BREAKING: Trial Stalled As Police Fail To Present TikToker ‘Tumma’ In Court

• Police failed to present TikToker ‘Tumma’ in court, delaying his trial.
• Gabriel has been in solitary confinement over alleged cyberstalking of Sanwo-Olu, IGP.
• His prolonged detention raises concerns about human rights and legal obstruction.

The Nigeria Police Force on Monday failed to produce popular TikToker Timothy Gabriel, also known as ‘Tumma,’ in court for his trial, forcing the judge to postpone proceedings until April 29, 2025. Gabriel has been held in solitary confinement for over a month following his arrest over alleged defamatory statements against Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that a source at the court confirmed the adjournment, stating, “We have just come from the court, and the police did not present him, leading the judge to reschedule the case for April 29.” The delay has sparked growing public outrage, with social media users, including an X user named Larry, calling for Gabriel’s immediate release and condemning the police’s actions.

Gabriel was initially scheduled to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja on March 24, 2025. Documents obtained by SaharaReporters reveal that the Inspector General of Police is both the complainant and the primary force behind Gabriel’s prosecution, accusing him of cyberstalking under the Cybercrimes (Prevention, Prohibition, etc.) Act 2025, as amended in 2024.

The first charge against Gabriel alleges that he falsely claimed Governor Sanwo-Olu is an armed robber involved in embezzling state funds, a statement shared on his TikTok account, OFFICIAL_TUMMA. Authorities argue that the claim was intended to defame the governor and have charged him under Section 24(2)(a) of the Cybercrimes Act, which carries serious penalties.

In the second charge, Gabriel is accused of sharing a video aimed at tarnishing the reputation of the IGP, also an offense under the Cybercrimes Act.

Naija News reports that Gabriel was arrested on February 6, 2025, in a raid by heavily armed officers at his residence in Mpape, Abuja. He was subsequently taken to the Cybercrime Centre of the Nigeria Police Force, where he has remained in detention without bail.

Sources suggest that Gabriel’s arrest was personally ordered by IGP Egbetokun over his TikTok videos. His prolonged detention without trial has raised human rights concerns, with critics accusing the authorities of using legal loopholes to suppress dissent.

BREAKING: Trial Stalled As Police Fail To Present TikToker ‘Tumma’ In Court

The failure to produce Gabriel in court on Monday has intensified fears that the police may be deliberately stalling the legal process to extend his detention indefinitely.

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