Kano Court Jails TikToker 1 Year Over Cross-Dressing Video
A Kano Magistrate Court has sentenced popular TikTok content creator, Abubakar Usman—widely known as Kilina—to one year in a correctional facility for allegedly promoting indecent behavior through cross-dressing and vulgar content on social media.
The sentence was handed down by Magistrate Hadiza Muhammad Hassan of Court No. 21, who also gave the defendant an option of paying a ₦100,000 fine, along with an additional ₦30,000 compensation to the Kano State Film Censorship Board for “wasting the board’s time.”
Kilina was found guilty of creating and sharing videos that the court deemed to be promoting cross-dressing, indecency, and the use of offensive language—violations that the state censorship board argued breached public morality and cultural values.
The case was initiated by the Kano State Film Censorship Board, which has previously cracked down on social media content deemed inappropriate under local customs and religious norms.
In her ruling, Magistrate Hassan warned Kilina against repeating the offense, noting that future violations would attract the full penalty of the law without any leniency or option of a fine.
Following the ruling, Kilina’s supporters expressed sympathy online, with many saying the punishment was excessive, while others acknowledged that his content had begun pushing boundaries that could provoke backlash.
The case has stirred fresh debate in Nigeria over freedom of expression, digital content regulation, and the clash between cultural conservatism and modern online entertainment.
Kano Court Jails TikToker 1 Year Over Cross-Dressing Video