Former Edo State Governor and Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has dismissed as false a viral video showing him giving a foot massage to a woman on a private jet.
The video, which surfaced online on Tuesday, shows a man believed to be the senator massaging a woman. Initial reports claimed the woman was his wife, Lara Fortes, a Cape Verdean lawyer and former model.
However, later findings identified the woman in the footage as Leshaan Dagama, a South African influencer and adult-oriented content creator.
The video sparked widespread criticism, with many Nigerians condemning what they perceived as a show of luxury, particularly in light of the country’s current economic challenges and recent comments attributed to the senator on rising food prices.
Online reports further described the woman as a South African lifestyle influencer and adult content creator, intensifying public debate around privilege, accountability, and the personal conduct of political leaders.
In response to the controversy, Oshiomhole’s media office strongly denied the authenticity of the footage, describing it as a “poorly crafted and edited fake AI video” allegedly produced by individuals attempting to blackmail the senator and damage his reputation.
The statement cited visible technical irregularities in the clip, especially around the six-second mark of the approximately 30-second video, as evidence of digital manipulation and artificial intelligence interference