Deepfakes And Digital Identity: Is Nigerian Law Ready?

1. Introduction

The emergence of deepfakes has introduced a new challenge for Nigerian law as artificial intelligence (AI) now has the ability to misrepresent a person's identity through fabricated digital content that looks genuine. A notable example occurred on 27 May 2026, when an audio recording attributed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu circulated online and was subsequently reported to have been AI-generated. The recording allegedly captured the President making inflammatory remarks about insecurity, foreign loans, and the 2027 general election. Although the recording was later identified as AI-generated, it was convincing enough to generate rapid reactions, including a threat of prosecution against a commentator who had circulated it, hours before the clip's origin was even verified.² This problem is not limited to politics. In June 2025, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) investigated advertisements that used the image and voice of Pastor Enoch Adeboye and