Few hours after the Central Bank of Nigeria debunked a fake news circulated by the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, Aisha Buhari, the first lady has deleted the fake post.

The wife of the present had, Tuesday, circulated a fake press release purportedly by the apex bank on all her social media handles, including Facebook, and Instagram pages.

Mrs Buhari was caught in the web of circulating fake news on the old Naira notes of N200, N500 and N1, 000. When she circulated the fake press released, purportedly from the Central Bank of Nigeria, directing the recirculation of the old notes of N200, N500, and N1, 000 notes for the next 70 days.

The fake news was posted on her verified handles on Facebook, Aisha Muhammadu Buhari; and Instagram, aishambuhari

The purported release was signed by the Director, Corporate Communications Department of the Central Bank, Osita Nwanisobi.

HorizonTimes observed that over 1, 000 users of the social media had shared the fake news on their timelines while over 1, 300 had commented on the post on facebook, before it was deleted. The post also had almost 2, 000 likes within the first our of being posted.

About 20 minutes after the purported press release was posted by Mrs Buhari, the apex bank, through its official and verified twitter page, Central Bank of Nigeria, disclaimed the press release.

The bank released the same press statement shared by Mrs Buhari with an inscription ‘Fake News’ watermarked on it.

HorizonTimes observed that the statement shared by Mrs Buhari was doctored from the official statement released by the bank, three days ago, authorizing the redistribution of the old N200 notes only, for the next 60 days.

Meanwhile, the first lady has denied responsibility for sharing the fake statement, blaming hackers.

Mrs Buhari, in a post on her Instagram page, said it was the criminal actions of the persons who were responsible for deleting a number of her posts since 2018 till late last year.

She challenged the security agencies to unveil the people who were sharing social media handles with her despite being verified accounts and take all necessary actions.

The post titled: ‘Disclaimer! Disclaimer!’ read: “It has come to my attention that certain fake news was posted on my social media handle, Instagram which also directly connects to my Facebook page, earlier this morning. I have since directed that it should be deleted.

“This is without a doubt the criminal actions of the person(s) who were responsible for deleting quite a number of my posts since 2018 to late last year when I posted a video and picture of my hands with Henna design of ABAT insignia on the day I launched the APC Women Presidential Campaign Committee for Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Ilorin, Kwara State, my post on the event for the Traditional and Complementary Alternative Medicine (TCAM) conference and 17 other posts.

“This person is a hacker, criminally minded with the intention to continue attacking my reputation through my social media platforms.

“But I am assuring you that this is the first and last, I am disclaiming fake news on my handle. It is the responsibility of the security agencies to find out who am I sharing my social media handles with, despite being verified accounts, and take all necessary actions.”

The CBN had dismissed the statement saying, “For the avoidance of doubt, and in line with Mr. President’s broadcast of February 16, 2023, the CBN has been directed to ONLY reissue and recirculate the old N200 banknotes and this is expected to circulate as legal tender for 60 days up to April 10, 2023.

“Members of the public should therefore disregard any message and/or information not formally released by the Central Bank of Nigeria on this subject. Media practitioners are advised to PLEASE verify any information from the correct sources before publication.”