The controversy over a viral AI-generated audio clip falsely attributed to President Bola Tinubu has intensified, following the reported arrest of a suspect linked to its creation and distribution.
On Thursday, Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga announced that a special police unit had apprehended Ifechukwu Dennis in Benin City, Edo State, for allegedly producing the fake audio that imitated President Tinubu’s voice.
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 on his verified X account. He added that the police would soon release an official statement regarding the arrest.
This development marks a significant turning point in a controversy that has dominated social media and heightened concerns about the misuse of artificial intelligence to spread misinformation. The saga began when an audio recording surfaced online, purportedly featuring President Tinubu making contentious remarks about insecurity in the South-East, the 2027 presidential election, and opposition leaders. The clip rapidly went viral, sparking intense public debate.
The Presidency swiftly dismissed the audio as a fabricated deepfake, insisting that it was generated by AI to mislead the public. The situation escalated when presidential aides accused social media influencer Martins Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), of circulating the audio. However, subsequent investigations and media reports indicated that the recording did not originate from VDM’s platforms.
Further findings revealed that an unidentified individual had allegedly extracted visuals from an existing video and overlaid AI-generated audio mimicking Tinubu’s voice before disseminating the manipulated content online. The recent arrest appears to be the first major breakthrough in efforts to track down those responsible for the fake recording.
As the police prepare to release more information, public attention is now fixed on whether additional suspects may be implicated and what legal actions will follow against the accused.
