Adekunle Gold to drag more social media users to court over defamation

Nigerian singer and songwriter, Adekunle Kosoko, known professionally as Adekunle Gold, may begging the process dragging more social media users to court over defamation.

His resolve followed the Federal High Court in Lagos convictiong of an X user, Adeboye Samuel Adeyeye, with the username @Swanky001, in connection with cyberbullying, cyber threats, and cyber harassment targeted at the family.

In the judgment delivered on May 15, 2026, in the case IGP v. Adeboye Samuel Adeyeye (Suit No. FHC/L/236C/26), the court found the defendant guilty on all three counts brought against him. The court subsequently sentenced him to two years imprisonment on Count 1 under Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes Act 2024, two years on Count 2 under Section 24(2)(i) of the same Act, and one year on Count 3 under Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act, with the sentences to run concurrently.

The conviction followed months of online attacks allegedly carried out by Adeyeye against Adekunle Gold and his family between July 2025 and March 2026 before his eventual arrest.

One of the incidents that sparked outrage online was a viral post shared by the defendant falsely claiming that the daughter of Adekunle Gold and Simi had died. The disturbing post quickly gained traction on X, with several users warning him to delete it because of the potential emotional and security implications for the family and their child.

Rather than retract the claim, the defendant allegedly escalated the situation by repeatedly amplifying the falsehood while benefitting from the massive engagement generated by the controversial post.

In delivering judgment, the court said it considered several mitigating factors, including apology letters written by the defendant’s parents, his health condition, age, conduct before the court, his admission of guilt, and the fact that he was a first-time offender.

The ruling has since stirred conversations across social media, with many Nigerians describing it as a landmark decision in the fight against cyberbullying, misinformation, and defamatory online attacks.

Observers say the judgment sends a strong warning to social media users who spread malicious falsehoods under anonymous or faceless accounts, especially when such actions are capable of causing emotional distress or reputational damage.

Legal representatives for Adekunle Gold reportedly maintained that the singer and his family chose to pursue justice through lawful means rather than engage in online retaliation, a move many have praised as mature and exemplary.

The development is also being viewed as one of Nigeria’s most prominent cyberbullying convictions involving celebrities and is expected to shape conversations around accountability and responsible social media use in the country.