandan police spokesman shooting a catapult at a journalist for asking an ‘irrelevant’ question.
In the photo, the man who wore a cornsilk brown-coloured uniform with a black cap sat down with microphones and other gadgets placed on his table. He was seen pulling back the elastic band of the catapult while targeting a certain direction.
A Twitter user, Fully Vaxxed G!, with the handle @_Sir_CharlesR tweeted the photo with a caption: “Newly appointed Uganda police spokesman hits News reporter with a caterpult for asking irrelevant question (sic).” The tweet was shared more than 9,000 times on Twitter as of 11PM on Wednesday, March 16, 2022.
The tweet was also shared on other social media platforms, including Facebook and blogs in Nigeria, among other countries as archived here and here.
CLAIM
“Newly appointed Uganda police spokesman hits news reporter with a catapult for asking irrelevant question.”
THE FINDINGS
A Google Reverse Image Search of the photo by The FactCheckHub revealed that the image was from a press release published on the website of the Uganda Police Force on April 12, 2021.
According to the release, the catapults were confiscated during a military operation by the country’s Directorate of Crime Intelligence, noting that they were capable of firing metallic projectiles or bearings.
Video footage seen by The FactCheckHub on YouTube shows that the official spokesperson for the Uganda Police Force, Fred Enanga, was demonstrating how to use a catapult while addressing a press conference, saying it poses serious danger to the safety and security of Ugandans.
This is contrary to the viral claim on social media that he shot a journalist for asking irrelevant questions.
While demonstrating how dangerous the catapult might be, the spokesman was partly heard saying “It is very dangerous, you do like this and target somebody. So, you can see how dangerous this thing is;” he said as he fired the catapult to show how it works.
The Ugandan Police also debunked the claim under another post of the image tweeted by one Twitter user, Ahmednasir Abdullahi SC with the handle @Ahmednasirlaw on March 12, 2022. The tweet which has now been deleted was archived here.
Similarly, the claim has also been debunked by another fact-checking platform, AFP Fact Check as seen here.
THE VERDICT
The claim that the Ugandan police spokesman hits a news reporter with a catapult for asking irrelevant questions is FALSE.
THE AMERICAN multinational technology conglomerate Meta Platforms Inc., formerly known as Facebook, Inc., has visited the head office of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in Abuja to pledge its support in a bid to strengthen the fight against misinformation in Nigeria.
The Head of Public Policy (West Africa) Meta, Adaora Ikenze, during the meeting led by the NITDA Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Kashifu Inuwa, described the agency as its principal regulator in Nigeria.
“We recognised the importance of this Agency, and as the catalyst for the sector and economic development in Nigeria, we equally recognised the importance of the vital regulatory role you are providing in this space,” she said.
Ikenze added that Meta’s visit to the agency is the beginning of a more cooperative and collaborative relationship.
“We are fortunate enough to be one of the most supportive platforms in the country; we understand the importance and value that our platforms and products bring to the country; by that, we would like to have a more open collaborative relationship with our regulators,” she added.
Inuwa described the collaborative effort between NITDA and Meta as apt, given the continued circulation of fake news and misinformation on social media, which he said poses threat to the nation’s stability.
Inuwa applauded Facebook/Meta for being a leading partner in the fight against fake news, adding that the platform must ensure it checkmates the excesses of the perpetrators known to the public.
“How can we make it better to make sure that the menace of fake news is reduced to the barest minimum? Many people do not read their messages talk more of verifying their authenticity. Therefore, adopting a Simpler Verification Mechanism will reduce the spread of unsubstantiated news,” Inuwa said.
He also urged the platform to consider bringing its investment to Africa
“We know Metaverse is coming and is coming big, and you are investing in Europe; what are you doing for Africa?” he enquired.
“We need to look at the laws in our country, what can we do to make sure whatever you are doing is following the rules and carrying our people along in building the Metaverse in the same way you are talking to the Europeans,” he added.
On Nigeria’s journey to the realisation of Digital Literacy by 2030, the NITDA boss said the target remains sacrosanct, adding that it is critical to President Muhammadu Buhari-led’s administration.
Inuwa, however, appealed for collaborative support from Meta.
“We cannot do it alone; we have an ambitious target where we need partners like you to achieve that. It would help if you equally had people that will consume your services, and they need to be digitally literate before they can access your services,” he noted.
A WHATSAPP post in circulation says Bola Tinubu Support Organisation (BTSO) is giving out N25,000 to every Nigerian citizen.
The post, retrieved from a WhatsApp group, claimed that the newly increased fund is part of the Tinubu Support Grant, adding that it is available for all Nigerians who click the link and fill out the form.
The claim reads:
TINUBU SUPPORT ORGANIZATION 2022
Hurry Now and Check if You are Eligible to Receive N25,000( Newly Increased ) Support Fund As Part Of TINUBU Support Grant.
This Grant Is Available To All Nigerians
Apply Here
A national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, had on January 10, 2022, declared his intention to contest the presidential poll in Nigeria’s 2023 general election, Premium Times reported.
Earlier in March 2021, the Bola Tinubu Support Organisation (BTSO) was inaugurated in Abuja, The Nation newspaper had reported.
The BTSO claimed on its website that it is “a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) with the aim galvanizing support round the country for the actualization of 2023 Presidential Candidature of His Excellency, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, The Asiwaju of Lagos and The Jagaban of Borgu Kingdom.”
THE CLAIM
Tinubu [Bola Tinubu Support Organisation] is inviting Nigerian citizens to apply for the Bola Tinubu Support Organization Funds.
A screenshot of the phishing website.
THE FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE.
A click on the link, archived here, directs users to a website with an image of Bola Tinubu and some texts about BTSO alongside an instruction: “Get Your Own ₦25,000 Which Was Previously ₦19,800 By Filling The Form Below”.
It directs users to fill in their names, mobile number, home address and email address. Once those details are filled and submitted, it directs users to a totally different website archived here.
When the redirected website was subjected to verification on Whois lookup – a platform for researching domain ownership, it revealed that the website was registered by one Shadrack Ebimodeinghan Ebisco.
A look at the website the claim directs users to has similar features with the websites The FactCheckHub has verified and found to be false here, here, here, and here.
Similarly, Comrade Abubakar Kuso, the National Coordinator of BTSO had earlier in a post on its official website debunked the claim.
“This is to inform the general public that at no time did Bola Tinubu Support Organization (BTSO) gives out any N25,000 or any amount as grant to Nigerians. The link circulating on social media is FAKE and NOT TRUE.
Please kindly disregard the link and don’t provide your details by applying for any grant,” he wrote.
When The FactCheckHub reached out to Ebisco via his mobile number retrieved from the database of Whois, he denied creating the phishing website.
“I’m not the person that created it. Someone just used my name to create it. I don’t know anything about it. I registered my website on namecheap and not whogohost,” he told The FactCheckHub via phone.
Avoid falling victim to phishing scams
Over time, The FactCheckHub has debunked several of such claims hiding under the guise of recruitment, support fund, empowerment programme, a government activity or free internet data.
These claims usually follow a similar modus operandi by targeting areas that would be of interest to a lot of persons.
They are often shared via the WhatsApp platform. Oftentimes, they impersonate a group, person or organisation and they all have a link they ask people to click.
The claim that Tinubu [Bola Tinubu Support Organisation] is inviting Nigerian citizens to apply for the Bola Tinubu Support Organization Funds is FALSE.
