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Photos do not show Nwabali and his wife

Nurudeen Akewushola
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Photos do not show Nwabali and his wife

THREE photos showing Super Eagles goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali and a woman have surfaced online with a claim that they show the footballer with his wife.

The photos were posted by a Facebook user who claimed to be the goalkeeper’s wife following the Eagles’ victory against South Africa last Wednesday at the Semi-Final of the ongoing African Cup of Nations.

Nwabali, who plays for Chippa United in the South African league stood out with his performance after saving two penalties during the penalty shoot-out and bagged the man of the match.

A Nigerian football journalist, Sulaiman Pooja posted the image with a caption thus: 

“Nwabali’s wife shows off her husband. Keep off.”

The post has generated more than 400,000 views, over 800 reposts and over 8,700 likes as of February 11, 2024.

Another X user, @dammiedammie25 also posted the photos with a caption that read: 

“Nwabali wife marking territory! Make una Comot eyes.”

The post has generated over 1.4million views, more than 2,800 reposts and over 28,000 likes as of February 11, 2024.

 

CLAIM

Photos show Nwabali with his wife.

 

THE FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.

Screenshot of the viral post showing Nwabali allegedly with his wife.

Checks show that the goalkeeper shared the photos on his Instagram page before the game last Wednesday and he was the only one in them.

Original version of the first image on the goalkeeper’s Instagram page shows Nwabali alone.

A look at Nwabali’s Instagram account (@Nwabali32) shows that he posted the first photograph on January 2, 2023, while he posted the second photo where he stood inside a room on January 1, 2024. He posted the third photo standing in front of a white car on July 1, 2023. However, checks show that he stood alone in all the pictures without anybody by his side indicating that the viral images have been photoshopped and not genuine.

Original version of the second image showing Nwabali only.

A critical look at the photos revealed that the frame of the woman in the images was placed in the pictures, as there was no connection between the two of them. This is a common feature of a doctored image.

Original version of the third image showing Nwabali alone.

However, in a subsequent post, the Facebook user later clarified that the earlier post was a mere joke. However, the influencers that shared the earlier post did not retract, pull down or offer clarification as of the time of filing the fact-check.

 

THE VERDICT

The claim that the picture shows Nwabali and his wife is MISLEADING; findings show that the viral images were photoshopped.

Simon Ekpa shares fake images of weapons allegedly recovered by pro-Biafra fighters from police

Nurudeen Akewushola
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Simon Ekpa shares fake images of weapons allegedly recovered by pro-Biafra fighters from police

A pro-Biafran agitator, Simon Ekpa, has posted images showing weapons with a claim that they were seized by Biafra Resistance Fighters (BRF) during an intense clash where they purportedly neutralized some Nigerian policemen.

The post reads:

“BREAKING The Biafra Resistance Fighters has neutralised many terrorist @PoliceNG who came to kill Biafrans as usual, send them to God and recovered many weapons including explosives. We continue to demand total withdrawal of all Nigeria “security” forces from Biafra territory as they are all terrorists killing our women and children.”

The post has generated over 2,000 retweets and more than 2,900 likes as of February 9, 2024.

 

CLAIM 

Photos show guns recovered by Biafra Resistance Fighters from operatives of the Nigeria Police Force.

 

THE FINDINGS

Checks by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.

Screenshot of Simon Ekpa’s post on X.

Findings revealed that the photos are old and taken out of context. We subjected the images to Google Reverse Image and here are our findings:

FRAME 1

A Google Reverse Image search conducted on the first photo shows that the image has been online since 2022.

Photo of weapons recovered from Boko Haram terrorists in 2022.

An earlier version of the image was posted by Leadership newspaper on December 31, 2022, with a report indicating that they were guns recovered from the Boko Haram terrorists by the troops of the 199 Special Forces Battalion and the Civilian Joint Task Force.

According to the report, the troops eliminated six Boko Haram fighters after it sprang an ambush at the suspected crossing point of the terrorists on the eve of the New Year along Maiduguri-Damboa Road in Borno State.

FRAME 2

Photo showing weapons recovered from Boko Haram terrorists in 2017.

Checks by The FactCheckHub show that the image has been online since at least 2017.

A report by Premium Times indicated that the image shows weapons recovered by the gallant troops of 202 Battalion, 21 Brigade in conjunction with the Mobile Strike Team (MST) in Borno during an operation launched against Boko Haram terrorists in November 2017.

 

FRAME 3

Checks revealed that the image has been online since 2018.

Photo showing riffles posted by AIr15 in 2018.

An earlier version of the image was posted here on October 10, 2018 by Air15.com, a leading global firearm web community for firearm enthusiasts of all types.

Further checks show that there was no recent credible media platform that reported the purported clash between the pro-Biafra group and operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

 

THE VERDICT 

The claim that the images show weapons recovered by the Biafra Resistance Fighters from Nigerian policemen is MISLEADING; findings show that the images were taken out of context and unrelated to any purported IPOB activity.

Meta announces tool to identify, label AI-generated images ahead of global elections

Fatimah Quadri
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Meta announces tool to identify, label AI-generated images ahead of global elections

META has announced that it is increasing the scope of its efforts to detect images that have been altered by artificial intelligence.

This was made known by Meta’s president of global affairs, Nick Clegg, in a statement on February 6, 2024.

This is part of the attempt to filter false information and deepfakes ahead of global elections that are taking place across multiple countries this year and in 2025.

He added that the organisation will start labeling AI-generated photos coming from other sources in the coming months.

According to the company, it is developing technologies to automatically recognise content created by AI when it shows up on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.

“The added time is needed to work with other AI companies to align on common technical standards that signal when a piece of content has been created using AI,” Clegg wrote.

The statement added that Meta is looking to minimize uncertainty by primarily collaborating with other AI firms that employ invisible watermarks and specific kinds of metadata in the photos produced on their platforms. Meta also intends to solve the issue of watermarks being eliminated.

“We’re working hard to develop classifiers that can help us to automatically detect AI-generated content, even if the content lacks invisible markers. At the same time, we’re looking for ways to make it more difficult to remove or alter invisible watermarks,” Clegg stated.

It further noted that audio and video can be even harder to monitor than images, because there’s not yet an industry standard for AI companies to add any invisible identifiers.

The statement added that Meta will add a way for users to voluntarily disclose when they upload AI-generated video or audio. If they share a deepfake or other form of AI-generated content without disclosing it, the company may apply penalties.

“If we determine that digitally created or altered image, video or audio content creates a particularly high risk of materially deceiving the public on a matter of importance, we may add a more prominent label if appropriate,” Clegg said.

Daniel Bwala, other X users share old CBN press release as recent

Fatimah Quadri
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Daniel Bwala, other X users share old CBN press release as recent

A press release from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) stating that the apex bank would convict any individual transacting with foreign currency has been circulating on the internet, particularly on X recently.

The press release was contained in an image and posted alongside a caption by Daniel Bwala via his X account @BwalaDaniel, amongst other X (formerly Twitter) users.

Daniel Bwala was the campaign spokesperson of the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in Nigeria’s 2023 general elections.

Bwala’s post on X read:

Thank you @cenbank for this directive. Imagine there is a Nigerian private university, operating in Nigerian market, owned by a Nigerian, collecting school fees and ancillaries in Dollars. Many other domestic companies transacting in Forex. We would soon get to root of why the naira is depreciating.

Also, the text on the image (press release) read:

CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA

Press Release

THE USE OF FOREIGN CURRENCY AS A MEDIUM OF EXCHANGE IN NIGERIA

The attention of the Bank has been drawn to the increasing use of foreign currencies in the domestic economy as a medium of payment for goods and services by individuals and corporates.

It has also been observed that some institutions price their goods and services in foreign currencies and demand payments in foreign currencies rather than the domestic currency (the Naira), which is the legal tender in Nigeria.

For the avoidance of doubt, the attention of the general public is hereby drawn to the provisions of the CBN Act of 2007, which states inter-alia that “the currency notes issued by the Bank shall be legal tender in Nigeria…for the payment of any amount”.

Furthermore, the Act stipulates that any person(s) who contravenes this provision is guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a prescribed fine or six months imprisonment.

This prohibition, however, is without prejudice to foreigners, visitors and tourists who are encouraged to continue to use their cards for payments or exchange their foreign currency for local currency at any of the authorized dealers’ outpost.

The general public is hereby advised to report any contravention of the provision of this Act to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for appropriate action.

Ibrahim Mu’azu Director, Corporate Communications.

Since the claim was posted on February 4, 2024, it has garnered over 159,000 views,more than 700 likes and over 400 comments.

Another X user, @DavidsOffor also posted the same image along a different caption thus:

See ehhh, I love the way CBN Governor, Yemi Cardoso is acting while not talking!! Report any institution demanding Dollars for payment in Nigeria. I am loving this! Let’s have it

Leadership newspaper also reported the statement.

The press release was circulating due to unverified reports stating that the apex bank was seizing domiciliary accounts which it later debunked.

 

CLAIM

Recent CBN press release stating that it would convict any individual transacting with foreign currency circulates on X.

 

THE FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING!

A search on the CBN website showed that the press release was published on July 4, 2015 and not recently.

This also reflected on the designation of the Director of Corporate Communications stated in the press release. Ibrahim Muazu was the bank’s Director of Corporate Communication until 2016 when he was moved by the former governor of the apex bank, Godwin Emefiele to the Strategy Management Department.

Isaac Okorafor had taken over the position as acting director after then until his appointment was confirmed in 2018. He retired in 2020 while Osita Nwanisobi replaced him.

The current acting Director of Corporate Communication at the CBN is Hakama Sidi Ali who was appointed in December 2023.

A check on the X handle of the apex bank showed that the press release wasn’t re-shared recently.

 

THE VERDICT

Bwala’s post on X stating that the CBN would convict any individual transacting with foreign currency is MISLEADING; the statement has been in the public domain since 2015 and it is not recent.

Pakistan Election: TikTok partners fact-checkers to combat misinformation

Nurudeen Akewushola
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Pakistan Election: TikTok partners fact-checkers to combat misinformation

TikTok has announced plans to work with fact-checkers and other stakeholders to combat misinformation and uphold election integrity on its platform as the Pakistan parliamentary election holds on February 8, 2024.

The platform’s latest initiatives are to ensure a safe, authentic, and reliable information environment during this important period.

Building on its robust global framework to combat misinformation, TikTok said it is collaborating with the internationally recognised fact-checking organisation Agence France-Presse (AFP) as its fact-checker to address the Pakistani electoral context specifically.

The platform stated that transparency and collaboration are at the core of its efforts. 

“By working closely with experts, safety advisory councils, and civil society organisations, TikTok enhances its policy framework and ensures the elevation of reliable information sources within the app,” the statement stated.

Additionally, TikTok is working closely with local community partner organisations in Pakistan to ensure the platform’s integrity.

“These partnerships enable TikTok to identify potential misinformation, take action on it, and share accurate information with its community around important events. TikTok’s fact-checking partners do not moderate content on the platform, but their assessments provide valuable input which helps the app in taking appropriate action that upholds its community guidelines,” the statement added.

TikTok’s strategy includes innovative product features aimed at enhancing user awareness and participation in maintaining platform integrity.

“These partnerships enable TikTok to identify potential misinformation, take action on it, and share accurate information with its community around important events. TikTok’s fact-checking partners do not moderate content on the platform, but their assessments provide valuable input which helps the app in taking appropriate action that upholds its community guidelines,” the statement added.

The app also launched the Pakistan Election Centre on the platform, which is a dedicated hub, available both in English and Urdu, that will direct users to authoritative information on the election, including voting procedures and locations.

Company worker loses $25m to deepfake scam

Nurudeen Akewushola
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Company worker loses $25m to deepfake scam

POLICE in Hong Kong have said a clerk working for a multinational company transferred $25 million of the firm’s money to fraudsters after being tricked into joining a deepfake video conference call.

Hong Kong’s public broadcaster, RTHK, reported that the employee was a clerk working for an unnamed multinational firm quoting an acting senior superintendent, Baron Chan, as saying that the fraudster used deepfake created with artificial intelligence to dupe the worker.

According to the report, the clerk was the only real person on the video chat while the rest of the attendees looked and sounded like her colleagues adding that they were characters created by the scammers based on genuine online conferences held in the past.

“Police received a report from a staff member of a company on 29th January, 2024 that her company was deceived of some HK$200m after she received video conference calls from someone posing as senior officers of the company requesting to transfer money to designated bank accounts,” the police said in a statement.

READ : X bans searches for Taylor Swift amidst circulation of her explicit AI photo

The force added that after an initial investigation, the case had been classified as “obtaining property by deception” and was being handled by its cybercrime unit. No arrests have been made so far as  investigations are still ongoing.

“[The fraudster] invited the informant [clerk] to a video conference that would have many participants. Because the people in the video conference looked like the real people, the informant … made 15 transactions as instructed to five local bank accounts, which came to a total of HK$200m,” he said.

“I believe the fraudster downloaded videos in advance and then used artificial intelligence to add fake voices to use in the video conference.”

RTHK added that the worker received a message from the company’s chief financial officer that talked of the need for confidential transactions. It was only after going on the call and sending the money that the employee spoke to the company’s head office and realised it was a scam, reported RTHK.

READ ALSO : Five AI tools used in generating disinformation visuals

“We can see from this case that fraudsters are able to use AI technology in online meetings, so people must be vigilant even in meetings with lots of participants,” said Chan.

AI-generated deepfakes are proliferating online, with social media platform X being forced to suspend Taylor Swift-related searches recently after fake sexually explicit images of the pop singer flooded its site. FactCheckHub, in this report, highlighted some deep fakes, AI-generated content to watch out for in 2024.

 

No! Fulani National Vigilante Organisation is NOT registered with CAC

Blessing Amala Muonwe
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No! Fulani National Vigilante Organisation is NOT registered with CAC

A Nigerian singer, Charles Chukwuemeka Oputa, has claimed that the “Fulani National Vigilante Organisation” has been duly registered with Nigeria’s Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

Popularly called Charly Boy, he posted the claim on February 1, 2024, alongside an image purportedly showing a CAC certificate for the organization.

The post on his X handle: @areafada1, read: 

“Can U imagine? IT’S NOW OFFICIAL. The Fulani “National” Vigilante Organisation!

Now INSURGENTS CAN have wings! IPOB was proscribed as Terror Org. Sunday IGBOHO & friends were imprisoned. BUT, GUN CARRYING, Kidnap & Terror Organisation was REGISTERED!! We Neva Ceeee shomtin!!”

The post archived here has garnered over 500 likes and more than 700 reposts on X as of February 7, 2024.

 

CLAIM

Fulani National Vigilante Organisation has been legally registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission.

 

THE FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is FALSE.

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) is the Nigerian government’s institution responsible for the legal registration of businesses, companies, civil societies and trustees etc in the country.

A comparison of the purported certificate with original certificate samples from the agency revealed inconsistencies in font styles and alignment, suggesting that the certificate posted by Charles Oputa has been doctored.

L-R: A sample of original CAC certificate and the doctored one posted by Charly Boy.
L-R: A sample of original CAC certificate and the doctored one posted by Charly Boy.

Also, a company search on the CAC website using the name “Nomad Vigilante Nigeria Ltd” (as seen on the image) yielded no results either. Similarly, searching the registration number provided in the image returned no matching record. This indicates that the certificate is not genuine.

This is not the first time Charly Boy has used misleading videos and photos to misinform the public.

The FactCheckHub had reported how he posted a photo showing the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) now President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, watching Peter Obi, on a television screen.

Meanwhile, findings by The FactCheckHub show that the original image shows Tinubu in an aeroplane staring at a TV screen on his way from the United Kingdom to Nigeria. However, nothing was showing on the screen as revealed by the original photo.

The FactCheckHub also reported how he shared a misleading video with a claim that it showed Peter Obi’s supporters in boats holding a campaign rally in riverine areas prior to Nigeria’s 2023 general elections. When The FactCheckHub subjected the video to verification, it revealed that the claim was FALSE.

Similarly, The FactCheckHub reported how he made a false claim about the electronic transmission of election results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

 

THE VERDICT

The claim by Charles Oputa that the “Fulani National Vigilante Organization” is registered with the CAC is FALSE; findings show that the certificate he posted has been doctored.

No! Video does not show kidnappers of Ekiti school pupils

Nurudeen Akewushola
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No! Video does not show kidnappers of Ekiti school pupils

A video showing some wounded men being forced to enter the back of a Hilux vehicle has surfaced online with a claim that it shows the kidnappers of Ekiti pupils arrested by Amotekun operatives.

The video is circulating following the rumoured arrest of the suspected kidnappers who abducted the pupils and three teachers of Apostolic Montessori  School in Ekiti State on January 29. Police however, debunked the rumoured arrest.

READ: How misinformation almost marred 2022 Ekiti governorship election

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

“Ekiti children kidnappers captured by Amotekun and local hunters using drones to find and locate them. Combination of intelligence, technology and raw courage. Imagine what local police can achieve!”

The post has generated over 1,500 reposts and more than 4,000 likes as of February 4, 2024.

Another X user, @RodemiF posted the same video with another caption that read:

“Ekiti children kidnappers captured by Amotekun and local hunters using drones to find and locate them. Combination of intelligence, technology and raw courage. Imagine what local police can achieve!”

The post has generated over 800 reposts and more than 1,000 likes as of February 4, 2024. 

CLAIM

Video shows kidnappers of Ekiti pupils arrested by Amotekun.

 

THE FINDINGS 

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.

Screenshot of a post by Twitter user who claimed video shows kidnappers of Ekiti pupils.

The ICIR reported that the Ekiti State Government confirmed the abduction of the pupils, teachers and the bus driver on Tuesday, January 30, 2024.

When the FactCheckHub subjected keyframes from the video to a Google Reverse Image search, the result shows that it has been online since January 17, 2024 and it depicts suspected armed robbers arrested in Osun state. 

A frame in the video was captured in these reports by Voice Air Media and  Eagle Eyes News.

According to the media reports, the suspects were arrested by Osun Police Anti-Cultism units and some hunters in the state while attempting to carry out armed robbery attacks on Dangote Integrated Steel Rolling Mills in Osogbo, Osun state.

They were identified as Adepoju Abdulateef (18), Rasheed Hammed (20), Liadi Afeez (20), Wasiu Sodiq (21), and Rabiu Lekan (28). The incident was also reported by TheCable and Vanguard newspapers.

READ ALSO : Fayemi’s aide makes false claim over vote-buying in Ekiti governorship poll

Meanwhile, in a latest development on Sunday, February 4, 2024, the Ekiti state government has confirmed the release of the school pupils and teachers. However, there was no report indicating the arrest of the kidnappers as of the time of filing this fact-check. 

THE VERDICT

The claim that the video shows kidnappers of Ekiti pupils arrested by Amotekun is MISLEADING; findings show that the video has been online since about two weeks before the abduction.

Media Matters for Democracy launches fact-checking tool ‘Facter’ for newsrooms

Nurudeen Akewushola
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Media Matters for Democracy launches fact-checking tool ‘Facter’ for newsrooms

MEDIA Matters for Democracy (MMfD) has launched a collaborative fact-checking tool, ‘Facter’, designed to counter misinformation and support newsrooms in delivering accurate information.

The tool which was launched on Friday, February 2, 2024,  leverages technology to aggregate verified content from various news sources and its own monitoring and fact-checking team, supporting newsrooms in delivering accurate information.

According to a statement released by the media development organization, the tool aimed “to foster sustainable collaborations, Facter functions as both a tool and a platform, streamlining fact-checking processes for newsrooms efficiently.”

READ: TikTok announces measures to combat misinformation, hate speech ahead of Pakistan elections

It said the tool “exclusively” provides content to newsrooms and was already being adopted by 10 mainstream newsrooms in Pakistan.

“At a technical level, Facter operates by curating information processed by MMfD’s monitoring team and credible media outlets,” Dawn quoted the MMfD director and founder Asad Baig as saying while speaking at the launch of the tool.

“Trends Monitor, MMfD’s technical toolkit and methodology developed for digital investigations, is employed to monitor social media platforms for mis/disinformation (fact-checked by MMfD), misleading information (fact-checked by MMfD), or verified information,” Baig said.

He added that Facter aligned with MMfD’s long-term goal of enabling newsrooms to enhance web traffic and digital revenue through the publication of verified and credible information.

According to him, Facter connects newsrooms to an extensive stream of information related to their investigations by aggregating relevant content published by various local fact-checking and media organisations.

Arise News, X users disseminate old video of Yoruba Nation’s rally as recent

Fatimah Quadri
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Arise News, X users disseminate old video of Yoruba Nation’s rally as recent

A claim that a protest broke out in Ondo state due to the hardship in Nigeria is circulating on X and YouTube.

The claim, posted by an X user, Nkirukamma (@SabinaNkiru), on January 30, 2024, has since garnered over 500,000 views, more than 1,700 reposts, over 1,800 likes and over 600 comments.

The caption on the video read: “Protest breaks out in Ondo State over hardship. E bin pawa o!!! (pt. 2)”

In the one minute, twenty-second footage, a large banner that had green, white, and blue colours with the inscription ‘Yoruba Nation’ and the Oduduwa symbol could be seen on a pick-up van.

Several people could also be seen in the video demonstrating with some of them wearing a white shirt and cap while waving small flags and banners.

A voice in the video could be heard speaking Yoruba in the noisy background which is translated thus:

You are watching this,… they said they want a Yoruba country! they want their freedom! they don’t want to a part of Nigeria again.

The FactCheckHub has over the year observed that the X user, Nkirukamma (@SabinaNkiru), is fond of posting unverified and misleading claims via her X account, some of which we had debunked earlier here and here.

Another X user @UGOOTWEET also posted the same footage same day and it has gained over 280,000 views.

Arise News, a Nigeria-based Cable TV, also aired the video as recent on the ‘What’s Trending’ segment of its prime TV programme titled: ‘The Morning Show.’

The anchor of the segment, Ojy Okpe, stated that a group of Yoruba Nation activists seeking self-determination for the Yoruba speaking states in Nigeria took to the streets in Ondo State, as they re-echoed calls for secession from Nigeria.

The protesters were armed with placards bearing various inscriptions, as they called for the emancipation of the Yoruba Nation in the wake of the ongoing economic hardship and rising cost of living.

 

CLAIM

Video shows a protest in Ondo over economic hardship in Nigeria.

 

THE FINDINGS

Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING!

Screenshot of the claim as retrieved from X. INSERT: Misleading verdict.
Screenshot of the claim as retrieved from X. INSERT: Misleading verdict.

A search on Google using the keywords ‘Ondo Protest Hardship’ led us to videos and media reports which dated back to 2021.

A look at some of the videos and news reports displayed on the search results shows that they’ve been online since May 22, 2021, while others were published the following day (May 23, 2021).

It is worthy to note that the BBC News Pidgin did a live coverage of some of the activities that occurred during the protest on May 22, 2021 which was uploaded on its Facebook page.

The BBC News Pidgin reported that the protest was led by the Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo a.k.a. Sunday Igboho, who called for the secession of the South Western region or the Yoruba speaking states from the rest of Nigeria.

Also, Premium Times reported that the protesters had grounded activities in Akure, the state capital, during the rally while obstructing vehicular movements.

The rally had also taken place in Osogbo (Osun state),  Ibadan (Oyo state) and Abeokuta (Ogun state) before it took place in Akure, Ondo state capital.

In conclusion, the video being circulated as a protest over economic hardship is not recent, as it is from a Yoruba Nation rally held in May 2021.

 

THE VERDICT

The claim that video shows a protest in Ondo over economic hardship in Nigeria is MISLEADING; findings revealed that the video is from a 2021 Yoruba Nation rally that took place in Akure, Ondo state.

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