During an event at Olabisi Onabanjo University in Ogun State called “A Day with Alhaji Lai Mohammed,” the former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, shared that a false report of $1.9bn being deposited into his bank account almost ended his 40-year marriage.
He emphasized the importance of joining forces to combat fake news and recounted how his wife, alarmed by the fake report, insisted on becoming a signatory to his account.
Lao Mohammed said, “The menace of fake news is a menace that must be tackled by all of us; this is something that nearly cost me my marriage of about 40 years.
“While we were in government, there was fake news that I had $1.9bn in my bank account and unfortunately, many people believed this falsehood, including my wife.
“One day, my wife woke me up in the middle of the night and spoke in Yoruba, She called me: ‘Daddy’, and I said, ‘Yes, what is it?’ She said, ‘we all know that death can come at any time; we may say it wouldn’t be this early but it may be, but whatever happens, it will be good if you make me one of the signatories to your bank account to prepare for any eventuality’”.
The former Minister added that even his “friends and many other people” were also begging for money after seeing the fake report
