Oshiomhole denies viral foot-massage video, claims AI manipulation

Senator Adams Oshiomhole has dismissed a viral video appearing to show him massaging a woman’s feet aboard a private jet, describing the clip as fabricated and generated using artificial intelligence.

The footage, which surfaced on social media on Tuesday, shows a man resembling the former Edo State governor in a light conversation with a woman whose feet rest on his lap. The video quickly gained traction online, triggering criticism and mockery from some Nigerians.

The woman in the clip was initially identified as Lara Fortes, wife of the Edo North senator, but was later reported to be Leshaan Dagama, a South African lifestyle influencer. Reports also claimed she had first shared the video on TikTok before deleting it.

Amid the backlash, Oshiomhole’s media aide, Oseni Momodu, rejected the video’s authenticity, calling it a “poorly crafted and edited fake AI video” designed to damage the senator’s reputation.

In a statement posted on Facebook, Momodu accused unnamed individuals of orchestrating a smear campaign and described the circulation of the clip as cyberbullying.

“We urge the public to disregard this false narrative. The video was clearly doctored by malicious actors aimed at maligning the reputation of the senator,” the statement read.

The aide said preliminary checks revealed inconsistencies in the footage, particularly between the opening frames and the rest of the clip, suggesting manipulation. He added that the media office would investigate the source and publishers of the video.

Momodu also called for stricter regulation of social media content and warned against the misuse of AI technology to spread misinformation.

Meanwhile, Dagama responded to the controversy on her Instagram story, telling critics to direct their concerns at the senator rather than her.

The incident has continued to generate debate online over the authenticity of the clip and the growing use of AI tools in creating potentially misleading content.