Nigeria’s First Lady, Aisha Buhari, has blamed a hacker with the criminal intent to attack her reputation for posting a fake news about a purported Presidential and Central Bank of Nigeria decision to reissue the old N200, N500 and N1000 as legal tender till May 1, 2023.
The post which appeared both on the first Lady’s Instagram and Facebook pages on Tuesday was reported by a section of the media.
However, the post was deleted when the First Lay’s attention attention was drawn to it.
“It has come to my attention that a 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 Central Bank of Nigeria had issued a terse statement insisting that the old N500 and N1000 notes had ceased to be legal tender in the country in a response to reports.
The CBN urged Nigerians to discountenance media reports that a decision has been taken to extend the deadline for the use of the old N500 and N1000 notes to May 1.
The apex bank stressed that it would stick to the directive by President to reissue only the old N200 notes.
The statement jointly signed by the Deputy Governor (Corporate Services), Edward L. Adamu, and Director, Corporate Communications, Osita Nwanisobi read, : “The attention of the Central Bank of Nigeria has been drawn to a FAKE PRESS RELEASE purported to have emanated from the Bank to the effect that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the reissuance and release of old N500 and N1000 notes as legal tender in the country.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Central Bank of Nigeria reiterates that in line with the directives of Mr. President, only N200 old notes are to be reissued and to circulate concurrently with the new notes. Members of the public are therefore advised to ignore this fake news.
“The Bank is working with the law enforcement agencies to investigate, apprehend and prosecute the purveyors of this fake news. Please be guided accordingly.”
