TikTok Creator Remanded Over Alleged False Claim About President Tinubu

• A Chief Magistrate Court in Abuja has remanded Ghali Isma’il, a 29-year-old TikTok user.
• Isma’il is accused of spreading false information about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
• He was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) for a video posted on his verified TikTok account.

A Chief Magistrate Court in Abuja has remanded a 29-year-old TikTok user, Ghali Isma’il, at the Keffi Correctional Centre for allegedly spreading false information about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Isma’il, from Jogana village in Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State, was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) after he posted a video on his verified TikTok account, @bola_asiwaju, claiming the President had been poisoned.

In the courtroom, the DSS charged him with two counts: giving false information with intent to mislead the public, and inciting hatred or disaffection toward the President. The charges were brought under Sections 418 and 416 of the Penal Code Act.

Count one read:

“That you, Ghali Isma’il, aged 29 years, on or about the 20th day of July 2025, at Kano, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, made a video in your verified TikTok account @bola_asiwaju and claimed that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was poisoned and in a critical condition based on credible official sources, and you published same to your followers on TikTok, knowing or having reason to believe that it is a false statement, and with the intent that it will likely cause fear and alarm in public, thereby disturbing public peace and you thereby committed an offense punishable under section 418 of the Penal Code Act.”

Count two stated:

“That you, Ghali Isma’il, aged 29 years, on or about the 20th day of July 2025, at Kano, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, made a video in your verified TikTok account @bola_asiwaju and claimed that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was poisoned and in a critical condition based on credible official sources, and you published same to your followers on TikTok, with the intent to incite hatred or disaffection toward the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and you thereby committed an offense punishable under section 416 of the Penal Code Act.”

The DSS prosecution said the video was aimed at “causing public disturbance and inciting public discontent against the president.”

Chief Magistrate Ekpeyong Iyang ruled that the accused be remanded at Keffi Correctional Centre and adjourned the case to August 19 for further hearing.

This incident follows an apology recently issued by US-based professor and columnist Farooq Kperogi for falsely reporting that former President Muhammadu Buhari and his wife, Aisha, had separated before his passing.