Court Orders Detention of TikToker Over Alleged Video Claiming President Tinubu’s Demise

BY admin
July 27, 2025
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Isma’il was apprehended by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) shortly after he uploaded a video on TikTok via the handle @bola_asiwaju, alleging that President Tinubu had succumbed to a grave illness.

A Chief Magistrate Court convened in Abuja on Friday mandated the detention of social media influencer Ghali Isma’il at the Keffi Correctional Centre in connection with a viral video asserting the death of President Bola Tinubu.

Isma’il’s arrest by the Department of State Services (DSS) followed the release of a video on TikTok through the handle @bola_asiwaju, wherein he alleged the demise of President Tinubu due to a severe illness.

The first of a two-count charge, titled “Publication of False News with Intent to Offend Public Peace,” states: “That you, Ghali Ismail, Male, twenty-nine (29) years of Jogana village, Gezawa LGA, Kano State, on or about the 20th Day of July, 2025 and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did disseminate false information by uploading a video on your verified TikTok handle (“bola-asiwaju”) wherein you falsely claimed to have reliable confirmation from official sources that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was critically ill, having been poisoned through his meal, with intent to incite public alarm and disrupt public peace.

“You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 418 of the Penal Code Act, Cap P3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”

The second charge, “Inciting Disaffection to the Government,” states: “That you, Ghali Ismail, Male, twenty-nine (29) years, of Jogana village, Gezawa LGA, Kano State, on or about the 20th Day of July, 2025 and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did disseminate false information by uploading a video on your verified TikTok handle (“bola-asiwaju”) wherein you falsely claimed to have reliable confirmation from official sources that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was critically ill, having been poisoned through his meal, with intent to engender contempt or incite feelings of disaffection against the person of the President. You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 416 of the Penal Code Act, Cap P3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”

However, after considering submissions from the Department of State Services (DSS) and the defence counsel whose application for bail was denied Chief Magistrate Ekpeyong Iyang ordered the remand of social media influencer Ghali Isma’il at the Keffi Correctional Centre.

The case was adjourned until August 19.