Former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has decried the harmful impact of fake news, revealing that a false report about a non-existent $1.9bn in his account almost destroyed his 40-year marriage.

Mohammed also stressed the need for collective efforts to combat the menace of fake news, explaining that its gravity becomes evident only when one becomes a victim.

Speaking on Thursday at a programme titled “A Day with Alhaji Lai Mohammed,” organised by the Mass Communication Department of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Ogun State, Mohammed defended the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, stating it should not be blamed for the country’s hardships.

Mohammed, who addressed the gathering on “Redefining the Role of Spokesman: My Enduring Engagement/Romance with the Practice of Public Relations,” narrated an incident where his wife, influenced by the fake news, asked to be made a signatory to his bank account, fearing for their financial security.

He said, “The menace of fake news is a menace that must be tackled by all of us; this is something that nearly cost me my marriage of about 40 years.

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“While we were in government, there was fake news that I had $1.9bn in my bank account and unfortunately, many people believed this falsehood, including my wife.

“One day, my wife woke me up in the middle of the night and spoke in Yoruba. She called me: “Daddy,” and I said, ‘Yes, what is it?’ She said, ‘We all know that death can come at any time; we may say it wouldn’t be this early but it may be, but whatever happens, it will be good if you make me one of the signatories to your bank account to prepare for any eventuality. Even my friends and many other people are already begging me for money after seeing the report of so much money in your account.’”

Mohammed added that he had to explain to her that the report was entirely false, pointing out that the allocation for his ministry was N5bn annually, totaling N40bn during his tenure.

He said he had wondered how someone would sit somewhere to cook up that a whopping sum of money is in his bank, adding: “This is why I strongly believe that this menace of fake news should be curbed.

“You won’t know the weight of it until it is about you. It has destroyed many marriages, many people have even committed suicide because fake news were published about them on social media.”

Commenting on the economic crisis, Mohammed expressed confidence in President Tinubu’s administration, urging Nigerians to remain patient as he believed that the government’s policies would soon yield positive results.

Dr. Lanre Akinola, Head of the Mass Communication Department, noted that the engagement aimed to foster collaboration between academia and the public for national development.

He expressed satisfaction with the students’ interactions with the former minister, stating that the experience was rewarding and inspirational.