Vanguard Newspaper has restored the original photograph of 14-year-old World Spelling Bee champion Maryam Yusuf after removing an artificial intelligence (AI)-altered image that had digitally removed her niqab, following criticism and a legal demand from her solicitors.
Maryam Yusuf was among four Nigerian students who represented the country at the World Spelling Bee in Shanghai, where Team Nigeria won the Gold Award in the Middle School category during the first appearance of the country at the international competition.
The 14-year-old had earlier faced criticism over her decision to wear the niqab before later receiving praise following her victory at the championship.
The controversy began after Muslim News Nigeria reported that Vanguard had published an altered image of Maryam in a story celebrating Team Nigeria’s victory at the 2026 World Spelling Bee in China. The report noted that the original photograph released by the event organisers showed Maryam wearing a niqab, while the version published by Vanguard digitally removed the face covering.
Vanguard newspaper after facing public criticism, bow to pressure by updating the featured image in its online report on Nigeria’s victory at the 2026 World Spelling Bee in Shanghai, replacing the AI-generated image with the authentic photograph showing Maryam wearing her niqab.
The development followed a legal demand served on Vanguard by the law firm Ibrahim Atanda and Co., acting on behalf of Maryam Yusuf and her mother, Mrs. Waliyah Adenike Akeju Ahmed.
In a letter dated July 21, the solicitors argued that the AI-generated image was created and published without the knowledge or consent of their clients, describing it as an infringement of their constitutional rights;
“Our clients are Muslims who observe the Islamic injunction of wearing the Niqab. Their religious convictions preclude them from permitting the publication of their facial representations” – the lawyers stated
They argued that publishing an AI-generated facial image of Maryam was misleading and violated her rights to dignity, privacy and freedom of religion, particularly because the case involved a minor.
The legal team also maintained that the publication falsely represented their clients by creating an artificial likeness and presenting it to the public without authorisation.
The lawyers demanded the immediate removal of the altered image and an unreserved public apology acknowledging that the image was AI-generated and had not been authorised by the family.
Although they said their clients were not seeking financial compensation at this stage, they warned that legal action could follow if the newspaper failed to comply with the demands.
However, after the change on Wednesday, the newspaper had not issued a public explanation or apology at the time this report was published.
