Amnesty International has strongly condemned the continued detention of Nigerian social media influencer Ghali Isma’il, popularly known as Sultan, describing it as an abuse of power and a violation of his fundamental rights.
Isma’il was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) over a video post commenting on the health of President Bola Tinubu. He is currently being held at Keffi Prison and is reportedly facing what Amnesty calls a “sham trial” based on “bogus charges.”
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Amnesty International criticized the DSS for allegedly visiting the prison on 29 July 2025 and forcefully obtaining Isma’il’s iCloud credentials, mobile phone, and social media account access without consulting his legal counsel.
“This unlawful act not only violates his right to privacy but also undermines the rights to freedom of expression and association,” the rights group stated.
Amnesty warned that the repeated use of state security agencies to repress dissent is fostering an atmosphere of fear and self-censorship among Nigerians, especially those using social media to engage in political discourse.
“Using repressive tactics to control what Nigerians say online is an unacceptable violation of human rights. This must stop,” the group said.
Amnesty International has called for the immediate and unconditional release of Ghali Isma’il and urged the Nigerian authorities to drop all charges against him.
