Amnesty International has strongly condemned the continued detention of Nigerian social media commentator, Ghali Isma’il, also known as Sultan, calling for his immediate and unconditional release.
Isma’il, who is currently being held at the Keffi Correctional Centre, was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) over a viral video in which he discussed the health of President Bola Tinubu. The video, posted via the TikTok account @bola_asiwaju, alleged that the president had died from complications related to poisoning — a claim the federal government described as false and inciting.
In a statement issued via its official Facebook page, Amnesty International described Isma’il’s arrest and ongoing prosecution as an “outright abuse of power” and a “violation of civil liberties.” The global human rights organization decried the government’s actions as both “illegal and oppressive,” branding the trial a “sham based on bogus charges.”
“Free Ghali Isma’il Now!” the group declared, calling the government’s actions a clear breach of the right to freedom of expression and association.
Amnesty also alleged that on July 29, 2025, DSS agents stormed the correctional facility and forced Isma’il to surrender access to his iCloud, mobile devices, and social media accounts — all in the absence of legal counsel. This act, the group noted, constitutes a grave violation of Isma’il’s privacy rights.
“This unlawful act not only has a devastating impact on the right to privacy but also profoundly affects the rights to freedom of expression and association,” the statement read.
Amnesty International expressed growing concern over what it described as a rising trend of censorship, intimidation, and repression of digital voices in Nigeria. The organization said such actions are contributing to a climate of fear and self-censorship, undermining democracy and civic engagement.
“Using repressive tactics to control what Nigerians say and do on social media is an unacceptable violation of human rights. This must stop,” Amnesty stated.
The federal government has filed a two-count charge against Isma’il, accusing him of spreading false information and inciting public unrest. However, the rights group maintains that the charges are politically motivated and designed to silence dissent.
Amnesty concluded by urging the Nigerian authorities to drop all charges against Isma’il and respect the constitutional rights of all citizens, particularly the right to free expression.
The arrest and trial of Ghali Isma’il have sparked widespread outrage across social media platforms, with activists, legal experts, and civil society groups demanding justice and warning against a slide toward authoritarianism.
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