The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) special crack team has arrested a suspect, Ifechukwu Dennis, over the alleged creation and circulation of an AI-generated voice recording falsely attributed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The arrest, which took place in Benin City, Edo State, was disclosed on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who said the suspect allegedly produced and distributed the fake audio to mislead members of the public.
According to Onanuga, the suspect “originated the fake voice” and circulated it to unsuspecting individuals as an authentic recording of the President.
The controversy began in late May 2026 when a manipulated video featuring social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, went viral online. The video included an AI-generated voice mimicking President Tinubu and making controversial political statements.
Otse had denied involvement in creating or distributing the doctored content, while preliminary findings by tech analysts reportedly traced the origin of the audio to the arrested suspect.
Security sources indicated that the suspect allegedly used artificial intelligence tools to generate the voice note and disseminate it as a purported leaked message from the President.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Police Force has yet to release a detailed official statement on the arrest, but investigations are ongoing to determine the full scope of the alleged offence and identify any accomplices.
The development has sparked renewed concerns about the misuse of artificial intelligence for misinformation, particularly in politically sensitive contexts.
Analysts say the case highlights the growing threat of deepfake technology and the need for stronger regulatory and cybersecurity measures to curb digital manipulation and protect public trust.
