A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Abuja on Friday ordered the remand of a social media influencer, Ghali Isma’il, at the Keffi Correctional Centre over a viral video claiming that President Bola Tinubu had died.
Isma’il was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) days after uploading the video on TikTok through the handle @bola_asiwaju, alleging that President Tinubu had passed away following a serious illness.
Count one of the two-count charge, titled “Publication of False News with Intent to Offend Public Peace,” reads as follows: “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 publish false information by uploading a video clip on your verified Tiktok handle (“bola-asiwaju”) wherein you falsely claimed that you reliably confirmed from official sources that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was critically ill, having been poisoned through his meal, with intent to cause public alarm and disturb 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.”
Count two, “Inciting Disaffection to the Government,” read: “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 publish false information by uploading a video clip on your verified Tiktok handle (“bola-asiwaju”) wherein you falsely claimed that you reliably confirmed from official sources that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was critically ill, having been poisoned through his meal, with intent to bring 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 hearing arguments from both the Department of State Services (DSS) and the defence counsel — whose application for bail was denied — Chief Magistrate Ekpeyong Iyang ordered that the social media influencer Ghali Isma’il be remanded at the Keffi Correctional Centre.
The case was adjourned until August 19.
