That’s Not My Voice!’ – Senator Natasha Battles Deepfake ScandalSenator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central in the National Assembly, has firmly distanced herself from a viral audio clip circulating online, which falsely attributes sensitive statements to her about prominent national figures.
In a statement released on Tuesday, June 4, 2025, the senator condemned the audio as a fabricated piece created using advanced voice cloning technology, describing it as part of a malicious campaign to damage her reputation.
Addressing the circulating audio—allegedly a phone conversation between her and a journalist—Akpoti-Uduaghan denied ever participating in such a discussion, insisting the voice was not hers.
“My attention has been drawn to a trending video claiming to feature my voice in a conversation with a journalist. I categorically dissociate myself from this recording. It is entirely fake—the voice has been cloned with clear malicious intent,” she stated.
The senator revealed that this was not the first attempt to use digital manipulation against her, citing past incidents involving doctored audio clips linking her to fabricated conversations with public officials.
“This is part of a troubling pattern. Similar false recordings have surfaced before, none of which are genuine,” she added.
Akpoti-Uduaghan further alleged that scammers may have used AI-driven voice simulation to impersonate her in phone calls to several high-profile individuals, including Hon. Emmanuel Ekon, Minister of State for Health Dr. Tunji Alausa, Air Peace CEO Chief Allen Onyema, and Minister of Women Affairs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye.
She firmly disavowed any connection to those communications and labeled the acts as criminal, calling for national attention to the security risks posed by such advanced technological manipulation.
“This isn’t just mischief—it’s a calculated attack on democratic voices and public trust. These actions pose a real danger to national unity and security,” the senator warned.
Senator Natasha also urged Nigerians to remain alert to the dangers of disinformation, especially as technologies like deepfakes and voice cloning become increasingly sophisticated.
She assured the public that her legal and security teams are actively investigating the matter and working to identify those behind the scheme.
“I stand by the values of truth, justice, and responsible public engagement. I urge all Nigerians to stay vigilant and not fall victim to misleading digital content,” she concluded.
