The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a man identified as Ifechukwu Dennis over an AI-generated audio recording falsely attributed to President Bola Tinubu that circulated widely on social media.
The arrest was announced by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, who said the suspect was apprehended in Benin City by a police special investigation team.
The controversy began on May 27 after a viral audio clip, purportedly featuring President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, surfaced online. The recording contained politically sensitive remarks on national security, the 2023 presidential election, and economic hardship.
The audio generated massive debate before media organizations and digital verification experts reportedly concluded that the recording had been created using artificial intelligence technology.
Investigations revealed that the manipulated content did not originate from social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, despite earlier claims linking him to the clip.
The Nigeria Police Force pledged to release more details on the investigation, including the evidence linking the suspect to the recording and any charges that may be filed.
