Tinubu dies: Court remands TikToker Claims

Ifeyinwa Susan Francis

Ghali Isma’il, a social media influencer, has been remanded by the Chief Magistrate’s Court.

On Friday in Abuja at the Keffi Correctional Centre, for posting online videos alleging that President Bola Tinubu died as a result of a serious illness.

This was disclosed by Daily Trust on Saturday, July 26th 2025

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

The Presiding Judge, Ekpeyong Iyang, ordered Ismail to be remanded in Keffi Correctional Centre. He said this after arguments from both the counsels and DSS.

The matter was adjourned till August 19.
A Journalism Professor, Farooq Kperogi, apologized for publishing a false report that the late President Buhari and his wife,  Aisha, divorced at the time of his death. Isma’il’s arraignment came afterwards.

Biafran agitator, Simon Ekpa, is being prosecuted by Finnish authorities for terrorism. However, Ekpa insists that his Instagram posts were merely to create “content.”

Nnamdi Kanu, another separatist leader, told a federal high court that his online broadcasts that led to death were a joke.

Prosecutors in Finland want Mr Ekpa to get 6 years in prison. They say Mr Ekpa does separatist activities online. He coordinates from Finland. This might be terrorism under Finnish law.