ICPC disowns viral ₦50bn bribe video, warns of legal action

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has taken a firm stance against a widely circulated video falsely alleging a ₦50 billion bribery scandal. The commission has unequivocally dismissed the video's content as fabricated and, in some parts, artificially generated, emphasizing that it bears no relation to any actual investigation or report from the agency.

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The images, names, and content in the video are fabricated and, in some instances, AI-generated, designed solely to mislead unsuspecting members of the public.

This decisive action by the ICPC aims to protect its institutional credibility and prevent the public from being misled by disinformation. Spokesperson J. Okor Odey stressed that no individual, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, group of lawyers, or judicial officer is under investigation for the fictitious bribe mentioned in the video. The commission is committed to "credible, evidence-based investigations in line with the law."

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For the avoidance of doubt, the ICPC is not investigating any individual, SAN, group of lawyers, or judicial officer in connection with the fictitious ₦50 billion bribe referenced in the video. No such case, transaction, or investigation exists within the records of the commission.

The ICPC has issued a stern warning to the creators and distributors of the video, vowing to pursue legal action against them. The commission will not tolerate the misuse of its name and reputation for spreading falsehoods, particularly under the guise of "content creation." This move underscores the growing challenge of combating digital disinformation and the need for robust responses from official bodies.

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The ICPC will not tolerate the misuse of its name and institutional credibility to spread disinformation in the name of ‘content creation”, Odey said, adding that those responsible “will face serious legal consequences.”