A screenshot has been circulating on X and Facebook, the post is attributed to Simon Ekpa, the self-acclaimed leader of Biafra Republic. The circulating post reads: BREAKING The World Bank and IMF have agreed to loan the sum of $57.5 billion to Biafra Republic in Exile (BRGIE) to form our government after December 2nd 2024 declaration of Biafra. I thank our sister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for helping me to facilitate the loan.
The claim can be found on here, here, here and here with differing opinions about the authenticity of its contents, hence NV-A went on to verify the claim.
VERIFICATION
NV-A subjected the screenshot to a google reverse image and some of the matches took us to a Vanguard and Daily trust report clarifying that Samuel Ekpa denied ever making the post.
Also, the Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who was mentioned in the circulating screenshot made an X post on October 25, 2024 dissociating herself from the content of the post. Okonjo-Iweala posted, “I know no sensible person will believe what is contained in this outrageous tweet below but in this troubled time, it is important to underscore that the statement is false. Again, I enjoin all those seeking to misuse my name to desist.”
The fact-checker also checked Simon Ekpa’s page on X to confirm if post this on his page. No post on the alleged Biafra loan and Okonjo-Iweala’s assistance was found on his page but Ekpa quoted the WTO DG’s post saying, “Dear Madam @NOIweala, i never tweeted such, it is even surprising that you can tweet this because your name was mentioned, we have been tweeting about the Nigeria terrorism against your people and you never responded nor showed any remorse. Here you are, defending what nonentities did with your name, but have been mute about all the killings by the government you served. I congratulate you for always defending yourself and your integrity, even when they are photoshopped. It shows you are really a mother. Thank you for defending yourself but i never tweeted such thing, it is false and fake.”
