An Abuja chief magistrate court has directed the detention of Ghali Isma’il, a social media influencer, for posting videos claiming that President Bola Tinubu had passed away due to a severe illness.
TVC reports that Department of State Services (DSS) operatives apprehended Isma’il shortly after he uploaded the video on his verified TikTok account, @bola_asiwaju.
The 29-year-old defendant, originally from Jogana village in Gezawa LGA of Kano state, faced a two-count charge related to disseminating false information and inciting public disaffection.
The charge sheet indicates that the first count alleges that on or about July 20, 2025, Isma’il falsely stated in the video that President Tinubu was critically ill and had been poisoned, claiming he verified the information from official sources. This charge is noted to violate Section 418 of the Penal Code Act, Cap P3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
In the second count, the prosecution alleged that the defendant sought to provoke public contempt and disaffection toward the president by intentionally spreading false information, an offence under Section 416 of the Penal Code.
After the charges were presented, the presiding magistrate, Ekpeyong Iyang, rejected the bail application submitted by Isma’il’s counsel and ordered his remand at the Keffi Correctional Centre.
The matter was postponed until August 19.
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