A 29-year-old TikToker, Ghali Isma’il, has been remanded in prison by a Chief Magistrate Court in Abuja after he posted a viral video falsely claiming that President Bola Tinubu had died.

The social media influencer, who used the verified TikTok handle @bola_asiwaju, alleged in the video that the President died from poisoning. The clip spread quickly online and caused panic among Nigerians before it was confirmed to be completely false.

Isma’il, who hails from Jogana Village in Gezawa LGA of Kano State, was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) and charged with two serious offences:

Publishing false news with intent to cause public disturbance, and

Inciting disaffection against the government.

According to court documents, Isma’il’s video was posted on July 20, 2025, with the alleged goal of stirring unrest and misleading the public — both punishable under the Penal Code.

Presiding Magistrate Ekpeyong Iyang refused to grant him bail and ordered that he be kept at Keffi Correctional Centre until his next court appearance on August 19.

This case follows a recent trend of misinformation going viral online, with authorities now taking a tougher stance on false claims about public figures, especially those involving national security.

The government has warned content creators and the public to verify information before sharing, as false posts can lead to serious legal consequences.