FACT CHECK: Amaechi Was Not Arrested Over Corruption Allegation

There is no evidence to show that Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi was arrested as was claimed in a widely circulated social media post.

Finding shows he was at the presidential rally of the APC in Sokoto and Kebbi states on January 23, same day the post say he was arrested.

Amaechi, minister of transportation and the Director-General of the APC presidential campaign organisation is claimed to have been arrested by the police on Wednesday, January 23 on allegations of corruption.

But BigPen Online, in a report sourced from CrossCheck Nigeria, confirms that Amaechi was not arrested and that he was at the presidential rally of President Buhari in both Sokoto and Kebbi states, January 23.

Posted on January 23, at about 06:52 am by AIT News Nigeria, a Facebook page, the post had garnered 488 likes, 571 comments, and 1,029 shares as at 6:02 pm, January 24. Also, Happenings in Nigeria, another Facebook page, shared yesterday at 11:55 am. It has traction of 101 likes and 157 shares as at 6:03 pm, January 24.

To verify this, CrossCheck Nigeria tracked the minister’s public appearance on said date. The presidential rally of the APC was in Sokoto and Kebbi on January 23. A NAN report confirmed the APC campaign DG was in attendance. Live coverage of the event by the NTA also showed Amaechi addressing the crowd at the rally.

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The police, through the Rivers state commissioner, debunked the claimed and urged the general public to disregard it.