A viral image of a press release circulating online claims President Bola Tinubu approved a posthumous pardon for executed armed robber Ishola Oyenusi, conferred a national honour on him, and appointed his son to the Police Commission.
This claim is false.
Multiple red flags confirm the image is not an authentic Nigerian government press release.
1. Impossible Presidential Power Claim
The image claims President Tinubu approved a posthumous presidential pardon for Oyenusi.
Under Nigerian law, presidential pardon applies to convicted persons, not individuals executed decades ago. Oyenusi was executed in 1971 under military rule. There is no constitutional or legal basis for a civilian president to issue a pardon in such a case.
2. Non-Existent National Honour
The image states that Oyenusi was awarded the Order of the Grand Commander of the Niger (OGCN).
Nigeria has no national honour by that name. The recognised honours include GCFR and GCON. The insertion of “OGCN” is a fabrication and a major factual error that alone invalidates the document.
3. Fabricated Institutional Title
The image says the president appointed Oyenusi’s son to the “Police Commission”.
Nigeria has a Police Service Commission (PSC), not “Police Commission”. Genuine government releases are precise with statutory body names. This error strongly suggests AI error or amateur fabrication.
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4. Unclear And Suspicious Official Seal
The image displays a seal purported to be that of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
However, the seal is blurred and unreadable, and a closer look makes it impossible to clearly identify the text or symbols. Authentic Nigerian government seals are sharp, legible, and standardised. This distorted and indistinct seal is a classic feature of AI-generated images.
5. Absence of Mandatory Official Signatures
Authentic State House press releases are signed by:
The Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, or
The Director of Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
This document carries no signatory, no name, no designation, which immediately invalidates it.
6. No Confirmation From Official Channels
On the official X handle of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, the Presidency, or the Presidential Media Aides, there is no post or statement confirming such a decision.
A development of this magnitude would require formal communication through official government platforms and widespread media coverage. None exists.
7. Emotional Framing In Official Document
The use of a memorial portrait with the caption “Gone too soon” is inappropriate for a federal press release.
Official State House communications do not use emotional obituary language, especially for controversial historical figures.
8. No Supporting Official Records
There is:
No Federal Government gazette
No State House press briefing
No presidential speech
No credible media coverage
Such a decision would dominate national discourse. Its total absence from official channels confirms the story is fabricated.
Verdict
The circulating image is fake, AI-generated, and did not originate from the Nigerian Presidency or the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Readers are advised to rely only on verified government platforms and credible news organisations for information on presidential decisions.
