No Aso Rock kitchen staff arrested over alleged plot to poison Tinubu — Presidency
Presidency Denies Claims of Poisoning Plot Involving Kitchen Staff
ABUJA, Nigeria — The Presidency has dismissed viral social media claims alleging that members of the kitchen staff at the Presidential Villa were detained in connection with a supposed attempt to poison President Bola Tinubu.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, addressed the accusations on Sunday through his verified account on X, sharing a widely circulated video and asserting that its claims are unfounded.
The video features purported footage from the Presidential Villa and includes a narration suggesting that a chef employed at the complex had been arrested for an alleged poisoning plot against President Tinubu. The narrator claimed, “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.”
The narrator also alleged that authorities acted on intelligence reports indicating suspicious activities related to food preparation in areas associated with presidential operations. It was further claimed that security personnel were mobilized to address a potential threat to the President’s safety.
The report characterized the operation to apprehend the suspect, identified as a member of the kitchen staff, as professional and discreet, aimed at minimizing public distress while securing the environment. Security agencies reportedly advised the public to remain calm, emphasizing that ongoing investigations do not imply guilt of the involved parties.
In response to the allegations, Onanuga characterized the narrative as completely false. He stated unequivocally, “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.”
At this time, officials have not revealed the origin of the video or the motives behind the dissemination of the misleading claims.
