TikToker Sentenced to Jail for Taking a Bath on a Public Street in Kano

A Magistrate Court in the Gyadi Gyadi area of Kano State has sentenced popular TikToker Umar Hashim, known online as Tsulange, to one year in prison for what the court described as "indecent conductÔÇØ in a public place.

Presiding over the case, Magistrate Hadiza Muhammad Hassan found Hashim guilty of public misconduct after his arrest in June 2025.

The charge was filed by the Kano State Censorship Board following the release of a viral skit in which Hashim was seen bathing on a public street while wearing women's underwear. The video stirred significant backlash, especially from conservative and religious groups in the state, who labeled it a serious affront to moral and societal values.

In her judgment, Magistrate Hassan handed down a one-year prison sentence but gave Hashim the option of paying an 80,000 fine instead of serving the jail term.

The court also ordered him to pay an additional 20,000 to the Kano State Censorship Board to cover the cost of the investigation and prosecution.

The Kano State Censorship Board, known for its strict stance against content it deems immoral or offensive, stated that Hashim's video breached the cultural and religious values upheld by the people of the state.

Reaffirming its dedication to maintaining public decency, the board issued a warning to other content creators, urging them to respect the limits of acceptable behavior-especially within a conservative society like Kano.

This ruling has further fueled the ongoing national conversation around freedom of expression, digital content regulation, and censorship in Nigeria, as social media continues to play a powerful role in shaping youth culture and pop trends across the country.