FACT-CHECK: Did Abike-Dabiri Secure Bail for Peter Obi in UK Detention?
the spokesperson and head of the Media, Public Relations and Protocol Unit of NiDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, has said the viral photo is fake, just as he called it a stunt.
A photo has gone viral with the accompanying claim that the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, was bailed by a Nigerian official, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Eruwa.
Dabiri-Erewa, who is the Chairman of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission was seen in the photo with Obi and a white official presumed to be an immigration official of the UK Border control.
Recall that Mr. Obi had been reported to be detained by immigration officials at the Heathrow International Airport during the Easter period over allegations bordering on impersonation.
CLAIM: It claimed that the Federal Government has to send its agents to the UK Border control to secure the release of the defeated presidential candidate.
FINDINGS:
Independent examinations of the photo in question show that it was photoshopped with the photo of Mr. Obi being placed via technology on the same plane as Mrs Dabiri Erewa.
Also, the spokesperson and head of the Media, Public Relations and Protocol Unit of NiDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, has said the viral photo is fake, just as he called it a stunt.
He said the NiDCOM boss, Dabiri-Erewa, was not in the UK and not in a position to secure the release of any Nigerian suspected to be under UK interrogation
“Our attention has been called to the above social media stunt which has gone viral. Aunty Abike Dabiri-Erewa is NOT in the UK and NOT in a position to secure the release of any Nigerian suspected to be under UK interrogation. So, members of the public should disregard the information in its entirety,” the NiDCOM spokesman stated.
VERDICT
The claim that Obi was bailed by the Federal Government of Nigeria is therefore Fake.
