Senator Adams Oshiomhole has denied the authenticity of a viral video purportedly showing him massaging a woman’s feet aboard a private jet, insisting the clip was manipulated using artificial intelligence.
The video, which surfaced on social media earlier in the week, features a man resembling the former Edo State governor engaged in conversation with a woman whose feet rest on his lap.
It quickly gained traction online and generated widespread reactions.
Initial reports misidentified the woman as Lara Fortes, wife of the Edo North senator.
Subsequent accounts, however, named her as Leshaan Dagama, a South African lifestyle influencer and adult content creator, who was said to have first shared the clip on TikTok before deleting it.
The footage sparked criticism from many Nigerians who described the scene as inappropriate, especially in light of the country’s economic challenges.
Others referenced Oshiomhole’s recent controversial remark suggesting that some Nigerians complain that food prices are becoming “too cheap.”
Reacting to the controversy, Oshiomhole’s media aide, Oseni Momodu, dismissed the video as fake, describing it as a poorly produced AI-generated clip intended to tarnish the senator’s image.
He alleged that unnamed individuals orchestrated its circulation as a form of cyberbullying and political attack.
According to him, a closer review of the footage revealed noticeable inconsistencies, particularly between the opening seconds and the remainder of the video, suggesting deliberate manipulation.
He added that steps were being taken to trace the origin and distribution of the clip.
The media office urged the public and the press to verify content before sharing, warning against the growing misuse of artificial intelligence to spread misinformation and damage reputations.
It also called for stricter regulations on social media platforms to curb the spread of fabricated materials.
Meanwhile, Dagama responded to the backlash on her Instagram story, shifting criticism toward the senator.
“Your senator is the problem. Go be mad at him, not me,” she wrote.
