Two Nigerian TikTokers have been publicly caned and ordered to wash toilets after being accused of mocking a state governor in videos shared online.
Mubarak Isah Muhammad, 26, and Nazifi Muhammad Bala, 23, have recorded thousands of viewers on videos they have been creating over last few years, but last month one of them resulted in the TikTokers being brought before a magistrate’s court.
The video in question related to Nigerian politician Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who is currently serving as the Governor of Kano State after taking office in 2015.
Muhammad and Bala were accused of making defamatory statements about the governor, and after they were brought before the court in northern Kano State it was determined they were guilty.
The friends were remanded in custody for a weekend before being sentenced to 20 public lashes each, as well as being ordered to pay a fine of 10,000 naira (around $23/£18) each and cleaning ‘including sweeping the court premises and washing the court’s toilets for 30 days’.
The TikTokers were also instructed to record and post on social media a video in which they publicly apologised to the governor.
Baba Jibo Ibrahim, a spokesperson for Kano State Judiciary, told CNN the pair ‘admitted the charges’, saying: “They didn’t even ask or beg for a lawyer to stand for them.
“They were arraigned before the Kano State Magistrate Court for defaming the character of Governor Umar Ganduje on their TikTok social media account. When the charges were read to them, they pleaded guilty to the two counts of … defamation of character and inciting public disturbance.”
Amnesty International condemned the ruling. Credit: @AmnestyNigeria/Twitter
Saifullahi Ibrahim, who knows the two men, claimed the video was originally made four years ago and that it had recently resurfaced again online.
Amnesty International Nigeria has condemned the ruling against the two men and argued that ‘satirizing those in authority is not a crime’.
Following the sentencing, human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong argued that the ruling should be challenged at a higher court.
“I don’t understand why people should be flogged. Such form of punishment is inhumane and is inconsistent with the right to dignity of the human person,” he told CNN, adding: “It is also doubtful whether they were given a fair trial. I believe that the two men should take steps to challenge the decision at the higher court.
“Citizens have the right under the constitution to freedom of expression, and that right should be respected, particularly as it relates to public office holders. The rights of citizens to criticize them is preserved under the constitution,” Effiong said
