Controversial investigative journalist Kemi Olunloyo has sparked debate after questioning the origin of large monetary gifts received by some Nigerian TikTok streamers during live broadcasts.
In a video shared on TikTok, she explained how the platform’s gifting system operates, noting that content creators earn income when viewers send virtual items such as coins, digital gifts, and high-value symbols during live sessions.
“There’s a phenomenon in Nigeria where when someone goes live on TikTok and they get gifts… it’s these gifts that streamers depend on,” she said, describing how online creators monetise their content through viewer contributions.
Olunloyo noted that while smaller gifts can accumulate into earnings, especially in local currency, some of the high-value gifts being sent have raised questions about their sources.
She questioned the identity and legitimacy of individuals sending expensive gifts, suggesting that the scale of some transactions appears unusual.
“At the end of the day, why are some streamers getting huge gifts on TikTok? Who are the people gifting them?” she asked.
She further alleged that some of the funds used for such gifts may be linked to fraudulent activities, claiming that stolen credit cards are sometimes used to finance online gifting.
“They are real gifts and they come from fraudsters. These fraudsters steal credit cards and use them for gifts on social media,” she alleged.
Olunloyo also referenced popular Nigerian content creators such as Carter Efe and Peller, questioning the source of large-value gifts like digital lions frequently sent during livestreams.
“The lion is the most expensive. That’s why Peller gets a lot of lions,” she said.
She suggested that proceeds from such gifts are often withdrawn and shared among individuals involved, linking the system to possible financial misconduct.
Her comments have since generated discussions online about transparency in social media monetisation and the security of digital payment systems used on livestream platforms.
