In a statement on Wednesday, Amnesty accused the DSS of overstepping its bounds, alleging that its operatives “forcefully obtained passwords to his iCloud, phones and social media accounts without consulting his lawyers
By Titilope Adaku
Amnesty International has called for the immediate and unconditional release of Ghali Isma’il, a popular TikToker known as Sultan, who is being held by the Department of State Services (DSS) over a video about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s health.
The organisation described his detention as unlawful and warned that plans to arraign him on what it called “bogus charges” amounted to a sham trial intended to silence dissent.
In a statement on Wednesday, Amnesty accused the DSS of overstepping its bounds, alleging that its operatives “forcefully obtained passwords to his iCloud, phones and social media accounts without consulting his lawyers.”
“This unlawful act is not just an attack on privacy; it deeply undermines freedom of expression and association,” the group stated.
Amnesty also expressed concern about what it described as a growing pattern of intimidation against social media users in Nigeria, warning that such practices were creating fear and encouraging self-censorship.
“Nigerians who use social media to comment on political and social issues are increasingly facing intimidation, threats and arrests. Using repressive tactics to police online speech is an unacceptable violation of human rights. This must stop,” it added.
Isma’il, 29, from Jogana village in Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State, was arrested after posting a video in which he falsely claimed that President Tinubu had died from poisoning.
He is facing two charges — publishing false news to disturb public peace and inciting disaffection against the government — under Sections 418 and 416 of the Penal Code Act.
The DSS argued in court that his video was intended to provoke unrest and undermine the president’s credibility.
Magistrate Ekpeyong Iyang denied his bail application and ordered that he remain in custody at Keffi Prison until the next hearing scheduled for August 19.
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