Social Media Influencer who claimed President Tinubu died remanded in Keffi prison

A Tik Toker known as Ghali Isma’il has been remanded in Keffi Correctional Centre in Nasarawa State on the order of the Chief Magistrate court, on Friday in Abuja, for claiming that President Bola Tinubu has died of serious illness.

After posting online videos purporting that President Bola Tinubu died as a result of a serious illness, operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS arrested him before charging him to Court.

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The fake videos was uploaded on the TikTok handle @bola_asiwaju.

The charge reads: Count one of the two-count charge, titled “Publication of false news with intent to offend public peace, “ read: “That you, Ghali Ismail, Male, twenty-nine (29) years of Jogana village, Gezawa LGA, Kano State, on or about the 20th Day of July, 2025 and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did publish false information by uploading a video clip on your verified Tiktok handle (“bola-asiwaju”) wherein you falsely claimed that you reliably confirmed from official sources that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was critically ill, having been poisoned through his meal, with intent to cause public alarm and disturb public peace.

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“You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 418 of the Penal Code Act, Cap P3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Count two, “Inciting Disaffection to the Government,” read: “That you, Ghali Ismail, Male, twenty-nine (29) years, of Jogana village, Gezawa LGA, Kano State, on or about the 20th Day of July, 2025 and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did publish false information by uploading a video clip on your verified Tiktok handle (“bola-asiwaju”) wherein you falsely claimed that you reliably confirmed from official sources that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was critically ill, having been poisoned through his meal, with intent to bring contempt or incite feelings of disaffection against the person of the President. You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 416 of the Penal Code Act, Cap P3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”

After taking arguments by both counsels to the DSS and that of the defendant, whose application for bail was denied, the presiding judge, Ekpeyong Inyang, ordered Ismail to be remanded in Keffi Correctional Centre. The matter was adjourned till August 19.

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