Police Arrest Suspect Linked To Viral Fake Tinubu Audio Recording
By Wellington Jopelo
The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a suspect believed to be connected to the circulation of a manipulated audio recording falsely attributed to President Bola Tinubu, in a development that has sparked fresh debate over the growing use of artificial intelligence and misinformation on social media.
The controversial audio clip, which circulated widely online in recent days, featured a voice resembling that of the President making remarks on national issues. The recording quickly generated reactions across social media platforms before questions emerged about its authenticity.
According to reports, police investigators traced the source of the manipulated recording and subsequently arrested a suspect believed to have played a key role in its creation and distribution. Authorities are also said to be expanding investigations to identify other individuals who may have participated in producing or sharing the content.
The incident gained national attention after presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga condemned the circulation of the audio, describing it as false and misleading. The Presidency maintained that the recording did not originate from President Tinubu and warned against the spread of fabricated content capable of misleading the public.
The controversy also drew in social media commentator Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, after claims emerged online linking him to the recording. However, fact-checks and statements from his legal team argued that the audio did not originate from his content and had been inserted into an edited version of one of his videos by unknown individuals.
Lawyers representing the activist insisted that their client neither created nor circulated the recording and called on security agencies to focus on identifying those responsible for the manipulated content.
Security experts say the case highlights the growing challenge posed by AI-generated content, which can be used to imitate the voices and images of public figures. They warn that such technology could be exploited to spread misinformation, influence public opinion and create confusion, especially during politically sensitive periods.
Police authorities have not yet released the identity of the arrested suspect but say investigations are ongoing. Officials have assured the public that anyone found responsible for creating or distributing the doctored recording will face the full weight of the law.
The latest development comes amid increasing concerns over fake news, deepfakes and AI-generated misinformation in Nigeria, with experts urging stronger digital literacy and greater caution before sharing unverified content online.