The recent controversy surrounding a viral video purportedly showing Senator Adams Oshiomhole massaging the feet of a young woman aboard a private jet has taken another twist, as the lady being massaged in the video that began trending on social media last week has broken her silence, insisting that the video was not generated using Artificial Intelligence, and was indeed an incident that occurred.
The footage, which lasts roughly thirty seconds, depicts a man closely resembling Oshiomhole seated in a luxury aircraft cabin, engaging in a relaxed conversation with a woman whose legs rest on his lap while he rubs her feet. Shortly after the clip began trending, speculation emerged about the identity of the woman, with early claims incorrectly suggesting that she was Lara Fortes, the Cape Verdean lawyer and wife of the senator. Subsequent reports identified the woman as Leshaan Dagama, a South African lifestyle influencer and adult content creator who has an online presence on TikTok and Instagram. The influencer was reported to have originally posted the clip on social media before deleting it amid rising backlash. 
The video quickly triggered widespread criticism, with many Nigerians expressing outrage at what they perceived as a display of luxury and moral laxity by a public office holder, especially at a time when the country is grappling with economic hardship, rising inflation, and increased cost of living. Some critics linked the outrage to recent controversial remarks attributed to Oshiomhole in which he suggested that Nigerians were complaining about food prices becoming too cheap, a comment that had already drawn intense public criticism.
In response to the uproar, Oshiomhole, through his media office and spokesperson, Oseni Momodu, dismissed the video as fabricated content generated by artificial intelligence. His media team described the footage as a poorly crafted and edited fake video designed to blackmail and malign his reputation. The statement accused malicious actors of exploiting emerging digital manipulation tools to damage his public image and called the circulation of the clip a form of cyberbullying. It further urged the public and media organisations to verify content before sharing allegations against public officials. It announced that steps were being taken to identify those responsible for creating and disseminating the clip.
Oshiomhole’s camp also pointed to alleged technical irregularities in the footage, claiming that visual inconsistencies within the clip suggested digital manipulation. They argued that the incident highlighted the growing dangers posed by artificial intelligence and deepfake technology in political communication and public discourse. 
However, the controversy took another turn when Leshaan Dagama publicly reacted to the claims. In a brief social media response, she dismissed the narrative that the video was artificially generated and directed public anger towards the senator rather than herself, stating that Nigerians should hold their elected official accountable. Her comments further fuelled the public debate, as she did not clearly confirm or deny her involvement in the video but contradicted claims that it was entirely artificial. Reports also noted that she described herself online as a professional sugar baby, a detail that intensified moral and political discussions around the clip. 
Adams Oshiomhole, a former governor of Edo State and former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, remains a prominent figure in Nigerian politics. His political career has been marked by strong labour activism, populist rhetoric, and significant influence within the ruling party.
Samuel Aina