IGP Crack Team Nabs Man Accused of Creating Fake Tinubu Audio

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a man identified as Ifechukwu Dennis over his alleged role in creating and circulating a fake audio recording purported to contain the voice of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The arrest was confirmed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who disclosed that the suspect was apprehended in Benin City by a special team operating under the Inspector-General of Police. According to him, the police are expected to issue a formal statement detailing the circumstances of the arrest and the ongoing investigation.

Onanuga alleged that Dennis originated the manipulated audio and circulated it to members of the public while presenting it as an authentic recording of President Tinubu. He stated that the arrest followed investigations into the source of the viral clip, which generated widespread debate on social media.

The controversial audio, which circulated online in recent weeks, purportedly featured President Tinubu making remarks on national issues, including security and politics. However, the Presidency maintained that the recording was fabricated and generated using artificial intelligence technology, describing it as a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.

The incident sparked significant public attention after the doctored recording was linked by some social media users to activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan. Subsequent fact-checks and investigations, however, indicated that the fake audio did not originate from the activist’s original content but was allegedly inserted into a modified version that was later circulated online.

The Presidency has recently warned about the growing use of deepfake videos, manipulated audio recordings and other forms of digital misinformation, particularly as political activities ahead of the 2027 elections begin to intensify. Officials have urged Nigerians to verify information before sharing content online.

As of the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Police Force had not released details of the charges that may be brought against the suspect, nor had it indicated whether further arrests are expected in connection with the case.