The Presidency on Sunday dismissed a viral video alleging that a chef attached to the Presidential Villa was arrested over a plot to poison President Bola Tinubu.
The video claimed that security operatives apprehended a member of the presidential kitchen staff following intelligence reports of suspicious activities linked to food preparation within restricted areas of the Villa.
It also alleged that a special police squad was deployed and that security was tightened around the State House.
According to the report, the arrest followed what it described as threats to the President’s safety and led to an investigation by security personnel.
It further claimed that the kitchen staff was taken into custody for questioning while authorities examined evidence related to an alleged poisoning attempt.
Responding, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga described the video as false.
He said, “Fake news,” stressing that the story was fabricated and should be disregarded.
He urged the public to rely on official communication channels for verified information and warned against spreading unsubstantiated reports capable of causing panic.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity Tope Ajayi also dismissed the claim in a response to an enquiry, saying, “Fake.”
The clarification comes months after reports that some military personnel were arrested over an alleged plan to topple the government.
It was gathered that a staff member of Julius Berger working at the presidential wing of the State House was among those arrested to explain his involvement in the alleged coup plot.
According to sources, the staff member, said to be from the South-South region and attached to the electrical department of the company, was deployed to the State House in 2022.
A Julius Berger staff member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “I don’t know what should have been the attraction for him to get involved in such a serious issue. He is just new in State House. Some of us have stayed long here and we can’t stay where such a discussion is going on, what more of being involved.”
