Viral Story Fabricated, Site Impersonates Legit.ng
The Claim
A post circulating on Facebook — styled to look like a Legit.ng article — carries the headline: “You are robbing Nigerian families!” — Channels TV programme ends in scandal: Central Bank Governor Yemi Cardoso leaves the studio in a rage.
The story alleges that a televised debate on loans and inflation descended into chaos when Arise TV anchor Dr Reuben Abati accused the Central Bank of Nigeria and commercial banks of hiding a scheme that enriches ordinary Nigerians at banks’ expense — prompting the CBN Governor to storm off the set. The post, dated 5 July 2026, is bylined “Shade Metibogun.”
Verification
The hosting domain is not Legit.ng. The article loads from wheelyzo.com, a domain with no discoverable business registration, no independent news publishing history, and no organic search footprint — while displaying Legit.ng’s exact logo, layout, and section navigation. This is a cloned-identity page engineered to borrow Legit.ng’s credibility, not a Legit.ng publication.
No such broadcast is recorded anywhere. Reuben Abati’s real on-air confrontations are well documented in Nigerian media — with Nyesom Wike’s aide Lere Olayinka, former SGF Babachir Lawal, an ex-Anambra police commissioner, and APGA chairman Victor Oye. Every one of these took place on Arise TV, none on Channels TV, and none involved a CBN Governor. A confrontation of this magnitude — a sitting central bank governor walking off a national broadcast — would generate immediate viral clips, NBC petitions, and follow-up commentary, as Abati’s genuine on-air disputes have. None exists for this claim.
CBN Governor Cardoso’s actual public record contradicts the premise. His documented public appearances — an Arise TV interview on FX liabilities, a Q&A at the London Business School, and remarks at the Africa Capital Forum in London — show a consistently measured, data-driven communicator addressing reserves, recapitalisation, and inflation targeting. Nothing in his verifiable conduct resembles the scene described.
Assessment
This is a fabricated story built on a spoofed news domain, using a real public figure’s likeness to manufacture false controversy. The pattern — cloned masthead, sensational quote-bait headline, zero corroborating coverage — is consistent with engagement-farming pages distributed via Facebook, which sometimes function as funnels toward scam or malware landing pages once clicked further.
The Verdict: FALSE
Right of reply: TheDiggerNews.com has reached out to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s media office regarding the fabricated claim. This piece will be updated if a response is received.
Kehinde Adegoke is an award-winning investigative journalist with more than 15 years of distinguished experience uncovering stories that shape public discourse. With three industry nominations across diverse beats, he has earned recognition for fearless reporting, incisive analysis, and a commitment to accountability. As Managing Editor and CEO of TheDiggerNews.com, Adegoke leads a pioneering newsroom dedicated to exposing hidden truths, amplifying marginalised voices, and setting new standards in investigative journalism.
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