The Nigeria Police Force failed to bring TikTok influencer Timothy Gabriel, popularly known as ‘Tumma’, to court on Monday, forcing the judge to adjourn the case to April 29, 2025.
Gabriel, who has been in solitary confinement for over a month, was arrested on February 6, 2025, for allegedly making defamatory statements against Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun.
In the separate charges, Gabriel is charged with making a false claim that the Lagos State Governor is an armed robber involved in embezzling state funds. He also shared a video intended to damage the reputation of the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
His charges fall under the Cybercrimes (Prevention, Prohibition, etc.) Act, with the IGP listed as both complainant and primary petitioner.
Despite being held for over a month, he has not been granted bail, raising alarms about potential human rights infringements and the abuse of authority to suppress dissent.
