On May 20, 2024, a Facebook user, Samuel Iyobosa Osemeke, posted that the Edo state gubernatorial candidate of the APC Senator Monday Okpehbolo had been extended an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over allegations of Naira abuse.
An extensive search was carried out to ascertain the authenticity of the post, which would no doubt have an impact on the political landscape in Edo state ahead of the governorship elections slated for later this year on 21st of September 2024. It was discovered that Daily Nigeria, Leadership and Sahara Reporters reported a Coalition of Civil society groups under the umbrella of the Network of Civil Society Organizations in Nigeria had asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate Senator Monday Okpebholo seen in a video allegedly ‘spraying’ naira notes, Sahara Reporters posted the said video on their official X handle
Meanwhile search carried on the official X handle of the EFCC @officialEFCC clearly showed there was no post by the EFCC as regards the purported invitation extended to the Edo State APC gubernatorial candidate by the anti-graft agency.
A glimpse at the FB account Samuel Iyobosa Osemeke (trouble Machine) who made the post, his bio clearly shows he is a political analyst and blogger. Looking at recent posts, one can establish his political orientation.
As at the time of carrying out this fact checking, none of the mainstream media traditional media outlets reported the EFCC extending any invitation to Sen. Monday Okpehbolo.
Also, the EFCC has not put out any statement to that effect.
What was reported in the media was that of the CSO’s demanding an investigation to be carried out by the EFCC based on the video showing the APC gubernatorial candidate allegedly spraying naira notes.
Verdict
The post on Facebook by Samuel Iyobosa Omeke (Trouble Maker) is misleading and has the tendency of misinforming people.
