The Presidency on Monday dismissed as false a viral report claiming that a kitchen staff member at the State House was arrested over an alleged attempt to poison President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a post on his verified X handle, @aonanuga1956, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the allegation as fake.
“No Aso Rock kitchen staff arrested. No Aso Rock kitchen staff attempted to poison President Tinubu. Please ignore this fake news being disseminated by a video,” he wrote.
Similarly, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Tope Ajayi, rejected the claim in a response to media enquiries.
The rebuttal followed the circulation of a video and online reports alleging that an unnamed chef attached to the Presidential Villa in Abuja had been apprehended over a purported poisoning plot.
The report, which cited no credible sources or verifiable details, quickly spread across social media platforms, fuelling speculation and concern in some quarters.
However, the Presidency’s swift and categorical denial sought to quell the rumour, urging the public to disregard the misleading content.
As of press time, there was no indication from any security agency of an arrest, investigation, or breach at the State House linked to the allegation.
Government officials have repeatedly warned against the spread of unverified information capable of causing unnecessary panic and eroding public trust in national institutions.
