No attempt to poison Tinubu – Presidency

The Presidency has dismissed a viral video alleging that a chef attached to the Presidential Villa was arrested over a plot to poison President Bola Tinubu, describing the claim as “fake news.”

The video, which trended on social media on Sunday, claimed that security operatives arrested a member of the presidential kitchen staff following intelligence reports of suspicious activities linked to food preparation within restricted areas of the Villa.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement on Sunday, debunked the claims, stressing that the story was entirely fabricated.

“No Aso Rock kitchen staff arrested. No Aso Rock kitchen staff attempted to poison President Tinubu,” Onanuga wrote on his X handle, urging Nigerians to disregard the video.

The allegation comes months after the military authorities announced the arrest of some personnel for allegedly planning to overthrow the Tinubu administration.

In October 2025, the Defence Headquarters disclosed that it had uncovered and foiled a coup plot, leading to the arrest of several military officers who were subsequently subjected to court-martial proceedings.

In January 2026, the Presidency was forced to clarify that a photograph of President Tinubu with Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Paris was authentic after social media users alleged it was generated using artificial intelligence due to a visible Grok watermark on an enhanced version of the image.