Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested Isma’il days after he shared the videos on the TikTok handle @bola_asiwaju.
By Ooeyemi Ajayi
A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Abuja on Friday ordered the remand of social media influencer, Ghali Isma’il, at the Keffi Correctional Centre for allegedly posting videos claiming that President Bola Tinubu had died from a serious illness.
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested Isma’il days after he shared the videos on the TikTok handle @bola_asiwaju.
In the two-count charge against him, the first count titled “Publication of false news with intent to cause offence against public peace” read: “That you, Ghali Isma’il, 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 Honourable 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. You thereby committed an offence 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,” stated that Isma’il, on the same date and platform, “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 listening to arguments from both the DSS and defence counsel, the presiding judge, Ekpeyong Iyang, denied Isma’il’s bail application and ordered his remand at the Keffi Correctional Centre.
The case was adjourned till August 19.
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