By George Omagbemi Sylvester
A viral video allegedly showing Nigerian Senator Adams Oshiomhole in a private jet with a South African adult content creator has ignited a cross-border controversy, after the woman publicly rejected the senator’s claim that the footage was artificially generated.
The short clip, which began circulating widely on social media earlier this week, appears to show a man resembling Oshiomhole massaging a woman’s feet inside a private aircraft.
The woman in the video has been identified in multiple media reports as Leshan (or Leshaan) Da Gama, a South African lifestyle influencer and adult-oriented content creator.
What happened
The controversy erupted after the video surfaced online around early February 2026 and quickly went viral across Nigerian and South African social media platforms.
In the footage, a man believed by many viewers to be the senator is seen interacting intimately with the woman during what appears to be a private jet flight.
As the clip spread, public reactions ranged from ridicule to moral outrage, prompting the senator’s media office to respond. In a statement, his team dismissed the video as “AI-generated” and described it as a malicious attempt to damage his reputation.
The statement also warned about the growing misuse of artificial intelligence and social media to spread false narratives about public officials.
The woman’s response
The situation escalated when Leshaan Da Gama publicly contradicted the senator’s position.
In a social media post cited by several news outlets, she wrote:
“Video wasn’t AI but okay believe your senator.”
In other reactions attributed to her, she told critics to direct their anger at the politician rather than at her, reinforcing her claim that the video was genuine.
Her comments intensified online debate, with many Nigerians questioning the authenticity of the footage and the senator’s explanation.
Who is involved
Key individuals identified in verified reports:
Adams Oshiomhole – Senator representing Edo North and former governor of Edo State.
Leshan (Leshan/Leshaan) Da Gama – South African lifestyle influencer and adult content creator identified as the woman in the video.
Oseni Momodu – Media aide to the senator who issued the statement dismissing the video as AI-generated.
Where and when it happened
Where: Inside a private jet, according to the viral footage.
When: The video surfaced online in early February 2026 and went viral within days.
No official travel details or confirmed flight records have been publicly released to independently verify the circumstances of the footage.
How the controversy unfolded
The sequence of events, based on verified reports, is as follows:
A short video showing a man resembling the senator and a woman inside a private jet began circulating online.
The clip went viral across social media platforms, drawing intense public attention.
Oshiomhole’s media team issued a statement dismissing the footage as AI-generated and malicious.
The woman identified in the video publicly contradicted the claim, stating the footage was not AI-generated.
The conflicting claims sparked widespread debate and media coverage across Nigeria and South Africa.
Why it matters
The incident sits at the intersection of politics, digital technology, and reputation management in the era of artificial intelligence. The senator’s defence rests on the argument that AI-generated content is increasingly being weaponised to discredit public figures.
Digital-ethics scholars have repeatedly warned that synthetic media can blur the line between truth and fabrication. Professor Hany Farid, a leading expert in digital forensics at the University of California, Berkeley, has noted that “the erosion of trust in digital content is one of the most serious societal challenges of the AI age.”
Similarly, media scholar Claire Wardle, co-founder of First Draft, has argued that “when audiences cannot easily distinguish authentic content from manipulated material, the credibility of all information suffers.”
These warnings frame the broader significance of the controversy: beyond the personal reputations at stake, the dispute underscores the difficulty of verifying digital evidence in the age of AI.
Fact-check status
As of the time of writing:
The senator denies the authenticity of the video and claims it is AI-generated.
The woman in the clip insists the video is real and not AI-generated.
No independent forensic analysis has been publicly released by authorities or credible technical experts to conclusively verify either claim.
This means the core question (whether the footage is genuine or synthetic) remains unresolved.
The political context
Oshiomhole is a prominent figure in Nigerian politics, having served as governor of Edo State and later as national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress before his election to the Senate.
As such, controversies surrounding him tend to attract intense public scrutiny and partisan commentary.
Closing Remarks.
At its core, the controversy is a straightforward but explosive dispute of credibility. A viral video has surfaced showing a man widely believed to be a sitting Nigerian senator in a private setting with a South African content creator. The senator says the video is fake and AI-generated. The woman in the footage says it is real.
Until independent forensic verification emerges, the truth remains contested. Though the episode has already exposed a deeper challenge confronting modern democracies: in an age where artificial intelligence can simulate reality with alarming precision, public trust itself has become the ultimate casualty.
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