Kano Remands TikToker For Cross-Dressing And ‘Immoral’ Content

A popular TikTok personality, Abubakar Kilina, has been remanded in custody by a magistrate’s court in Kano following his arraignment on charges filed by the Kano State Censorship Board.

According to a statement released Tuesday by the board’s spokesperson, Abdullahi Sani Sulaiman, Kilina was accused of cross-dressing, using expletives, and engaging in indecent behavior on social media — conduct the board claims violates the moral and religious standards upheld in the state.

The case was heard at the No-Man’s-Land Magistrate Court, where Kilina pleaded guilty to the charges.

Barrister Garzali Maigari Bichi prosecuted the case, which was presided over by Magistrate Hajiya Halima Wali. She ordered TikTok personality Abubakar Kilina to be remanded in custody from June 4 to 17, 2025, pending the court’s final decision.

Speaking on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Censorship Board, Alhaji Abba El-Mustapha reiterated the agency’s ongoing commitment to monitoring and regulating digital content that contravenes the cultural and moral standards of the state.

He issued a warning that individuals using online platforms to promote immorality will face legal consequences.

Kilina’s case is part of a broader crackdown by the Kano State Censorship Board, which has prosecuted several social media influencers—particularly TikTok creators—for similar offenses in recent months. Many have received fines or jail sentences following conviction.