Babatunde Raji Fashola, former Lagos State Governor and ex-Minister of Works and Housing, has come forward with strong allegations against the artificial intelligence platform, ChatGPT. In a heated press conference on Thursday, Fashola accused the AI system of fabricating damaging information about his alleged involvement in political conspiracies. “ChatGPT published outright lies, dragging my name into baseless accusations. This is not just misinformation; this is defamation by automation,” Fashola declared before a packed audience.
The controversial statements originated from a ChatGPT-generated text circulating widely online, which falsely linked Fashola to a clandestine electoral manipulation scheme during the 2023 elections. According to Fashola, the AI’s output was completely unfounded, lacking any factual or legal basis. The former governor expressed grave concern about the ease with which AI systems can generate “fiction disguised as facts” and the rapid dissemination of such content on social media platforms.
Nigeria’s Legal Vacuum: Can AI Be Sued for Defamation?
Babatunde Fashola emphasized the legal dilemma facing victims of AI-generated falsehoods. “In Nigeria’s jurisprudence, there is no clear provision for holding an AI model accountable for libel or slander. This gap leaves individuals like me vulnerable to reputational assassination without legal recourse,” he lamented.
Legal scholars in Nigeria have weighed in, describing Fashola’s case as unprecedented. Professor Adebayo Ogundipe of the Nigerian Law School explained that while publishers and distributors can be held accountable, the AI tool itself cannot be prosecuted under current Nigerian law. This legal ambiguity, experts warn, could lead to a surge in AI-induced reputational damage if not urgently addressed by lawmakers.
AI Bias and the Danger of Western-Coded Algorithms
Fashola further raised concerns about the inherent bias coded into AI models like ChatGPT, which are primarily developed in Western nations with minimal African context. “These algorithms are trained on datasets that barely understand our political landscape, culture, or nuances. As a result, they generate half-truths, distorted narratives, and dangerous fabrications,” Fashola stated.
Technology analysts support this view, noting that Western-centric data often fails to capture the complexity of African societies. Dr. Ifeoma Nwachukwu, a tech ethics researcher, warned, “When you combine limited datasets with complex political issues, you get toxic outputs. The Fashola incident is a prime example of this systemic bias.”
Global Outrage Sparks Debate on AI Accountability
Babatunde Fashola’s revelations have sparked a global debate about the ethical boundaries of artificial intelligence. Several international human rights organizations have expressed solidarity with the former governor, calling for stronger AI governance frameworks to prevent similar occurrences worldwide.
Amnesty International’s African Division issued a statement saying, “The incident involving Mr. Fashola underscores the urgent need for enforceable global AI regulations that protect individuals from algorithmic defamation.” The United Nations’ AI ethics committee has reportedly scheduled an emergency meeting to review the broader implications of this controversy.
Social Media Amplifies AI Lies: The Role of Digital Vigilantism
Fashola also condemned the role of social media in amplifying the AI-generated lies. “Within hours, the fabricated claims went viral, shared by digital vigilantes who neither verified the facts nor considered the consequences,” he lamented. According to him, the unchecked viral spread worsened the reputational damage significantly.
Data from the Nigerian Cybersecurity Agency revealed that the false information about Fashola was shared over 1.3 million times on various social platforms within 48 hours. The agency has since called for stricter regulations on AI-generated content and the responsibilities of content-sharing platforms to verify facts before dissemination.
Fashola’s Call for AI Regulation in Nigeria
In his concluding remarks, Babatunde made an urgent appeal to Nigerian lawmakers. “If Nigeria fails to regulate AI technologies swiftly, we risk entering an era where anyone can become a victim of machine-generated lies. This is a national security threat,” he warned.
Members of the National Assembly have since acknowledged the necessity of creating a legal framework for AI governance. A bipartisan committee on Artificial Intelligence Regulation is expected to present a preliminary bill within the next three months. As Fashola’s case demonstrates, Nigeria can no longer afford to ignore the disruptive power—and dangers—of unregulated AI.
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