The creator of viral AI-generated voice notes falsely attributed to President Bola Tinubu has been arrested, marking a significant move in Nigeria’s fight against politically motivated misinformation. Authorities confirmed that Ifechukwu Dennis, arrested in Benin, Edo State, was responsible for producing the manipulated audio.
The altered voice notes had falsely claimed that President Tinubu allowed insecurity to persist in parts of the country for political gain. They also suggested that the president had instructed former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi to step aside in his favour ahead of the 2027 election. One of the clips even threatened to worsen insecurity in the South-East, generating widespread concern online.
Government Response and Fact-Checking
Bayo Onanuga, the President’s special adviser on information and strategy, announced the arrest on social media. He described the move as part of ongoing efforts to curb misinformation and hold perpetrators of disinformation accountable. “The IGP crack team has arrested Ifechukwu Dennis, who originated the fake voice that he passed on to his gullible targets as President Tinubu’s voice,” Onanuga stated.
Initially, criticism arose after activist Martins Otse popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM) was wrongly linked to the creation of the voice notes. Investigations and fact-checks revealed that VDM did not produce the manipulated clips. Authorities traced the origin of the audio to Dennis, clarifying earlier misattributions.
The controversy began with social media circulation of the AI-generated audio, which quickly spread among political circles and the general public. Analysts noted the potential for such disinformation to influence public perception and voter sentiment, prompting swift government response.
Onanuga emphasized that the police would issue an official statement, reinforcing that the arrest is part of broader efforts to tackle misinformation and safeguard political discourse. The case underscores the growing challenge of deepfake and AI-manipulated content in Nigerian politics.
While the investigation is ongoing, authorities are monitoring online platforms to ensure the voice notes do not continue to circulate, and to prevent similar disinformation campaigns in the lead-up to the 2027 elections.
