Convicted murderer’s TikTok account deleted after probe
A death row inmate’s primary TikTok account has been deleted following an investigative report exposing his live sessions and businesses from correctional centre.
Following a report published by the Nigerian Tribune and Premium Times, the primary TikTok account linked to Elijah Oyebode, a death row inmate at the Ibara Custodial Centre in Abeokuta, has been deleted. The report exposed how the convicted murderer hosted live sessions from the correctional centre against established laws. A check showed the account now returns the message: “Couldn’t find this account”. It remains unclear whether the account was deleted by TikTok, by prison authorities, or by Mr Oyebode himself.
The investigation revealed that Mr Oyebode had been operating at least two TikTok accounts from inside the correctional centre, receiving monetary gifts from thousands of viewers unaware of his conviction. He was convicted of the 2016 murder of Rofiat Adebisi, a final-year student of Osun State University. During a monitored TikTok Live session on 16 April 2026, Mr Oyebode disclosed the scale of digital access inside the facility, saying: “An individual may have two to three phones”. A second account linked to Mr Oyebode was used to impersonate a prominent TikTok Live host.
Before publication, TikTok’s Head of Communications for Sub-Saharan Africa was contacted but provided no substantive response. The account remained active through publication on 1 August but was deleted by 4 August. The Nigerian Correctional Service has not released any statement in response to the investigation.
The winners: the Nigerian Tribune and Premium Times, whose investigation prompted action; and the public, who are now aware of the breach. The losers: the Nigerian Correctional Service, which faces questions about security lapses; and the inmate, who has lost his platform.
Bottom Line: A death row inmate’s TikTok has been taken down. The questions about prison security remain unanswered.