A magistrate court in Kano has sentenced popular TikTok content creator, Abubakar Usman Kilina, to one year in prison over a video deemed indecent by state authorities.
Presiding over the case, Magistrate Hadiza Muhammad Hassan of Court No. 21 also offered Kilina the option of a ₦100,000 fine in lieu of imprisonment. Additionally, he was ordered to pay ₦30,000 in compensation to the Kano State Film Censorship Board, which the court said had its time “wasted” due to the incident.
According to a report by Freedom Radio, Kilina was found guilty of promoting indecent behavior, featuring cross-dressers, and using offensive language in one of his TikTok videos. The case was initiated following a formal complaint by the Kano State Film Censorship Board.
During sentencing, Magistrate Hadiza issued a stern warning to the social media personality, urging him to refrain from any further content that violates public morality or cultural norms. She cautioned that any future offenses would attract a full custodial sentence without the option of a fine.
The ruling underscores the growing scrutiny of social media content in conservative regions like Kano, where digital creators are increasingly held accountable under local decency and censorship laws.
