metro

Updated: ‘Leaked’ audio: Was Atiku involved in plot to rig 2023 poll?

Published

4 years ago

February 25, 2023

A “leaked audio” widely shared on social media platforms claimed that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, his running mate and Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, and Campaign Director General who is Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, were in a secret meeting where they were plotting to rig the 2023 presidential election for the PDP.

Another viral clip on WhatsApp in Hausa language claimed Atiku connived with the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, on naira redesign policy against the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Tinubu.

On Facebook, the audio in which the claim was made was accompanied by the caption: “Atiku, Okowa, Tambuwal plan to rig this election. Hear their conversations.”

The post was said to have generated over 6,000 views, 496 shares and 330 likes as of Friday night.

The viral voice recording, according to a report by PRNigeria, had caused stir among the electorate a day to the presidential election.

A Facebook user, Yusuf Dauda Olanrewaju reacted thus; “this is serious. This is a criminal conspiracy which the DSS must investigate. Nobody should be above the law. And 2 out of these cr!m!nǎls are Alhajis. Bunch of Munaafiqun and Kaffiris.”

READ ALSO:

Another user, Salihu Umar, stated, “thank God for this timely revelation.God is solidly behind BAT.However all APC agents/members must be very vigilant during all the election process till Asiwaju is declared victorious.

Meanwhile, in the second audio clip obtained and analysed by PRNigeria, a certain “Alhaji” claimed he had met with Mr Abubakar in both Dubai and Saudi Arabia and the later had promised him that he would not sack Emfiele if he emerged President.

He also claimed Mr Atiku would grant them an “oil and gas” licences while also enabling them to retain their “dollar business.”

He however lamented that an attempt to meet with Mr Tinubu proved abortive due to his “care and concern for Arewa the (North).”

Verification: Using speech recognition freeware, PRNigeria extracted the audio clips and tried to convert it to text for analysis against Atiku, Tambuwal and Okowa’s previous speeches, but the result was not so satisfactory as certain transcribed words didn’t match any information that could link to a credible media source or whistleblower.

PRNigeria then deployed a digital forensic expert who observed that the sequence and transition of the speeches of the purported individuals was highly unstable and not of the same enviroment/meeting room as being portrayed.

Similarly, it was observed that the voices at various points came with high or low tones, sharper sounds and sometimes concentrated pitch typical of a microphone usage in a broadcast environment which suggests either cloning with Artificial Intelligence or extraction of different words from various broadcast material of the individuals involved to make up the sentences against each of them to arrive at a deepfake.

Furthermore, PRNigeria‘s Audio Adobe Audition specialist carefully listened to the voice-over and observed that the background sound of the clip was noisy as against what it would have been if it was a physical meeting as purported.

This he explains could be Electromagnetic interference (EMI), also called radio-frequency interference (RFI) when in the radio frequency spectrum, is a disturbance generated by an external source that affects an electrical circuit by electromagnetic induction, electrostatic coupling, or conduction

READ ALSO:

However, technology experts have now come forward to debunk the recording, pointing out irregularities that prove it is a fake, generated using sophisticated A.I. software that can mimic the sound and intonation of any human voice. They cited online services like www.respeecher.com and www.Resemble.ai which clone speech that are indistinguishable from the original

A further analysis of the other claim against Atiku shows that while the narrator claimed the Hausa clip was released by a known media organisation, but all digital traces showed no footprint of the content that could be linked to any media credible known media organisation.

Similarly, the release source is unidentifiable as it is not known to have come from any whistleblower or published by conventional media. Also, the characters in the clip lacked identity.

Meanwhile, the presidential candidate for PDP, Atiku Abubakar has condemned and debunked the viral audio describing it as “utter rubbish.”

“For the record, Atiku has run in two presidential elections and has never been indicted or prosecuted for election violence or vote buying.

“It is unfortunate that those seeking power will engage in outdated defeatist tactics. How can Tambuwal be referring to Atiku by his full name in a one-on-one private conversation? This is nonsensical, similar to the type of meaningless chatter about President Muhammadu Buhari being dead and replaced by one Jubril from Sudan,” the statement said.

READ ALSO:

Voice Cloning:

Deepfake voice, also called voice cloning or synthetic voice, uses AI to generate a clone of a person’s voice. The technology has advanced to the point that it can closely replicate a human voice with great accuracy in tone and likeness.

The audio deepfake is a type of artificial intelligence used to create convincing speech sentences that sound like specific people saying things they did not say. This technology was initially developed for various applications to improve human life.

According to the PRNigeria’s report, an audio can be deepfake too, to create “voice skins” or ”voice clones” of public figures. Fraudsters use voice-cloning in mimicking voices of business people for extortions.

It observes that deepfake has been used legitimately for entertainment, parody and awareness campaigns. Meanwhile the technology is being misused to spread fake news and hate speech during political campaigns.

The report concludes that both clips on the PDP presidential candidate lack credible verifiable sources and cannot be traced to any whistleblower or conventional media as would have been the case in the event of such leaks.

Up Next

VOTE BUYING: Army intercepts N2m cash being taken to politician in Bauchi

Don't Miss

INEC shifts Enugu senatorial poll to March 11

metro

Court Orders 18-Year-Old Fraudster To Pay ₦1.2m Over $800 Lottery Scam

Published

10 hours ago

November 2, 2026

Trends Admin

Court Orders 18-Year-Old Fraudster To Pay ₦1.2m Over $800 Lottery Scam

A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has convicted an 18-year-old man, Hassan Usman Olamilekan, for money laundering after he admitted obtaining $800 from a United States citizen through a fake $250 million lottery scheme.

Justice Dipeolu convicted Olamilekan on October 30, 2026, after he pleaded guilty to a one-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The court imposed a fine of ₦200,000 and ordered him to pay an additional ₦1 million to the Federal Government, bringing his total financial obligation to ₦1.2 million. He is to remain in a correctional centre pending payment of the fine and the ordered amount.

The judge also directed the forfeiture of two mobile phones recovered in connection with the offence: an iPhone 11 Pro and a Poco C71.

According to the EFCC, Olamilekan defrauded an American citizen, identified as Gary Brewer, through the Zangi messaging application, where he allegedly impersonated a woman named Julie Leach.

Investigators said the 18-year-old told Brewer that he had won a $250 million lottery prize but needed money to activate the winnings before he could collect the supposed prize.

READ ALSO:

The fabricated lottery story reportedly persuaded the American to send gift cards worth $800 through the messaging platform.

The EFCC said Olamilekan admitted selling the gift cards through the Cardsonic application, converting the proceeds into naira and transferring the money into his grandmother’s OPay account. He also admitted benefiting from the $800 obtained through the transaction.

The commission said the defendant operated several social media and messaging accounts, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Zangi and iMessage, which investigators linked to his fraudulent activities.

The charge against him accused him of indirectly disguising the origin of $800 in gift cards, which represented proceeds of unlawful activity. The offence was brought under Section 18(2)(a) and punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Following his guilty plea, an EFCC operative, Ebuka Abanga, presented the facts of the case before the court. Justice Dipeolu subsequently found him guilty and convicted him.

Olamilekan was among 21 suspected internet fraudsters arrested by EFCC operatives during a sting operation at Applewood Estate, Orchid Road, Lekki, Lagos State, on October 26, 2026.

The arrest was carried out by operatives of the commission’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 1, four days before his conviction.

The EFCC disclosed the conviction in a statement issued on Monday through its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, as part of its ongoing efforts to prosecute financial and cyber-related crimes.

Court Orders 18-Year-Old Fraudster To Pay ₦1.2m Over $800 Lottery Scam

metro

Footballer Dies as Trailer Rams Car Into Bus on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

Published

10 hours ago

November 2, 2026

Trends Admin

Footballer Dies as Trailer Rams Car Into Bus on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

A footballer has died in a fatal multiple-vehicle crash along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State after a trailer allegedly rammed into the car conveying him and other members of his football academy.

The accident occurred on Monday, November 2, 2026, around the Magboro axis of the expressway in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The crash reportedly involved a Mercedes-Benz C300 and a commercial bus, with officials of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) and police officers confirming that one person died at the scene.

According to an eyewitness, the footballer and other members of his football academy were travelling in two vehicles to participate in a football match when the incident occurred.

The witness said a trailer suddenly crossed from the opposite side of the road and rammed into the Mercedes-Benz, forcing the car into a commercial bus.

READ ALSO:

The collision reportedly killed the footballer inside the Mercedes-Benz, while other occupants of the vehicles survived.

“We were going for a match. We just saw a trailer cross from the other side and hit this Benz, then it hit the bus. Only one person died in the car while the rest of us survived. Everyone in the bus is fine, too. The trailer driver fled with his vehicle afterwards,” the eyewitness said.

The witness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, further alleged that the trailer driver fled the scene with the vehicle immediately after the collision.

The Mercedes-Benz, which had registration number SMK-878KX, was badly damaged in the accident, while efforts were reportedly made to evacuate its wreckage from the expressway.

The identity of the deceased footballer had not been established as of the time of reporting.

The circumstances surrounding the crash, including the alleged escape of the trailer driver, were expected to be investigated by the relevant authorities.

The incident adds to concerns over road safety on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, a major route connecting Lagos and several communities in the South-West and other parts of the country.

Footballer Dies as Trailer Rams Car Into Bus on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

metro

Gunmen Intercept Family Car, Abduct Woman, Two Children, Release Husband in Abuja

Published

10 hours ago

November 2, 2026

Trends Admin

FCT Police Command Spokesperson, CSP Adeh Josephine

Gunmen Intercept Family Car, Abduct Woman, Two Children, Release Husband in Abuja

Gunmen have abducted a woman, identified as Mrs Attah Arome, and her two children after intercepting the family’s vehicle in the Kagini area of Bwari, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The attackers reportedly released her husband, Attah Arome, but took his wife and the two children to an undisclosed location, triggering fresh concerns over the safety of residents in the outskirts of the nation’s capital.

The incident occurred at about 11pm on Sunday, October 25, 2026, as the family was returning from an outing.

According to a report by The Whistler published on Monday, November 2, the gunmen double-crossed the family’s vehicle around Kagini, forcing it to stop before taking the woman and her children away.

A source close to the family confirmed the incident, disclosing that the abductors had contacted relatives and demanded ransom for the victims’ release.

The source, however, declined to disclose the amount demanded by the kidnappers.

“Yes, it’s true. The gunmen double-crossed their car around the Kagini area of Bwari. They released the husband and went away with the wife and two children. They have contacted the family and demanded ransom,” the source said.

The circumstances surrounding the decision to release the husband while abducting the other three family members were not immediately clear.

It was also unclear whether the abductors had given the family a deadline to meet their ransom demand or issued any threats over possible consequences of non-payment.

Efforts by The Whistler to contact the spokesperson of the FCT Police Command, CSP Josephine Adeh, for comments were unsuccessful. The police had yet to issue an official statement confirming the abduction as of the time of the report.

READ ALSO:

The latest incident comes amid continuing concerns over kidnapping in Bwari Area Council, where several communities have experienced attacks by armed groups.

In March 2026, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported a series of abductions in communities around Byazhin and Peze in Bwari. Residents described repeated attacks on homes and farm settlements, with families reportedly receiving ransom demands.

In another report published in March, Premium Times disclosed that troops of the Nigerian Army’s 7 Guards Battalion, working with police officers and local vigilantes, rescued 19 kidnapped persons during a search-and-rescue operation around Gidan Dogo in Bwari Area Council.

The rescued victims included a retired military officer, children and farm workers who had been abducted in separate attacks.

The recurring incidents have prompted residents to call for stronger security deployments, improved surveillance and a permanent security presence in vulnerable communities.

For the Arome family, however, the immediate concern remains the safe return of the abducted woman and her two children.

Relatives are reportedly facing the difficult task of negotiating with the kidnappers while seeking the intervention of security agencies to secure the victims’ release.