Amnesty International Demands Release of Social Media Star Ghali Isma'il

Amnesty International has strongly condemned the continued detention of Nigerian TikToker Ghali Isma'il, also known as Sultan, who was arrested over a video alleging President Bola Tinubu's ill health.

The Department of State Services (DSS) arrested Ghali after a clip from his account, @bola_asiwaju, went viral, sparking widespread attention and controversy. In the video, Ghali claimed the president had died from poisoning an allegation the government deemed dangerous misinformation.

Taking to its official Facebook page, Amnesty declared the arrest a "blatant misuse of power" and labeled the prosecution a “sham trial based on bogus charges.” The group demanded Ghali’s immediate and unconditional release.

Amnesty also disclosed that DSS agents allegedly forced Ghali, who is currently being held at Keffi Correctional Centre, to surrender access to his phones, social media accounts, and iCloud, without legal representation.

“This unlawful act not only violates his right to privacy but also deeply undermines his freedom of expression,” the organization stated.

Amnesty expressed growing concern over what it called a disturbing trend of state-led repression of online voices in Nigeria.

“Persistent state repression by the DSS creates an environment of self-censorship and fear,” the group warned.

“Using repressive tactics to control what Nigerians do on social media is an unacceptable violation of human rights. This must stop.”

Ghali now faces two counts: spreading false information and causing public disturbance.

The case has ignited backlash from civil society and digital rights groups, who say it reflects a deeper erosion of civil liberties and freedom of expression under the current administration.

Amnesty concluded its statement by renewing its call for all charges to be dropped, warning that targeting critics and digital creators sets a dangerous precedent.