President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has debunked claims that a kitchen staff member at the Presidential Villa in Aso Rock, Abuja, was arrested over an alleged attempt to poison the president.
Onanuga dismissed the report on Sunday, March 1, 2026, while reacting to a viral video on X that showed scenes purportedly from the Presidential Villa, accompanied by a voiceover alleging a security breach involving a presidential chef.
He wrote: “No Aso Rock kitchen staff arrested. No Aso Rock kitchen staff attempted to poison President Tinubu. Please ignore this fake news being disseminated by this video.”
In the video, however the narrator said:
“Today we examine reports surrounding the shocking arrest of a presidential chef over an alleged plot to poison President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, an incident that has prompted swift intervention by a special police squad and triggered heightened security measures within the presidential environment. According to preliminary information from security sources, the arrest followed intelligence alerts suggesting suspicious activities connected to food preparation procedures within restricted areas linked to presidential operations.
“Authorities moved quickly after receiving credible reports that indicated a possible threat to the safety of the president, leading to a coordinated investigation involving specialised security personnel tasked with protecting national leadership. Officials emphasized that the operation was carried out professionally and discreetly to avoid public panic while ensuring that all potential risks were neutralised.”
“The suspect, identified as a member of kitchen staff attached to presidential services, was reportedly taken into custody for questioning as investigators began examining evidence and verifying claims connected to the alleged poisoning attempt. Security agencies have urged the public to remain calm, stressing that the investigation remains ongoing and that allegations do not automatically imply guilt until due process.”