During an event in Lagos celebrating Prof. Wole Soyinka’s 90th birthday, Lai Mohammed, the former Minister of Information and National Orientation, disclosed that fake news nearly caused irreparable harm to his four-decade-long marriage.
Recalling the incident, Mohammed shared how social media turmoil affected his relationship. He recounted being awakened in the dead of night by his wife, who confronted him about a fabricated story circulating on social media.
He described the surreal moment of being accused of having billions of dollars stashed in an overseas account, a claim fueled by online misinformation.
Despite his earnest efforts to debunk the falsehood with financial data, Mohammed found himself in a predicament where his wife, influenced by the widespread misinformation, had doubts about his innocence.
His wife’s unwavering belief in the falsified narrative led to strained relations, with her friends questioning her loyalty and integrity based on the unfounded allegations.
Through a candid account of his personal ordeal, Mohammed highlighted the insidious impact of fake news on individuals and their relationships.