Kemi Olunloyo TikTok gifts concerns trend as journalist questions source of high-value livestream donations and raises fraud fears
Investigative journalist Kemi Olunloyo has raised concerns over the source of high-value virtual gifts sent to Nigerian TikTok livestreamers, questioning the transparency of the platform’s gifting system.
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Speaking during a recent commentary, Kemi Olunloyo queried how certain content creators consistently receive unusually large volumes of gifts during live sessions, describing the trend as a growing phenomenon within Nigeria’s digital entertainment space.
Kemi Olunloyo said the gifting system, which allows viewers to send digital items that translate into monetary value, may not be as straightforward as it appears, urging closer scrutiny of the process.
“There’s a phenomenon in Nigeria where when someone goes live on TikTok and they get gifts.
Those gifts could be coins, animals, lions, money gun,” she said, while questioning the identity and motives of those sending such high-value contributions.
The journalist went further to allege that some of the virtual gifts could be linked to fraudulent activities, including the possible use of stolen credit cards to fund transactions.
However, no official evidence has been presented to support the claim.
In her remarks, Kemi Olunloyo referenced several popular Nigerian livestreamers, including Carter Efe and Peller, suggesting that top creators receive significant financial support through gifting while raising questions about the source of such funds.
Kemi Olunloyo also warned that if any link to financial misconduct is established, the issue could attract international attention, including potential investigation by authorities abroad.
Despite the claims, there has been no confirmation from regulators, law enforcement agencies, or TikTok linking virtual gifting in Nigeria to fraudulent credit card activity.
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The platform’s gifting feature remains a major revenue stream for many creators, offering a lucrative pathway in the fast-growing digital economy, even as debates over accountability and transparency continue to intensify.
