The Presidency has called for legal action against popular social media influencer, Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VDM (VeryDarkMan), over the circulation of an alleged fake audio recording involving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The controversy began after a viral audio clip surfaced online, allegedly containing the voice of President Tinubu discussing sensitive national issues, including insecurity in the South-East, loans from the World Bank, and political plans ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Reacting to the development, the Presidency dismissed the audio as fake and misleading, insisting that the recording was manipulated and possibly generated using artificial intelligence technology.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, strongly condemned the circulation of the clip, warning that such content could create confusion and threaten national stability.
According to Onanuga, sharing false audio recordings about the President is dangerous and should not be treated lightly. He stated that those responsible for spreading the audio must face the consequences under the law.
The Presidency accused VDM of helping to amplify the controversial recording on social media, where it quickly gained attention and sparked heated reactions among Nigerians online.
Government officials argued that fake digital content, especially AI-generated audio and videos, could mislead the public, damage reputations, and increase political tension across the country.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that VDM has denied intentionally spreading false information. The influencer reportedly claimed that the Presidency unfairly linked him to the alleged doctored audio without proper investigation.
As of the time of filing this report, no official charges had been publicly announced against VDM, but many Nigerians are closely watching to see whether the matter will proceed to court or lead to further investigations by security agencies.
