Court remands TikToker over false obituary video of President Tinubu

Court remands TikToker over false obituary video of President Tinubu

By: Zagazola Makama

A Chief Magistrate Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of a social media influencer, Ghali Isma’il, at the Keffi Correctional Centre for allegedly publishing a false video announcing the death of President Bola Tinubu.

Zagazola Makama learnt that the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested Isma’il following a video he uploaded on his verified TikTok handle, @bola_asiwaju, in which he claimed that the President had died after allegedly being poisoned.

The 29-year-old suspect, a native of Jogana Village in Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State, was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on publication of false news and inciting disaffection against the government.

The first count, titled Publication of false news with intent to cause offence against public peace, stated that Isma’il, on or about July 20, 2025, falsely claimed in the video that he had confirmed from official sources that President Tinubu was critically ill, allegedly after being poisoned. The charge added that the intent was to cause public alarm and disturb the peace.

The offence, according to the prosecution, is punishable under Section 418 of the Penal Code Act, Cap P3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The second count, Inciting disaffection to the government, accused the defendant of attempting to bring contempt or incite feelings of disaffection against the President by spreading falsehood. The prosecution cited Section 416 of the Penal Code as the relevant legal provision.

The presiding magistrate, Ekpeyong Iyang, after listening to submissions by the prosecution and the defence, denied the bail application filed by Isma’il’s counsel.

He ordered the accused to be remanded at the Keffi Correctional Centre pending the continuation of trial, which was adjourned till August 19.

Isma’il’s arraignment came days after a U.S.-based professor of journalism, Farooq Kperogi, apologised for publishing a false report alleging that former President Muhammadu Buhari and his wife, Aisha, were divorced at the time of his death.

In a similar development, Finnish-based separatist agitator, Simon Ekpa, is currently standing trial in Finland for terrorism-related charges stemming from online broadcasts supporting Biafran separatism.

Prosecutors in Finland are seeking a six-year prison sentence for Ekpa, whose online activities, they argue, constitute terrorism under Finnish law.

Last week, in Abuja, Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), told a Federal High Court that his online broadcasts were mere jokes, despite prosecution claims that the content led to the deaths of hundreds.

Court remands TikToker over false obituary video of President Tinubu