A fresh controversy has emerged over a widely circulated National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) photograph that has been repeatedly presented on social media as showing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his youth service years.
A 52-year-old man identified as Olamide Salami Kayode has reportedly come forward, claiming that he is the person pictured in the photograph and warning that he could institute a ₦500 billion lawsuit if his image continues to be used for political purposes.
The claim was highlighted in a recent social media post by the X account @HonestNarrativ, which shared an image identifying Kayode as the alleged person in the photograph.
Kayode was quoted in reports circulating online as saying: “Leave my face out of your politics. I’ve kept quiet long enough.”
According to reports, the photograph has been at the centre of renewed debate over historical images associated with Tinubu, particularly as political discussions ahead of the 2027 general elections intensify.
A report by This Dawn said Kayode had publicly identified himself as the individual in the photograph and allegedly threatened legal action over its continued use.
However, the allegation has not been independently verified by official authorities, and there is no publicly confirmed evidence at the time of publication that Kayode has filed the reported ₦500 billion lawsuit. Another report noted that neither the Presidency nor any official source had publicly responded to the alleged legal threat.
The development comes against the backdrop of other controversies involving photographs associated with President Tinubu.
Former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke had previously complained that a childhood photograph of him was used in material about Tinubu. Reports said the APC Presidential Campaign Council acknowledged the error and described it as an inadvertent mistake resulting from an incorrect online image search.
The separate controversies have renewed questions about the verification of archival photographs used in political communication and biographies of public figures.
For now, Kayode’s claim remains an allegation requiring further independent verification, including examination of the original photograph, available NYSC records and any documentation that may establish the identity of the person pictured.
TheDailyNewsHub will continue to monitor the development and update this report if the Presidency, NYSC, Kayode or any other relevant party provides an official response.