Business
Is the Picture of a bedridden ex-footballer in a wheelchair, Peter Rufai?
A Twitter user (@nasirdaniya) shared a collage of three pictures supposedly depicting a bedridden Peter Rufai, former super eagles goalkeeper in a wheelchair, languishing in sickness and poverty.
“This is disheartening! Imagine what the former @NGSuperEagles goalie Peter Rufai has been going through. The Hon Minister of @NigeriaFMYS @SundayDareSD and @thenff need to do something urgently!” @Nasirdaniya tweeted alongside the images.
As of the time this report was filed, the tweet already has 776 thousand views, 3,025 retweets, and 5,694 likes.
Findings show that the claim is MISLEADING.
Here are the Facts:
We first separated images in the collage into independent copies, into “picture one” and “picture two”. The man in a wheelchair wearing green, and the first one with the goalkeeper wearing a yellow jersey.
A Google reverse image search of the image of the goalkeeper dressed in yellow (picture one) showed that he is Peter Rufai. Further search on the image leads to the website of Getty Images, an American stock supplier that commissions photographers to cover major sporting events.
Picture two: Peter Fregene
A reverse Google search of the second image with the man in a wheelchair, wearing green, brings up the name Peter Fregene.
Peter Fregene is also a former Nigerian international goalkeeper who was part of the 1968 Olympic Team in Mexico.
Nicknamed the “flying cat,” Mr Fregene, 76, played for stationery Stores of Lagos, where he won the Nigerian FA Cup. He was the country’s first-choice goalkeeper from 1968 to 1971.
A further search of the name leads to an article written by Segun Odegbami in March 2019 and published by Completesports, where he revealed that Fregene has been bedridden for more than two decades.
A careful understudy of Mr. Rufai’s official Instagram handle shows the former footballer is active and has not posted or shared anything that portrays him ill. On New year (2023), the former short-stopper shared a picture of himself in a well and hearty condition.
Conclusion
The tweet claiming that Peter Rufai is sick and bedridden is misleading. The image used in the narrative is of Peter Fregene, who has been in a wheelchair for a long time.
We fact-checked the viral claim that Ikeja Electric was named “Worst Company of the Year 2025” and that its executives received “Worst Business People” awards. Read the verdict.
A provocative message has been spreading rapidly across WhatsApp groups and other social media platforms in Nigeria. The claim is direct: Ikeja Electric was recognized as the Worst Company of the Year 2025.
The message goes further, alleging that the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Folake Soetan, and Board Chairman, Kola Adesina, received a specific award titled Worst Business People. The supposed presenter of this award was the Nigerian Global Business Forum.
We asked a simple question: Did this actually happen?
We conducted a thorough investigation to verify this claim:
- Searched for Official Announcements: We found no official press statement, event report, or award listing from the Nigerian Global Business Forum regarding a “Worst Company” award.
- Reputable News Platforms: Credible Nigerian and global media outlets that cover the power sector have no record of this award. If a major national distributor had been publicly named “worst company,” it would have been widely reported.
- Examined Context (Regulatory Action): While the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) did seal Ikeja Electric’s headquarters in December 2025 over compliance issues, regulatory enforcement is not the same as a global “worst company” award.
- Checked Previous Recognitions: In prior years, Ikeja Electric has received industry awards for performance and gender diversity, contradicting the claim of a consistent “worst” performance.
- Direct Company Response: Ikeja Electric has publicly denied the report and announced plans for a forensic investigation and possible legal action against those responsible for spreading the claim.
After examining all available evidence, one fact stands clear: There is no verifiable record that Ikeja Electric, its CEO, or its Chairman received any official “Worst Company of the Year 2025” or “Worst Business People” award.
This story circulating online is a headline without proof.
Our verdict is: Unverified. Until credible proof exists, this claim must be considered unverified misinformation.
When dramatic and provocative claims appear, especially those that damage reputations, it is crucial to pause and check. Look for official sources and independent confirmation. Absence of evidence does not prove innocence, but bold accusations require credible proof.
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