A Chief Magistrate Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of Ghali Isma’il, a social media influencer, for publishing videos alleging that President Bola Tinubu had died from a critical illness.
According to TVC, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested Isma’il shortly after he uploaded the video on a verified TikTok account, @bola_asiwaju.
The 29-year-old suspect, a native of Jogana village in Gezawa LGA of Kano State, was arraigned on a two-count charge relating to the publication of false information and incitement of public disaffection.
In the first count, the prosecution alleged that on or about July 20, 2025, Ghali Isma’il falsely claimed in a video that “President Tinubu was critically ill and had been poisoned,” asserting that he confirmed the information from official sources. The charge is said to contravene Section 418 of the Penal Code Act, Cap P3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The second count accused the defendant of attempting to incite public contempt and disaffection against the president by “deliberately spreading falsehood,” an offence under Section 416 of the Penal Code.
Presiding Magistrate Ekpeyong Iyang denied the bail application submitted by Isma’il’s legal counsel and ordered his remand at the Keffi Correctional Centre.
The case was adjourned to August 19.