By John Umeh
An Abuja Chief Magistrate Court has ordered the remand of 29-year-old Ghali Isma’il, a social media influencer, following the circulation of a viral TikTok video in which he falsely alleged that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had died after suffering from a critical illness.
According to a report by TVC, the Department of State Services (DSS) apprehended Isma’il shortly after he uploaded the controversial video via the TikTok account @bola_asiwaju. His arrest came amid growing concerns over misinformation and politically charged content being disseminated online.
Hailing from Jogana village in Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State, Isma’il was brought before the court on a two-count charge related to publishing false information and inciting public disaffection.
Court documents revealed that on or about July 20, 2025, the defendant claimed in his video that President Tinubu had been poisoned and was gravely ill, alleging he had verified the information from official sources. Authorities say this claim violates Section 418 of the Penal Code Act, which criminalizes the publication of false news.
The second charge accuses Isma’il of spreading the video with the intent to provoke contempt and dissatisfaction toward the president, an offence under Section 416 of the Penal Code.
During the arraignment, Magistrate Ekpeyong Iyang declined the defendant’s request for bail and ordered his detention at the Keffi Correctional Centre pending further court proceedings. The magistrate cited the seriousness of the allegations and the potential for public unrest.
The case has been adjourned until August 19, with prosecutors expected to present further evidence on the matter.
The arrest and remand of Isma’il have reignited public discourse around the limits of free speech on social media, especially concerning the dissemination of politically sensitive or unverified information.
