Content creator, Ghali Isma’il, has been remanded at the Keffi Correctional Centre by an Abuja Magistrate Court for allegedly faking the death of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
What started as a shocking TikTok video meant to stir up views and virality has now landed a 29-year-old social media influencer in prison after the video quickly spiraled across platforms.
Using the handle @bola_asiwaju, Isma’il posted a dramatic—and completely false—video claiming President Tinubu had died after being poisoned. The content was laced with fabricated “official confirmation,” and was designed to create panic, draw clicks, and amplify controversy. Within hours, it went viral.
But within days, it landed him in cuffs.
From Clickbait to Courtroom
The video, reportedly uploaded around July 20, 2025, drew sharp attention from the Department of State Services (DSS), who traced, tracked, and arrested Isma’il over what they described as a dangerous act of “digital sabotage.”
He was charged with two counts under Nigeria’s Penal Code:
Section 418 – Spreading false information intended to disturb public peace.
Section 416 – Inciting disaffection against the government through deliberate misinformation.
At his first court appearance, Magistrate Ekpeyong Iyang denied bail, citing the “sensitivity and national security implications” of the offense. Isma’il is to remain in custody until his next court date on August 19, 2025.
Why It’s a Big Deal
This isn’t just about one viral video. It’s about the limits of free speech in the digital age, especially when it crosses into incitement and defamation at the highest level. Government authorities have signaled a zero-tolerance approach to misinformation, especially when it endangers public order or targets the presidency.
Isma’il’s case now joins a growing list of social media controversies shaking Nigeria’s information space:
Farooq Kperogi, a U.S.-based professor, recently apologized for falsely claiming ex-President Buhari had divorced his wife before passing away.
Simon Ekpa, a self-styled separatist in Finland, is facing terrorism-related charges for inciting unrest through social platforms.
Nnamdi Kanu, leader of IPOB, is also under legal fire for his own incendiary broadcasts—described in court as “just jokes.”
The Price of Digital Recklessness
The case is a stern warning: views come with consequences. Misinformation, especially involving the health or death of national leaders, can stoke fear, disrupt stability, and now—lead to prison time.
Nigeria’s judiciary appears to be laying down a new standard: Your content may be virtual, but your consequences are very real.
Final Word
In an era where influence is currency, Ghali Isma’il sought attention—but got arrested instead. As his fate now lies with the courts, one lesson echoes louder than any viral post:
In Nigeria’s digital age, lies don’t just get flagged—they get prosecuted.
