After Onanuga’s threat of prosecution, VeryDarkMan’s lawyers say clip was doctored and never shared by their client

The controversy surrounding an alleged fake audio of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has escalated, with social media critic Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), formally denying any involvement and accusing the Presidency of acting without verification.

This comes after presidential media aide Bayo Onanuga threatened legal action against VDM, alleging he disseminated an AI-generated audio clip purportedly featuring the President. The audio, which has circulated online, allegedly suggested that insecurity in Nigeria would persist due to the outcome of the 2023 election.

However, in a statement issued by his legal representatives, Deji Adeyanju & Partners, VDM dismissed the allegation, describing the audio as doctored and falsely attributed to him.

“The attention of our client has been drawn to the statement made by the Special Adviser to the President… concerning a doctored audio… falsely attributed to our client,” the statement read. “A simple verification of our client’s verified social media platforms would have confirmed that he neither made nor shared the said audio.”

The legal team expressed surprise that such claims were made without due diligence, noting that the Presidency had access to resources that could have clarified the situation before issuing public comments.

The statement further suggested that the development aligns with VDM’s longstanding concerns about attempts by powerful figures to discredit him over his outspoken stance on public issues.

It also called on security agencies to investigate the origin and spread of the audio, urging authorities to identify and prosecute those responsible for its creation and circulation.

Earlier checks by Daily Observer similarly found no trace of the alleged audio in VDM’s published content, raising further questions about the basis of the Presidency’s accusations.

The unfolding dispute highlights growing tensions around misinformation, AI-generated media, and the need for careful verification by both public officials and digital content creators in an increasingly volatile information space.