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IFCN awards 2024 GROW grants to 20 organisations

Fatimah Quadri
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IFCN awards 2024 GROW grants to 20 organisations

The International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) at the Poynter Institute, has awarded $50,000 each from the 2024 GROW grant to 20 fact-checking organisations globally to counter misinformation.

These initiatives aim to empower local communities, create sustainable fact-checking models, and leverage AI, videos, and social media to reach broader audiences.

This was disclosed via a statement signed by the director of the IFCN, Angie Holan, on October 21, 2024.

ALSO READ; Spread the Facts grant: IFCN awards $300,000 to ten fact-checking organisations

The statement noted that 20 winning initiatives were chosen from an initial pool of 109 applicants by a panel of independent reviewers. Proposals were evaluated based on their innovation, sustainability, and potential to expand fact-checking efforts.

Holan, highlighted that the projects showcase the various approaches fact-checkers are using to address misinformation.

“Some are harnessing AI, others are expanding into new languages, and many are strengthening existing approaches. With these grants, fact-checkers can expand their reach and make a bigger difference in their communities,” Holan stated.

The 2024 GROW grant is  part of the $12 million Global Fact-Check Fund, supported by Google and YouTube to promote fact-checking initiatives globally and mitigate the impact of misinformation.

The fund distributes grants annually through three phases: BUILD, GROW, and ENGAGE. GROW is designed to help organisations expand their fact-checking operations, while ENGAGE 2024 focuses on encouraging collaboration and increasing public involvement.

Each grant recipient has 12 months to complete their projects, with progress reports required at the six-month point.

Fatabyyano a fact-checking organisation in Jordan intends to further develop TrendCheck.AI, an AI-powered tool for real-time fact-checking and trend analysis in Arabic which would focus on combating misinformation in key topics such as health pandemics, climate change, natural disasters, and elections.

For impact and sustainability, FactCheckZW in Zimbabwe will increase content visibility by translating fact-checks into Shona and Ndebele and offering a WhatsApp chatbot for direct access to verified information.

READ ALSO: FactsMatterNG, 38 others get Google/YouTube grant from IFCN

While for climate change, Faktoje’s project will produce in-depth investigative articles, photography, and translations to highlight key environmental issues such as deforestation, coastal erosion, and pollution. The initiative will also train journalism students in environmental reporting and fact-checking, with a focus on AI-driven fact-checking methods and gender-sensitive journalism.

Below are the list of grant winners and their projects:

  1. Fatabyyano – Jordan
    Project: TrendCheck.AI: AI Tool for Arabic Misinformation Trends and Narrative Analysis
  2. La Silla Vacía – Colombia
    Project: AI to Free Up Time for Hispanic Fact-Checkers
  3. FactCheckZW – Zimbabwe
    Project: Towards Sustainable Fact Checking
  4. Project: Kurdish Fact-Checkers Growth
    Tech4Peace – Iraq
  5. Verificat – Spain
    Project: Diversificat
  6. Aos Fatos – Brazil
    Project: Aos Fatos 10+
  7. Mafindo – Indonesia
    Project: Capacity Building for Volunteer-Based Fact-Checkers
  8. Pravda – Poland
    Project: Impact Beyond Views: Introducing an Impact Editor Role to Enhance the Reach and Influence of Fact-Checking Articles at Pravda
  9. Press Trust of India – India
    Project: Grow By Growing Others
  10. Probe – Philippines
    Project: Probe Archives: Safeguarding History on Reel
  11. Myth Detector – Georgia
    Project: Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for Myth Detector’s Website
  12. Taiwan FactCheck Center – TaiwanProject: Combating Misinfo with Fact-Checks in Various Formats
  13. Zašto ne – Bosnia and Herzegovina
    Project: Hacking Audience Bubbles by Empowering Young Content Creators
  14. Newsmeter – India
    Project: Expanding Multilingual Fact-Checking: Building Full-Fledged Video Units Across South Indian Languages
  15. Metamorphosis Foundation – North Macedonia
    Project: Increasing Fact-Checker Capacities for Video Podcast Production
  16. DELFI – Lithuania
    Project: DELFI “Lie Detector” Increasing Content Visibility for Youth Audience
  17. Polígrafo – Portugal
    Project: LOCAL: Regional Fact-Checking
  18. Hibrid.info – Kosovo
    Project: Empowering Fact-Checking in Kosovo II
  19. Faktoje – Albania
    Project: Fact-checking Reporting on Climate Change and Environmental Damage in Albania
  20. Ellinika Hoaxes – Greece
    Project: ClimateCheck Grow

Photo does not show Obi inside train in Lagos with Sanwo-Olu

Nurudeen Akewushola
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Photo does not show Obi inside train in Lagos with Sanwo-Olu

AN image purportedly showing the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, posing inside a train alongside Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his aide, has surfaced online.

An X user, @Adabanpegede posted the image with a caption suggesting that the presidential candidate visited Lagos to inspect the Lagos rail project and learn from the Lagos State governor.

“Breaking News!!!!
Defeated LP Presidential Candidate came to learn good governance in Lagos.”

The claim has generated over 100 reposts and more than 900 likes as of October 23, 2024.

CLAIM

Image shows Peter Obi and Sanwo-Olu inside a Lagos train.

THE FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is misleading.

Our fact-checker subjected the image to a Google reverse search, and the results show that it has been manipulated and Peter Obi added to the original image.

An earlier version of the image, published on the governor’s Facebook page, revealed that the photo was taken during the flag-off commercial operations of the Redline Rail on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.

Photo purportedly showing Obi and Sanwo-Olu inside a train
Photo purportedly showing Obi and Sanwo-Olu inside a train
Original image showing Tinubu and other Lagos state’s officials during the flag off Lagos rail line

Sanwo-Olu, who boarded the train at 5:20 PM and stopped at Ikeja at 5:55 PM, mentioned that the Red Line, designed to carry 500,000 passengers daily at full capacity, would significantly improve commuting in the state.

Some officials in the image were seen holding their Cowry Cards, which are used for boarding. However, Peter Obi was not in the photo.

THE VERDICT

The claim that the image shows Peter Obi and Sanwo-Olu inside a train in Lagos is misleading, as findings revealed that the image has been manipulated. Peter Obi was not in the original photo.

Has US court acquitted Air Peace boss of fraud allegations?

Nurudeen Akewushola
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Has US court acquitted Air Peace boss of fraud allegations?

THREE Nigerian newspapers, Business Day, Leadership and The Nation, published a story (archived here, here and here) suggesting that the embattled Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, was exonerated of fraud allegations by the District Court in Atlanta. 

These reports follow new charges filed by the US Attorney’s Office against Onyema this month, adding to previous allegations of fraud and money laundering dating back to 2019.

The reports by the media houses are titled “US court acquits Air Peace boss, slams Mayfield $4000 fine”, “US Court Clears Air Peace CEO Onyema, Slams $4,000 Fine On Springfield Aviation Ex-Staff” and “US court acquits Air Peace boss, fines Mayfield $4000” respectively.

The headlines of the reports suggest the airline boss has been acquitted from the allegations.

The opening paragraphs of the reports read “The District Court in Atlanta, Georgia has exonerated Allen Onyema, the Chief Executive of Air Peace, of any business fraud. This is after three years of investigation involving about five agencies of the American government and the subsequent legal fireworks.”

Interestingly, the reports did not provide evidence to back the claim.

Reactions and reposts of the stories from the media houses show that the report has been largely misconstrued to mean the businessman has been vindicated.

READ: Is United Nations creating a new country out of Nigeria, Cameroon?

For instance, an X user, @Mindset_post posted the story with a caption : “The District Court in Atlanta, Georgia has exonerated Allen Onyema, the Chief Executive of Air Peace, of any business fraud.”

The post has generated over 500 reposts as of 10:54 am, October 22 when it was archived.

 

CLAIM

US court acquits Air Peace boss of fraud allegations.

 

THE FINDINGS 

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the story is FALSE and misleading.

The US government on 11 October charged Allen Onyema, CEO of Nigerian carrier Air Peace, with obstruction of justice, stacking up further criminal charges against the Nigerian businessman.

The US Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Georgia, accused Onyema of submitting false documents to the government to end an investigation into him on charges of bank fraud and money laundering.

In addition, the U.S. government had accused Ebony Mayfield, an American woman, of signing and submitting fabricated documents between 2016 and 2018 to help Onyema move $20 million from Nigeria to the U.S. in an alleged money laundering scheme.

The FactCheckHub ran a keyword search using the story’s headline and found that it was copied verbatim from a news report published in October 2022 by the Guardian Newspaper. According to the report, the U.S. court purportedly acquitted the Air Peace chief of $20,000 fraud. This  report which they copied is also a false and misleading presentation of the events.  

ALSO READ: No! Court did not order VeryDarkMan to pay N500m fine over defamation

A correct version of the event was reported by Premium Times within the same period in 2022 showed that while Mayfield’s case was closed, Onyema remains wanted in the U.S.

According to Premium Times, Onyema and Air Peace Limited’s Head of Administration and Finance, Ejiroghene Eghagha, still had 36 charges of fraud and money laundering pending against them since 2019 at the same court.

This year, it was reported that in addition to the earlier $20 million bank fraud case against Onyema, the United States government has piled more charges. This showed that the previous case was still ongoing.

In addition, the US Attorney’s Office in a press statement issued October 11 noted that they are bringing a superseding indictment against the airline boss.

“On October 8, 2024, they were both charged in a superseding indictment alleging an additional count of obstruction of justice and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. The case is criminal action number 1:19-CR-464.” the statement reads in part.

A superseding indictment “is a criminal complaint brought by a grand jury that changes, adds to, or replaces an original indictment in the wake of new evidence” according to an explainer by Business Insider.

A major red flag is the fact that three media platforms reported the same story verbatim which signals the possibility of an Influence Operation which is an organised attempt to skew how people see an issue or in this case, a personality. 

A look at the three stories showed that the story originated from a statement from the legal firm of the organisation and was not obtained from any court judgment.

 

THE VERDICT

The claim that the U.S. court has acquitted Air Peace boss Allen Onyema of fraud allegations is FALSE. Findings show that this is a misleading rehash of an old false story, and Onyema still faces multiple charges, with no evidence of exoneration.

 

UPDATE:

The report has been removed from Business Day website. 

Video compilation making rounds online does not show storm in Washington

Fatimah Quadri
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Video compilation making rounds online does not show storm in Washington

A video has been making rounds on WhatsApp claiming to show a storm in Washington, D.C. in the United States of America. 

The minute-long video appeared to be a compilation of various clips showing different locations and events related to the storms.

The audio is unclear, with shouts and screams in the background.

READ ALSO : Video of ‘flooding in Italy’ shared by Joe Igbokwe is from mudslide in Japan

The video which has been shared in different WhatsApp groups chat was shared with the caption:

“For those who did not believe God exist, this is Washington DC home of homosexual and same sex marriage, now they can not stand the anger of God🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻”

CLAIM

Videos shows storm in Washington

THE FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub shows that the claim is FALSE! 

Screenshot of the video; Insert FALSE verdict
Screenshot of the video; Insert FALSE verdict

A Google reverse image search conducted on one of the frames from the video led to the  a 15-seconds video on TikTok which opens with a side view of trees swaying behind a  house, while a tornado spun through the sky. As the scene progressed, the video transitioned into what resembled a three-dimensional animation architectural house model.

Simultaneously, the camera angle shifted from a side view to a front view, enhancing the dramatic effect of the transformation.

The caption posted by the user also read : “Tornado Got Frozen #AI”.

Subjecting another key frame from the video to a google reverse image search, it provided earlier appearance of the video being attributed to to a tornado in Texas.

Screenshot of a clip from the video.
Screenshot of a clip from the video.
Screenshot of an earlier appearance of the video being attributed to the Tornado in Texas
Screenshot of an earlier appearance of the video being attributed to the Tornado in Texas

The FactCheckHub decided to conduct a search on the keyword “Texas Tornado May 2024” and search results showed that severe storms had hit Texas on May 16 2024, which had resulted to four deaths and caused power outages affecting over a million people.

The images in the search results were nearly similar to the one posted but The FactCheckHub could not independently determine the source of the video.

Further Findings showed that there have been no reports of storms or natural disasters in Washington DC as such an event would be widely reported by local and international media houses such as the Hurricane Helene that affected Florida in September.

ALSO READ: Image does NOT show soiled cash bundles recovered from Maiduguri flooding

THE VERDICT

The claim that the videos shows storms in Washington is false; while some of the videos are AI generated, the videos are not related to any storms in Washington DC as there have been no reports of such recently.

Viral video of protester calling for military takeover is from Edo not Oyo

Nurudeen Akewushola
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Viral video of protester calling for military takeover is from Edo not Oyo

A video showing people protesting on the street, with one individual calling on the Nigerian army to take over Nigeria, has surfaced online, with a claim that it occurred recently in Ibadan, Oyo state’s capital.

In the video, some protesters, with a few holding tree branches, can be seen marching on the street while Nigerian army vehicles attempt to pass through.

READ : No! Makinde is not the first governor to break second term jinx in Oyo State

An X user , @MayGistv posted the video with a caption :

“Some protesters, as seen in Ibadan, begging the Nigeria army to take over government from President Bola Tinubu.”

The post has generated over 100 reposts and likes as of October 21, 2024.

Another X user, @PrinceUjay posted the video a caption :

“Situation getting intense and alarming in Ibadan as Protesters block Nigerian Army Vehicles calling on the military to take over the government, saying the suffering under President Tinubu is unbearable.”

CLAIM

Video shows a recent anti-government protest in Ibadan.

Viral video of protesters calling from military takeover is from Edo not Oyo
Viral video of protesters calling from military takeover is from Edo not Oyo

THE FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.

Nigeria is grappling with inflation and a severely devalued naira following economic reforms introduced a year ago by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, aimed at reviving the economy.

This has led to a series of protests, such as End Bad Governance and the October 1 protests against these policies and the worsening cost of living, which has exacerbated hunger across the nation.

READ ALSO : #EndBadGovernance: Viral video of protesters stoning policemen is from Kenya, not Nigeria

Firstly, The FactCheckHub noticed the video has a watermark of the TikTok account. The video was traced to a TikTok user with the handle @milkyforlie0, who posted a longer version of the video on August 2, 2024.

This coincided with the 10-day “End Bad Governance” protest, during which many Nigerians took to the streets to protest the country’s economic hardship.

Additionally, our researcher analysed landmarks in the video, such as a filling station with the sign “London Park Total Energies.”

A geolocation using this keyword revealed that the protest took place on New Lagos Road, Benin City, Edo State.

Other key details, such as a billboard for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo and a boutique painted yellow, also match the location seen in the video.

image of the location/ Source ; Google maps

THE VERDICT

The claim that the video shows a recent protest against the government in Ibadan, Oyo State, is FALSE. Findings indicate that the video was shot in Edo State.

Experts emphasise mental health support for media employees

Fatimah Quadri
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Experts emphasise mental health support for media employees

MENTAL health experts have urged media employers to provide periodic training and counselling support to their staff, including journalists covering crime, disaster and trauma-related beats.

The founder of Secure-D-Future International Initiative (SDF), Dr. Sa’adatu Adamu and a technical assistant on the Safe School project of Benue State Government, Dr. Tersoo Shaapera, gave the charge during an X space themed: Mental Health for Media Professionals organised by The FactCheckHub on Thursday, October 17, 2024.

The duo also charged media employees to prioritise self-care and set boundaries, noting that these are key solutions to managing digital overload and preventing burnout, especially among journalists.

Both further highlighted the importance of taking regular breaks while at work, delegating tasks when necessary, and seeking mental health support.

READ: Fact-checkers, media urged to sanitise Africa’s information landscape at Africa Facts 2024 summit

These strategies, they explained, are crucial for maintaining their total well-being in a profession often marked by high stress and constant information flow.

Dr. Shaapera, who is a Clinical and Forensic Psychologist, noted that accountability is a significant issue on the job, as media professionals frequently face difficulties in holding people accountable. Much of their work, he highlighted, revolve around uncovering the truth, which can add to the emotional stress they experience.

“The job of media professionals is always traumatic. There are traumatic issues surrounding the media profession. And when you delve into it, sometimes you realize that the female folks among them are much more vulnerable.

“The fact remains that when it comes to issues of accountability, it is always very, very difficult for those (journalists) that are out there to hold people accountable, as most of what the media professionals do is to try to uncover the truth,” Dr. Shaapera stated.

Flyer of the X space
Flyer of the X space.

Also speaking on ways to manage digital overload, Dr. Adamu emphasized the importance of journalists recognizing that mental health issues can affect anyone, regardless of their profession or job demands.

She said, “It is important that journalists understand that mental health doesn’t care about your profession, or what you’re expected to do, or how far you should do it, and all that. It can affect anybody.”

She further highlighted the risk of burnout and secondary trauma that journalists may face due to pressures associated with their work.

“It’s important for you to take a deep breathe, just take two, three steps behind and you know, find a place to reassess yourself,” Dr. Adamu emphasised.

To address the stigma associated with mental health among media workers, she noted that it’s essential that media professionals feel comfortable in seeking help without fear of discrimination or judgement.

ALSO READ: FactCheckHub at 3: Experts proffer solutions to tackling AI disinformation campaigns

The experts noted that many journalists avoid mental health care due to concerns about being stigmatized or seen as weak. “This reluctance can exacerbate the mental strain they already face, leading to more severe issues such as anxiety, depression, and burnout,” they said.

One of the key solutions the duo proposed is creating a supportive work environment where media professionals can openly discuss mental health challenges.

Media organisations should also implement mental health awareness programmes, offer regular access to counseling, and promote self-care as part of their work culture, they counselled.

False claim circulates that Kenya, Nigeria are the least corrupt countries in Africa

Fatimah Quadri
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0
False claim circulates that Kenya, Nigeria are the least corrupt countries in Africa

A claim that Kenya and Nigeria have been ranked among the least corrupt countries in Africa has surfaced on the X platform.

An X user, @wesley_kibande, made the claim on October 12, 2024.

“Kenya and Nigeria have been ranked as the least corrupt countries in Africa”, the post read.

The X post was shared with an image of the Kenyan president, William Ruto and his Nigerian counterpart, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

READ: Video does NOT show Kenyan lawmakers hiding in the bush

It has garnered a significant traction of over 1.5 million views with about 300 comments, more than 500 reposts and over 300 likes as of October 17, 2024.

Due to its virality, The FactCheckHub decided to fact-check the veracity of the claim.

 

CLAIM

Kenya and Nigeria are ranked the least corrupt countries in Africa.

 

THE FINDINGS

Checks by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE!

A list published by Trading Economics on the corruption ranking of countries shows that Nigeria is ranked 145 out of 180 nations while Kenya ranked 126 out of the same 180, as of December 2023.

Screenshot of the claim retrieved from the X post. Insert: FALSE verdict.
Screenshot of the claim retrieved from the X post. Insert: FALSE verdict.

Citing the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) from Transparency International (TI) as its source, it stated that Nigeria ranks 145th in corruption index out of 180 nations.

The TI’s Corruption Perceptions rankings are used as a proxy for assessing the level of government corruption for each economy. The CPI, which evaluates 180 countries worldwide, is the primary global measure of public sector corruption.

Transparency International reports that Nigeria scored 25 points out of 100 on the 2023 CPI, marking a one-point change from the previous year, placing the country 145th out of 180 nation. Corruption Index in Nigeria averaged 21.48 Points from 1996 until 2023, reaching an all time high of 28.00 Points in 2016 and a record low of 6.90 Points in 1996.

Where as, Kenya scored 31 points out of 100 on the 2023 CPI, reflecting a decrease of one point from 2022, and it now ranks 126th out of 180 nation. Corruption Index in Kenya averaged 24.23 Points from 1996 until 2023, reaching an all time high of 32.00 Points in 2022 and a record low of 19.00 Points in 2002.

Nigeria’s ranking of 145th out of 180 countries places it closer to the bottom, indicating a high level of public sector corruption. It is neither among the top nor the average of the least corrupt nations in Africa, thus reflecting its struggles with corruption.

Further checks show that Seychelles, Cape Verde, Botswana, Rwanda and Mauritius were among the leading least corrupt countries in Africa.

List showing the top 11 least corrupt countries in Africa with their CPI ranking. CREDITS: TradingEconomics.com
List showing the top 11 least corrupt countries in Africa with their CPI ranking. CREDITS: TradingEconomics.com

DON’T MISS THIS: Dele Momodu posts video from Kenya to depict #EndBadGovernance protest in Niger State

On the other hand, Kenya, ranked 126th, also does not fall within the top or average in Africa, but it performs better than many others including Nigeria. While still facing corruption challenges, its position is slightly more favorable when compared to Nigeria’s.

 

THE VERDICT

The claim that Kenya and Nigeria are ranked as the least corrupt countries in Africa is FALSE; neither Nigeria nor Kenya fall among the least corrupt nations on the continent.

Is Adeleke’s power plant the biggest in Nigeria?

Itoro Etukudo
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Is Adeleke’s power plant the biggest in Nigeria?

NIGERIAN Billionaire, Adedeji Adeleke, who is also the father of popular music artiste, Davido said he is building a 1,250-megawatt thermal power plant which will also become the biggest thermal power plant in Nigeria.

He said it during the Seventh Day Adventist General Conference Annual Council in Maryland, United States of America, on October 15, 2024.

READ: Was Tinubu the first governor to raise bond for infrastructure in Nigeria as claimed by Fashola?

“I am a businessman in Nigeria. I’m into the electricity business. I own a power plant, I generate about 15 per cent of the electricity needs for Nigeria.

“I am building and almost completed in January by the grace of God my new power plant, to be the biggest thermal plant in Nigeria. It is a 1,250MW power plant to become operational in January,” he said.

 

CLAIM

Adeleke said he is building the biggest thermal power plant in Nigeria which is 1,250MW.

 

THE FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE.

Nigeria’s power sector has ranked poorly on the global scale. According to the World Bank 2020 business report, Nigeria ranks 171 out of 190 countries in getting electricity and electricity access is seen as one of the major constraints for development.

The country has been grappling with persistent power supply challenges for decades. Its generation capacity has consistently fallen short of demand, leading to frequent blackouts and load shedding. The country generates most of its power through hydro, gas and thermal.

Between 2010 and 2022, reports showed the country recorded 222 partial and total power collapses.

On October 14, 2024, Nigerians were plunged into a nationwide blackout following the collapse of the national grid system. The incident showed that the DisCos were not receiving power from the grid, leaving their feeders without electricity.

Checks by The FactCheckHub indicate that the national grid has collapsed at various times this year. The challenges Nigerians faced over fluctuating power supply in 2023 remain as 2024 races to an end.

ALSO READ: “We can’t do this alone”: Nigerian fact-checkers teamed up to debunk politicians’ false claims at this year’s election

Nigeria has two main types of power plants. They are hydro-electric and thermal/fossil fuel power plants.

The FactCheckHub gathered that Egbin Thermal Power Station located in Lagos has an installed capacity of 1,320 MW which is bigger than the proposed 1,250 MW thermal power plant by Adeleke.

However, Adeleke is the group chairman of Pacific Energy Company Limited which owns Olorunsogo Power Plant, Omotosho Power Plant, and Ajebamdele Power Plant.

 

THE VERDICT

The claim that Adeleke’s about to be launched thermal power plant will be the biggest in Nigeria is FALSE. Publicly available data have shown that Egbin power station is the biggest thermal power plant in Nigeria at 1,320MW; this therefore means a 1,250MW power plant cannot be said to be the biggest.

 

*This fact-check was republished from The ICIR. You can read the full article here.

Old photo of Igbo monarch arrested over kidnapping in Imo State resurfaces online

Nurudeen Akewushola
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0
Old photo of Igbo monarch arrested over kidnapping in Imo State resurfaces online

AN image purportedly showing a monarch from Nigeria’s Southeastern region who was arrested by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) over kidnapping has resurfaced online.

An X user, @Onsogbu, posted the image with a caption that read:

“The Imo State Police have arrested Igwe Eze Okwuegbunwa, a 69-year-old Igbo monarch from Uba-Agwa in Oguta LGA, along with his wife, cousin, pastor, and 30 others on charges of robbery and kidnapping. This surprising case implicates an entire royal family in allegedly victimizing their own community(sic).”

READ: Simon Ekpa shares video of female police officer allegedly assaulted in 2022 as recent

The post has garnered over 52,000 views with more than 200 reposts and over 400 likes as of October 17, 2024.

Similarly, another X user, @drpenking, posted the same image with a similar caption thus:

“The Imo State Police has taken into custody Igwe Eze Okwuegbunwa, a 69-year-old Igbo monarch from Uba-Agwa in Oguta LGA, along with his wife, cousin, pastor, & 30 others for robbery & kidnapping. This shocking arrest involves a whole royal family accused of preying on their people(sic).”

The image has been trending on X, among other social media platforms.

 

CLAIM

Image shows an Igbo monarch arrested over robbery and kidnapping recently.

 

THE FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING, as the incident occurred in August 2020.

screenshot of the viral post
screenshot of the viral post

Our researcher subjected the image to a Google reverse image search, and the results reveal that the incident occurred in August 2020, and not recently as implied in the X posts. An earlier version of the image can be seen on Facebook here and here.

Media reports by Blueprint newspaper and social blog (Yabaleft) show that the Imo State Police Command paraded a traditional ruler, Eze Andrew Okwuegbunwa, of Uba-Agwa autonomous community, alongside seven others, for allegedly kidnapping a police inspector, Oscar Mbaeri, and Louis Obodo, both from the same community.

ALSO READ: How disinformation actors fuelled violence, voter apathy in Imo governorship election

Imo state Commissioner of Police, Isaac Akinmoyede, revealed that the traditional ruler was arrested alongside his cousin, a pastor, and others after a botched kidnapping operation.

During investigation, it was found that the monarch had provided his vehicle to the gang and received part of the ransom collected from their victims. Eze Okwuegbunwa confessed to hiring out his car to the kidnappers but claimed ignorance of their activities.

The incident took place in August 2020, though the image is being republished as recent.

 

THE VERDICT

The claim that the image shows an Igbo monarch arrested for robbery and kidnapping recently is MISLEADING; the incident occurred in August 2020.

No! Court did not order VeryDarkMan to pay N500m fine over defamation

Nurudeen Akewushola
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0
No! Court did not order VeryDarkMan to pay N500m fine over defamation

ON October 15, 2024, many Nigerian media platforms reported that the Lagos State High Court has imposed a fine of N500 million on social media influencer, Martins Otse (a.k.a. VeryDarkMan), over defamatory posts and videos about prominent lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) and his son, Folarin Falana, also known as Falz.

The claim, earlier reported but now deleted or removed by many media platforms, still exists on other platforms such as News Central and various social media posts as seen here and here.

VeryDarkMan had posted on his Instagram page a leaked audio clip of Bobrisky, in which the cross-dresser allegedly implicated Falz and his father.

In the audio clip, Bobrisky, whose real name is Idris Okuneye, alleged that while he was imprisoned at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre, Falz and his father contacted him to facilitate a “presidential pardon” for a fee of N10 million.

Falana, during his appearance on Channels TV’s Politics Today, denied ever contacting or knowing Bobrisky. He also refuted the N10 million deal allegation, stating that he had secured pardons for numerous convicts without any charges.

READ: Video does not show ‘VeryDarkMan’ after his release from Police detention

He further indicated that he would not pursue criminal charges against VeryDarkMan based on his principle that free speech should never be criminalized but initiated civil proceedings to restore his and his son’s integrity and reputation. He noted that he had requested an apology and retraction from VeryDarkMan, which the influencer failed to provide.

The senior advocate then proceeded to sue VeryDarkMan via an ex-parte originating application on October 9, 2024. Ex-parte applications are heard by courts without the adverse parties and their lawyers.

Screenshot of the viral news as reported by many media platforms.

In the ex parte application, heard by a judge on October 10, 2024, Falana sought various preemptive orders against VeryDarkMan ahead of the hearing of the substantive suit. He also sought an order to serve VeryDarkMan through substituted means by serving the suit on his lawyer.

 

CLAIM

Court orders Martins Otse (a.k.a. VeryDarkMan) to pay N500 million over defamatory posts against Falana and his son.

 

THE FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE.

Following Falana’s suit, the Lagos State High Court ordered controversial social media influencer, Martins Otse, popularly called VeryDarkMan, to remove defamatory comments and videos concerning lawyer and human rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN) and his son, Folarin.

Justice M. O. Dawodu delivered the ruling in suit no: ID/8584/GCM/2024 on October 14, 2024. According to him, VeryDarkMan’s publications on his social media accounts on September 24, 2024, linking Bobrisky to Falz and his father were defamatory and injurious to their public image.

ALSO READ: Bobrisky has NOT been sentenced to 2 years imprisonment!

However, a review of the certified copy of the court ruling did not reveal anywhere that the court ordered the social media influencer to pay a sum of N500 million as a fine.

Part of the ruling read: “According to the applicants (Falz and Falana), the defendant (VeryDarkMan) knew these statements (Bobrisky’s claims) were false and untrue but proceeded to publish them to injure their reputation.

“Furthermore, the defamatory statements are still trending on the defendant (VeryDarkMan)’s several online platforms and the injury to their reputation continues as long as the publication remains online. The actions of the defendant (VeryDarkMan) have necessitated the applicants (Falz and Falana) to file this ex-parte application for pre-emptive remedies to prevent further acts of mischief that damages may not remedy, should the court find in favour of the applicants.

“The defendant, his agents, and privies are hereby restrained from further releasing, publishing, or circulating any defamatory videos or comments about the applicants and must remove the defamatory video or comments about the applicants published on September 24, 2024, on all his online social media handles/pages pending compliance with the Pre-Action Protocol of this honourable court.”

The FactCheckHub reports that no where in the court ruling was the VeryDarkMan asked to pay a fine of N500 million.

 

THE VERDICT

The claim that the court ordered Martins Otse (a.k.a. VeryDarkMan) to pay N500 million over defamatory posts against prominent lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) and his son, Folarin Falana, popularly called Falz, is FALSE; court document only shows that VeryDarkMan was ordered to remove the defamatory posts and stop circulating it.

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