Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has refuted claims circulating online that kitchen staff at Aso Rock were arrested or involved in an attempt to poison President Bola Tinubu.
In a brief post shared on his X account on Sunday, Onanuga described the allegation as false.
“No Aso Rock kitchen staff arrested. No Aso Rock kitchen staff attempted to poison President Tinubu. Please ignore this fake news being disseminated by this video,” Onanuga said.
The rumour, which spread rapidly on Facebook, Instagram and X earlier on Sunday, was driven by a 90-second viral video.
The clip, a compilation of unrelated scenes such as kitchen activities, meetings involving individuals in traditional attire, and vehicles arriving at a government facility, features a voiceover alleging a security breach.
In the video, the narrator claims: “Today we examine reports surrounding the shocking arrest of a presidential chef over an alleged plot to poison President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, an incident that has prompted swift intervention by a special police squad and triggered heightened security measures within the presidential environment.
“According to preliminary information from security sources, the arrest followed intelligence alerts suggesting suspicious activities connected to food preparation procedures within restricted areas linked to presidential operations.
“Authorities moved quickly after receiving credible reports that indicated a possible threat to the safety of the president, leading to a coordinated investigation involving specialised security personnel tasked with protecting national leadership.
“Officials emphasized that the operation was carried out professionally and discreetly to avoid public panic while ensuring that all potential risks were neutralised.
“The suspect, identified as a member of kitchen staff attached to presidential services, was reportedly taken into custody for questioning as investigators began examining evidence and verifying claims connected to the alleged poisoning attempt
“Security agencies have urged the public to remain calm, stressing that the investigation remains ongoing and that allegations do not automatically imply guilt until due process.”
The video has generated thousands of views across social media platforms, with several posts amplifying the unverified claims, including assertions that a “presidential chef” had been detained.
Onanuga, however, maintained that the report was fabricated and advised the public to disregard it.