A video showing former senator Isah Misau criticising Nigeria’s inspector general of police (IGP) and the attorney general has resurfaced on social media in August 2025. However, the footage is from 2018, not a recent event as suggested.
One caption attached to the video reads: "The senators are extremely angry with the IGP and the attorney general for disrespecting and daring them. It is now the 'Clash Of Titans' in Abuja." The clip also carries an overlaid message stating: "Senator speaks out. Tinubu gov is total failure."
During the footage, Misau declared: "This attorney general is becoming a nuisance. Look at the attorney general going to court to stop the senate from investigating Maina and we are still here. The IGP came with a lawyer saying he is not going to answer any question from the senate."
Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, is currently the seat of President Bola Tinubu, who assumed office in May 2023. The video has also been shared across other platforms, including X, Facebook, TikTok post one and TikTok post two.
Origin of the footage
Verification shows the recording predates Tinubu’s government. Investigators at Africa Check used reverse image search on frames from the video and identified the speaker as Isah Misau, who represented Bauchi Central Senatorial District between 2015 and 2019.
A keyword search led to the original YouTube upload in January 2018. In the recording, Misau criticised the actions of then attorney general Abubakar Malami, particularly his role in reinstating Abdulrasheed Maina, former chair of the pension reform task team. Misau also condemned Malami’s legal efforts to stop the senate from probing the matter. Malami held the position of attorney general from 2015 to 2023.
In a related incident in late 2017, then inspector general Ibrahim Idris appeared before the senate alongside his lawyer but declined to answer questions regarding corruption allegations. Idris served as police chief from 2016 until 2019, when he was succeeded by Mohammed Adamu.
Both Malami and Idris served under former president Muhammadu Buhari, who led Nigeria from 2015 until 2023.
Conclusion
The circulating video dates back to 2018. It shows Senator Misau criticising officials under Buhari’s administration, not Tinubu’s government.