A TikTok content creator, Ghali Isma’il, has been ordered into custody at the Keffi Correctional Centre by a Chief Magistrate Court in Abuja after posting a viral video falsely claiming that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had died from poisoning linked to a critical illness.
Isma’il, who operated under the verified TikTok handle @bola_asiwaju, was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) days after the controversial video surfaced online, sparking widespread reactions and concerns.
He faces a two-count charge bordering on the publication of false information and incitement against the government.
Charge 1: Publication of False News Intended to Disturb Public Peace
According to court documents, Isma’il is accused of uploading a video on July 20, 2025, in which he falsely claimed, citing unnamed “official sources,” that President Tinubu had been poisoned through his meal and was gravely ill. Prosecutors allege the video was intended to cause public alarm and unrest—an offense punishable under Section 418 of the Penal Code Act, Cap P3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Charge 2: Incitement Against the Government
The second count accuses the 29-year-old from Jogana Village, Gezawa LGA in Kano State, of intentionally publishing content meant to incite contempt or disaffection toward the President. This offense falls under Section 416 of the same Penal Code.
After hearing arguments from both prosecution and defense, Magistrate Ekpeyong Iyang denied the defendant’s bail application and ordered that he be remanded in custody. The case has been adjourned until August 19, 2025.
Context and Broader Crackdown on Online Misinformation
Isma’il’s arraignment comes amid increasing scrutiny of misinformation and politically charged content shared via social media platforms in Nigeria and globally.
Earlier this month, Professor Farooq Kperogi of Kennesaw State University, USA, issued a public apology for inaccurately reporting that the late President Muhammadu Buhari and his wife, Aisha, were divorced before his death.
In related international developments, Finnish authorities are currently prosecuting Simon Ekpa, a prominent Biafran separatist, over online activities classified as terrorism under Finnish law. Prosecutors are seeking a six-year prison sentence, stating that Ekpa’s digital campaigns incited violence and instability in Nigeria.
Similarly, Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), claimed during a court appearance last week in Abuja that his online broadcasts, which prosecutors linked to violent incidents, were intended as satire and not to incite harm.
As digital platforms increasingly shape public discourse, legal experts warn that content creators and influencers must exercise greater caution and responsibility in the information they disseminate.
