Fake news Archives - Naija Premium Gist

Update: I only tested the strength of fake news – Police spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, reacts to backlash he received over tweet stating that he escaped arrest for breaking a road traffic law because he’s a policeman

August 16, 2022 No Comments

CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force, has said that he was only ‘testing the strength of fake news’ when he initially tweeted about a road safety officer allowing him to go free after he was caught using his phone while driving.

In the early hours of today August 16, Adejobi tweeted

”I was driving today in abuja, and one road safety officer who wanted to arrest me for using phone, heard me instructing the DPO to put one person in d cell, he just saluted me, and passed me. This is to say “to every rule, there must be an exception to save some situations”. Lol”

His tweet elicited reactions from Nigerians who took to his Twitter page to slam him for ”breaking the law and coming online to brag about it”.

Adejobi in response to one the comments, said the incident never happened and that he was only testing the strength of fake news. See his tweet below…

Lifestyle

World War III will be caused by fake news – Lai Mohammed

October 26, 2021 No Comments

Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on Monday, stated that fake news will be the cause of the third World War.

He made the statement while appearing before the House of Representatives Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values to defend his ministry’s 2022 budget allocation.

According to Mohammed, the means of receiving information has changed over the decades, as 30 years ago it was through Television and radio sets, but people now prefer to patronise social media where fake news circulates easily.

The minister said; “The people today, they don’t read newspapers and don’t watch television — it’s social media. And it is most expensive; the most unseen enemy, they are there every moment.

I have always said here that the next world war will be caused by fake news.

“You can see even the US that use to pride itself on the freedom of the press is now questioning the role of the social media”.

World News

Fake news has caused depression and ruined homes – Lai Mohammed

May 26, 2021 No Comments

Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Lai Mohammed, says fake news has adverse effects on society, such as ruining homes and leaving many depressed.

He said this on Tuesday when he received a delegation from The Guardian Newspaper in Abuja.

The minister said fact-checking will address the menace of fake news. Mohammed noted that it will help separate facts from fiction.

He also urged all media establishment to take the issue of fake news seriously.

He said; “To be sure, the issue of fake news and misinformation is not just about the government alone, as some have insinuated. It is about all of us.

“Fake news has ruined homes, pushed many into depression and done untold hardship to others. It is a clear and present danger to all.

“I believe it will not be out of place for reputable media organisations like the Guardian to set up a special desk for fact-checking as a panacea for this problem.

“That way, you can help citizens to separate fact from fiction. I am aware that some media organizations are already doing this, but it must be taken seriously by every media establishment.

On our part, we are undeterred as we have continued our engagement with stakeholders to find a way out. Hopefully, we will be taking a more concrete step on this in the months ahead.”

The minister said no democracy could survive without independent media.

“As a matter of fact, no true democracy survives without a professional, responsible and independent media. It is in this context that the government continues to view the media as a strong partner.

“It is said that for the media to be able to play its role, which is to inform, criticize and stimulate debate, it must take responsibility for whatever it puts out. In other words, it must get its facts right.

But can we say today that most of what we read, hear and watch in the news are factual?” he said.

Politics

‘Fake news’, Akpabio denies giving Malami $5m bribe

January 18, 2021 No Comments

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, has described the report he gave $5 million bribe to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, as fake news.

The minister was alleged to have bribed Malami and others to facilitate the appointment of a sole administrator for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), a commission under his ministry.

Malami has since denied the claim.

Also responding to the allegation, Akpabio, in an statement at the weekend through his media aide, Anietie Ekong, said:

The attention of the Honourable Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio has been drawn to a piece of fake news which claimed that Senator Akpabio paid $5 million bribe to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and others to secure the appointment of a Sole Administrator for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

“The story is a desperate attempt by some unscrupulous bloggers to impugn the integrity of the Honourable Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and the Honourable Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami as the claim is not only spurious but utterly ridiculous.”

Akpabio, said that the allegation emanated from people not happy with the NDDC forensic audit and vowed to drag the matter to court.

The allegation was part of events that have trailed the appointment of Effiong Akwa as NDDC sole administrator.

Since President Muhammadu Buhari announced Akwa, who is from Akwa Ibom, the same state Akpabio hails from, the people of Ijaw ethnic group and people from other Niger Delta states have continued to protest against the appointment.

They argue that the appointment was against the principle of rotation of the NDDC leadership among the nine states of the Niger Delta region.

But Akpabio claimed in the statement that Akwa was appointed NDDC’s administrator as a result of a lawsuit against the NDDC.

The fact is that in a suit number ABJ/CS/617/2020 filed by a Civil Society Organization, Forum for Accountability and Good Governance, at a Federal High Court in Abuja, Justice Ahmed Mohammed had granted an order restraining the Interim Management Committee of the NDDC from performing the functions of the board and accessing the Commission’s offices and files.

The Order clearly listed the Managing Director Professor Kemebradikumo Pondei, Acting Executive Director of Projects Dr Cairo Ojougboh, Mrs Caroline Nagboh and Cecilia Akintomide as those restrained. The Order also asked that ‘the most senior civil servant or administrator in the Commission be appointed’ to take charge of the Commission.

It was based on this order that President Muhammadu Buhari approved the elevation of the Acting Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Mr Effiong Akwa, being the most Senior Administrator to take over the headship of the NDDC as an Interim Administrator pending the completion of the Forensic Audit Exercise, the statement read.

Lifestyle

‘Fake news must be curbed’ – Bakare backs call for Social media regulation

November 11, 2020 No Comments

A former Vice Presidential Candidate, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has called for the regulation of social media in order to curb fake news.

Recall that the federal government had announced a plan to censor social media after the #EndSARS protests and there have been calls by some Nigerians to regulate cyberspace in order to curb hate speech and fake news.

In an interview in Lagos on Tuesday, Bakare, the General Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church asked the government to check the excesses of social media which may be used to cause violence in the country.

The cleric also noted that the recent #EndSARS protests were aggravated by social media users. He said fake news was propagated during the protest which led to the carnage and looting of properties in Lagos and other parts of the country.

Bakare advised the government to listen to the people and meet the demands of the #EndSARS protesters. The cleric also urged President Muhammadu and the National Assembly to formulate laws that will be beneficial to all Nigerians.

Speaking on his presidential ambition, Bakare said he was destined to rule the country, stating that his ambition was not a matter of life and death. He noted that a day will come like Joe Biden that he will be president of Nigeria.

Bakare also called for the reinvention of a new Nigeria, where selflessness will be the driving force for nation-building.