Dubawa

DUBAWA stands as Nigeria's pioneering independent project dedicated to verification and fact-checking. Launched by the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ), it has the backing of leading news organizations and civic groups throughout the country. Its goal is to enhance the culture of truth in public discussions, policy-making, and journalistic practices. This initiative maintains a non-partisan stance, adhering strictly to principles of accuracy, fairness, transparency, verification, independence, and accountability in all its endeavors. Our operations are influenced by the five guiding principles set forth by the International Fact Checking Network (IFCN). DUBAWA aims to foster a culture of truth and verification in both public discourse and journalism through collaborations with media outlets, government entities, civil society organizations, tech companies, and the general public. We operate under the belief that access to factual information empowers individuals to make better decisions in a democratic setting and on matters of public interest. By providing verified information, we aim to enhance good governance and accountability. Moreover, we recognize that trust and credibility in journalism have diminished, largely due to insufficient investment and the challenges posed by social media. We believe that an independent media initiative, by delivering accurate information and strengthening the capacity of newsrooms through partnerships, can help restore the trust that has been lost. This year, DUBAWA has also extended its efforts to Ghana, aiming to further bolster accountability and democracy throughout the West African region.

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Articles

Viral image showing 2025 NCEE cut-off mark for unity schools, 5 years old

1 week ago | dubawa.org | Justina Asishana

Claim: An X user, Sarah Ibrahim (@TheSerahIbrahim), posted an image containing some figures to claim it is the cut-off mark for entrance into all Unity Schools in the 36 states and the FCT. Verdict: Misleading. Neither the National Examinations Council (NECO) nor the Federal Ministry of Education has released any cut-off marks for the 2025 National Common Entrance Examinations into Unity schools in the 36 states and the FCT. The entrance examination into the Unity schools has yet to be held.
Old video used to spread false terror threat in Southeast Nigeria

1 week ago | dubawa.org | Abdullah Tijani

Claim: Some Facebook users shared a video claiming terrorists are planning to invade Enugu and Port Harcourt. Verdict: False! The video is unrelated to any planned invasion of Enugu or Port Harcourt and has been circulating since 2024. On Monday, May 26, 2025, a Facebook user with the name Debra O. Kalus posted (archived here) a video claiming that terrorists were planning to invade Enugu and Port Harcourt in the SouthEastern region of Nigeria.
Can EFCC arrest you for transferring N5m? Things to know about Nigeria’s money laundering act

1 week ago | dubawa.org | Caleb Ijioma |Sunday Awosoro

The fear of the EFCC is the beginning of financial caution. In recent months, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has emerged as a visible presence in both online and offline spaces. From the arrest of different celebrities accused of Naira abuse to continuous raids on suspected internet fraudsters, the institution appears not to be taking financial crimes lightly. However, this time, a new wave of fear is spreading.
Claim Harvard ranks Quran as world’s best book on justice, misleading

1 week ago | dubawa.org | Sunday Awosoro

Claim: Social media users claim that Harvard University in the United States of America has named the Quran the best book for justice worldwide. Verdict: Misleading. Harvard has not issued any ranking to declare the Quran as the best book on justice. Instead, it recognised a specific verse from the Quran as one of the powerful expressions of justice in history. Social media has been abuzz with a claim that Harvard University declared the Quran the world’s best book on justice.
Manipulated video falsely links Donald Trump to African military

1 week ago | dubawa.org | Rejoice Taddy

Claim: A Facebook user shared a video of Donald Trump allegedly criticising Burkina Faso’s leader, Ibrahim Traoré, declaring that African mineral resources belong to the U.S. and France. Verdict: False. The video is a deepfake. Our forensic tools and reverse image search investigation confirm that the visuals and audio were digitally manipulated. Donald Trump has become a frequent character in false narratives targeting Nigerian audiences.
Claim EFCC website volatile, misleading

1 week ago | dubawa.org | Daniel Ojukwu

Claim: A man claims that because ports 21, 80, and 443 are open on the EFCC website, anyone can easily hack and delete data. Verdict: Misleading. DUBAWA spoke with cybersecurity experts and reviewed port security to find that an open port is not always vulnerable. On May 9, an X user, @iam_enriched, shared a video (archived here) of a man alleging that the website of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria’s federal anti-graft agency, was susceptible to attacks.
Misleading! El-Rufai and Obi met in UK not US

2 weeks ago | dubawa.org | Justina Asishana

Claim: Facebook users claim that former Kaduna state governor Nasir El-Rufai and former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi met in the United States (US) for a conference. Verdict: Misleading. El-Rufai and Peter Obi met at the 11th Annual Cambridge Africa Together Conference at St. John’s College, University of Cambridge, in the United Kingdom (UK), not the US, as claimed.
Sahara Reporters share Texas lady’s picture as victim of Sharia law in Zamfara

2 weeks ago | dubawa.org | Phillip Anjorin

Claim: Sahara Reporters, Nigeria’s foremost citizen journalism platform, claimed that the Sharia court in Zamfara state set to arraign a female Christian convert on May 23, 2025. Verdict: FALSE. The lady whose image was attached to the tweet is from Texas, and the state governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Idris, also debunked the claim. In 2000, Zamfara state became the first northern Nigerian state with a significant muslim population to implement Sharia law.
No! Akpabio did not make it to the 9th Senate as claimed by Nigerian CSOs

2 weeks ago | dubawa.org | Daniel Ojukwu

Claim: A coalition of 56 CSOs claimed Godswill Akpabio served in the 9th assembly following a rigged election. Verdict: False. News reports and interviews with national assembly correspondents confirm Akpabio never served in the 9th assembly.
Traore, VDM, other trending matters generating false claims this week

2 weeks ago | dubawa.org | Phillip Anjorin

Many high-profile individuals in Nigeria became the subject of misinformation within the week, from Ibrahim Traore, Burkina Faso’s military leader, to Martin Otse (Very Dark Man). DUBAWA compiled some of the most trending issues delved into during the week. Nigeria launched missiles at Burkina Faso A viral TikTok post claimed that Nigeria launched a missile strike on Burkina Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou, targeting the country’s military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré.