News
How Fake News Threatened My 40-year-old Marriage – Lai Mohammed

A former Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has recounted how fake news circulated on social media nearly destroyed his 40-year-old marriage.
The ex-minister shared his story during an event in Lagos commemorating Prof. Wole Soyinka’s 90th birthday, where he discussed “The Media in the Age of Disinformation.” The text of Mohammed’s presentation was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday.
Mohammed, also serving as the Managing Partner of Bruit Costard, a lobbyist and public relations firm, reflected on one of the significant challenges he encountered during his tenure as minister: the rampant spread of fake news, misinformation, and disinformation.
Mohammed emphasized that fake news, disinformation, and misinformation nearly destroyed his marriage, highlighting their extensive consequences.
He said, “Permit me to share publicly with you today for the first time, how social media threatened the foundation of my 40-year-old marriage.
“It was sometimes in 2018 when I came to Lagos from Abuja for an official assignment.
“As usual, I retire to bed about midnight, but about 3 am., my wife gently roused me from my slumber.
“At first, I panicked, fearing that there had been a security breach, but my wife’s mien belied that possibility, for she was calm and composed.”
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He continued: “Solemnly, my wife asked me if I was fully awake as there were some serious issues to discuss.
“I could not fathom what was that urgent or serious to warrant being woken up at this time of the night.
“My mind immediately did a kaleidoscope of my rascalities and escapades in the last few months”.
Mohammed said the accusation from his wife was “a bombshell” and was narrated to him in Yoruba language.
He presented the narration as follows:
“Daddy, death can come knocking at any moment, please let me also, as your wife, be a signatory to your overseas account in Ali Financial which contains 1.3 billion dollars.”
The ex-minister expressed disbelief that his wife fully believed the false story circulating about government officials, including himself, supposedly having large sums of money in overseas accounts during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
“I spent the next two hours or so, sweating to convince my wife that there is no iota of truth in the allegation.
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“I had to fetch a calculator and reproduce the Federal Appropriation Act for 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 in the middle of the night and explain to her why it is simply reposterous for me to have 1.3 billion dollars in a foreign account.
“I explained to her that there is no year my capital budget exceeded N5 billion, which then, at about N400 to a dollar, was just 12.5 million dollars.
“I explained that, even if I managed to divert every kobo of it to my personal account, it will take at least, 104 years to save the sum of 1.3 billion dollars being peddled that I stole,” he said.
Mohammed added: “My wife insisted that the whole world believed the story and that her friends had, as a result, besieged her with all kinds of requests.
“She said every effort on her part to deny the existence of this foreign account only succeeded in depicting her in the minds of her friends as a selfish, greedy and uncaring friend.
“Is my wife truly convinced of my innocence? The answer is in the wind!.”
Mohammed reiterated that social media remained the platforms of choice for the purveyors of fake news, anti-state groups, anarchists, secessionists, terrorists and bandits.
During his time in government, Mohammed remembered that his ministry uncovered 476 online publications solely dedicated to disseminating fake news against the previous administration of President Buhari.
Mohammed specifically remembered the fake news claiming that the former president had passed away while undergoing treatment in a London hospital and had been replaced by a clone named “Jubril from Sudan.”
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According to Mohammed, the problem of fake news persisted through the campaigns leading up to the 2023 general elections, during which President Bola Tinubu became a target. Videos and speeches attributed to him were manipulated and distorted to spread false information.
He mentioned that those spreading fake news were persistent in their attempts to undermine the commendable policies and programs of Tinubu’s administration.
Mohammed highlighted how fake news had grown drastically due to the use of Artificial Intelligence and deep learning techniques, enabling the creation of highly realistic fake or manipulated videos, audio recordings, or images.
“The consequences of disinformation and misinformation are far-reaching.
“They undermine democratic processes, sow discord within communities, and pose significant threats to public health and safety.
“Today, even the media is at risk of losing its credibility because of the proliferation of fake news on Social Media
“Therefore, the media, as custodians of the public trust, must take decisive action to combat the scourge of disinformation and misinformation,” he said
Mohammed asserted that social media platforms and other intermediaries, accountable for amplifying disinformation and misinformation, should bear responsibility. He advocated for the implementation of robust regulatory frameworks to monitor and curb the spread of false information while preserving freedom of expression.
He urged social media platforms to prioritize the integrity of information above profit motives. Mohammed emphasized the importance of taking proactive measures to detect and remove harmful content from their platforms.
PUNCH
News
NYSC Deploys 1,900 Corps Members To Bauchi State

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has deployed 1,900 corps members to Bauchi State for the 2025 Batch ‘B’ Stream II orientation exercise.
Mr Kufre Umoren, NYSC State Coordinator, told journalists on Tuesday in Bauchi, that registration would be conducted from Sept. 24 to Sept. 26, at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Wailo in Ganjuwa Local Government Area of the state.
He said the swearing-in ceremony of the corps members is billed for Sept. 26, and the orientation exercise would end on Oct. 14.
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Umoren said each of the corps members would be allowed into the camp after being adequately certified to be genuine graduates.
He said discreet screening of the corps members would be conducted to guard against intrusion or impersonation.
“Registration dates have been announced to the corps members, and they are advised to adhere strictly to all camp rules and regulations.
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“Defaulters will be sanctioned in accordance with the scheme’s extant rules,” he said, warning the scheme frowned at late-night journeys and urged corps members to avoid it for their own safety.
While urging them to be punctual, diligent, and comply with dress code, Umoren warned that defaulting corps members would be sanctioned.
News
Ife Not Origin Of Yoruba Race, Says Oluwo

The Oluwo of Iwo in Osun State, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has disputed the claim that Ile-Ife is the origin of the Yoruba race.
The royal father said the culture of the race is not in the ancient town of Ife, long noted as the origin of the Yoruba people.
Oluwo, who made this known in a video shared on his Facebook page on Tuesday, spoke in his palace while bestowing a chieftaincy title on one of his subjects.
Flanked by his Chiefs, Oluwo said Ife was not the origin of the Yoruba race, adding that people were living in the town before Oduduwa conquered the city and became its ruler.
He said the language spoken in ancient Ife was not the same as the common Yoruba language, restating his readiness to bring back the correct historical accounts of the Yoruba race.
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“Ife is not the origin of the Yoruba race. Those people don’t speak our language. Their language is different. They refer to God as Eledumare, and there is nothing like Eledumare in the Yoruba language. What we have is Olodumare.
“Ife people will always say Olofin, and if you ask them what the meaning is, they will tell you it means the owner of the palace, and what that means in Yoruba is ‘Alaafin’. Ile-Ife has no Yoruba culture.
“I am the ‘Arole Olodumare because I am here to tell you the true history. Iwo is where you can get the real history that was not even documented.
“Whatever I am telling you now, you must keep it because death can come anytime. I am not scared of death because it is inevitable,” Oluwo said in the Yoruba language.
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The origin of the word ‘Yoruba’ often leads to controversy. The most recent one being the face-off involving the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, over a Chieftaincy title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland, allegedly bestowed on Ibadan-based businessman, Chief Dotun Sanusi by Ooni.
The PUNCH reports in August that the Ooni had bestowed the title on Sanusi during the unveiling of 2geda, an indigenous social media and business networking platform, at Ilaji Hotel, Ibadan.
But in a statement signed by his media aide, Bode Durojaiye, the Alaafin declared that no traditional ruler other than him has the authority to confer a title covering the entire Yorubaland. He issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Ooni to revoke the title or “face the consequences.”
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Reacting to Alaafin’s ultimatum, the Ooni’s spokesperson, Moses Olafare, said the monarch had directed him to ignore the Alaafin’s outburst and leave the matter “in the court of public opinion.”
“We can not dignify the ‘undignifyable’ with an official response. We leave the matter to be handled in the public court of opinion, as it is already being treated.
“Let’s rather focus on narratives that unite us rather than the ones capable of dividing us. No press release, please. 48 hours my foot!” he wrote on his Facebook page.
(PUNCH)
News
Court Remands Man Who Beat Wife In Viral Video

A 57-year-old sawmiller, Fatai Quadri, who was seen in a viral video assaulting his wife, 50-year-old Rukayat Quadri, was on Monday remanded at the Correctional Centre at Ijebu Ode till October 17 for further hearing into the suit instituted against him by the police before the Ijebu Ode Magistrate Court.
Quadri, according to documents made available to our correspondent on Tuesday during his arraignment, was charged with a count bordering on assault, domestic violence, and breach of peace, among others.
The charge sheet reads “That you Quadri Fatai Abiodun ‘m on the 15/09/2025 at about 0600hrs at No: 11, Bakare Street, Oke-Owa, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State in the Ijebu-Ode Magisterial District did wilfully and unlawfully assault Mrs Rukayat Quadri 50yrs your wife, by beating her with a stick and several fist blow all over her body, which caused her bodily injuries and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 355 of the criminal code, Vol.1, Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.
“That you Quadri Fatai Abiodun “M’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully beat Mrs Rukayat Quadri 50yrs your wife and by so doing committed “Domestic Violence” an offence punishable under Section 21(1) of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law, Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2017.
“That you Quadri Fatai Abiodun ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully assault, beat and caused injuries to Mrs Rukayat Quadri 50yrs your wife and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 4(1) of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law, Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2017.
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“That you Quadri Fatai Abiodun ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did intentionally intimidated, injured and threatened to the life of Mrs Rukayat Quadri 50yrs your wife not to go on the land you built 10 Rooms and Parlour Self Contains with Other Flats or otherwise and thereby committed an offence Punishable under Section 86 of the Criminal Code Vol. 1, Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.
“That you Quadri Fatai Abiodun ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did willfully and unlawfully conduct yourself in a manner likely to cause the breach of public peace by using a stick with several fist blows to beat and injured Mrs Rukayat Quadri 50yrs your wife and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 249(1) (d) of the Criminal Code Vol. 1, Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006”
Magistrate P O Odunsi has, however, adjourned the matter till October 17 for further hearing into the bail application of the suspect.
The Ogun State Police Command had on Saturday confirmed arresting Fatai seen in a viral video violently assaulting his wife, Rukayat, at their residence in Illese-Ijebu on the 15th of September, 2025.
Quadri, who was seen inflicting fist blows on the victim, resulting in bodily harm, was said to have been promptly apprehended by operatives of the Igbeba Divisional Police Headquarters, Ijebu Ode.
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The spokesperson of the state police command, Omolola Odutola, disclosed this in a statement sent to journalists on Saturday.
Odutola said that “Preliminary investigation revealed that the assault stemmed from a marital dispute arising from allegations of infidelity.
“The investigation further indicated that the suspect had transferred ownership of a 10-room en-suite apartment, jointly built with his wife, to another woman, which provoked the violent attack.
“The victim is presently receiving medical treatment, while the suspect remains in custody and will be charged in court upon conclusion of the investigation”
The Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, however, used the opportunity to reiterate the command’s zero tolerance for domestic violence and warned that anyone found culpable of such an act will face the full wrath of the law.
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Speaking over the incident, the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the state, Oluwasina Ogungbade, SAN described the incident as very reprehensible, saying that the government was unhappy with such criminal acts and that the suspect, who is already in police custody, would be taken to court on Monday.
Ogungbade explained that “the government is aware of the viral video and we condemn it in its totality. The suspect is in police custody already.
“The Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, has been very proactive concerning it.
“The matter is being transferred to the Gender Unit. He will be arraigned in Court on Monday”
The Attorney General said that the state government has always warned against all sorts of criminal acts, particularly gender-based violence and that this particular incident will be another opportunity to drive home the present administration’s posture of zero tolerance to such condemnable acts.
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The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Adijat Adeleye, also said that she had already briefed one of the state officials to follow up on the incident, pledging that the government would ensure justice is served on the matter.
Adeleye said that “The government is not happy with such criminal acts, our position has always been zero tolerance to gender-based violence. Definitely, the suspect will account for his misdeeds, justice will be served, I assure the residents of the state.
“Already he has been picked up by the police and should be taken to court on Monday; the ministry officials will be there to lend our support and ensure that justice is served.”
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