A Magistrates’ Court in Kano has sentenced two TikTok content creators, Ahmad Isa and Maryam Musa, to one year in prison or a ₦100,000 fine each for posting videos deemed vulgar and offensive to religious and moral values in the state.
The duo, both residents of Ladainai in Hotoro Quarters, were arrested by the Kano State Censorship Board and charged with criminal conspiracy and the distribution of illicit content on social media.
During the hearing at Court No. 47, Norman’s Land, Fagge Local Government Area, the prosecution led by Barr. Garzali Maigari Bichi detailed the nature of the viral videos, arguing that they violated the state’s moral standards.
Both defendants pleaded guilty, leading Justice Hadiza Muhammad Hassan to issue the sentence while urging them to uphold good conduct in the future.
The ruling has reignited debates on digital censorship and freedom of expression in Nigeria, with some defending the punishment as necessary for upholding societal values, while others criticize it as an attack on creative freedom.
