Nigeria’s first lady Aisha Buhari has shared fake news that her husband, President Muhammadu Buhari, directed the Central Bank of Nigeria to reissue and recirculate old N500 and N1000 banknotes.

Mrs Buhari shared a fake press release attributed to CBN on her Instagram page on Tuesday. 

“Due to the current and unpleasant situation happening in Nigeria, In line with Mr. president. After having a closed meeting with him on the 20th of February, 2023, Central Bank Of Nigeria (CBN) has been directed to ONLY reissue and recirculate the old N200, N500 and N1000 banknotes and this is expected to circulate as legal tender for 70 days up to May 1, 2023. Members of the public should therefore continue to spend the old notes,” the inauthentic CBN statement said.

The post has now been deleted. 

Her media aide Suleman Haruna told Peoples Gazette he was unaware of the contentious post.

“I’m just hearing it from you. I’ll go and check. Let me go and check. You can call me back,” Mr Haruna told The Gazette but did not respond to subsequent telephone calls.

The CBN debunked Mrs Buhari’s claim by sharing a statement showing that Mr Buhari only authorised the recirculation of the old N200 notes. 

Mrs Buhari’s inauthentic post came a week after APC campaign spokesman Festus Keyamo was busted for stealing a Chicago festival photo to portray Mr Tinubu’s campaign.