The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has dismissed a viral AI-generated video circulating on social media, which falsely features the cloned voice of its Group CEO, Mr. Bayo Bashir Ojulari, promoting a non-existent poverty alleviation scheme.
In a statement released on Thursday by Mr. Olufemi Soneye, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the company, NNPC Ltd described the content as entirely fictitious and warned Nigerians not to fall for the scam.
“The company has no such investment initiative,” Soneye declared, firmly distancing the firm from the deceptive video.
Okay.ng reports that the manipulated video, which was initially posted by a Facebook account named Mensageiro de Cristo, appears to exploit deepfake technology to mimic Ojulari’s voice and likeness in a bid to deceive the public.
“NNPC Ltd has warned the perpetrators to cease their fraudulent actions or face legal consequences,” the statement read, adding that legal options are being explored to tackle those behind the malicious act.
According to the statement, NNPC Ltd is already taking active steps to address the situation and safeguard citizens from being duped.
The company emphasized the importance of verifying any investment-related claims before engaging or making financial commitments.
“The public is advised to be cautious and verify information before investing in any scheme,” the statement advised.
“NNPC Ltd’s prompt response aims to prevent further dissemination of the fake video and protect the company’s reputation,” it concluded.
