The legal team of Nigerian singer Adekunle Gold has reacted to the conviction of an X (formerly Twitter) user, Adeboye Samuel Adeyeye, known as @Swanky001, over cyberbullying and online harassment targeting the artist and his family.
The judgment was delivered by the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos in the case of IGP v. Adeboye Samuel Adeyeye (FHC/L/236C/26), where the defendant was found guilty on all three counts of cyber-related offences.
The court held that Adeyeye’s posts on social media falsely claimed the death of the child of Adekunle Gold and singer Simi, sparking widespread concern and public backlash.
Prosecutors told the court that the defendant allegedly maintained the false narrative for several months despite warnings and appeals for the content to be removed, with claims that the posts were intended to generate online engagement and revenue.
The court sentenced Adeyeye to two years imprisonment for cyberbullying under the Cybercrimes Act, two years for cyber threats, and one year for cyber harassment. However, the sentences are to run concurrently, with an option of a ₦1 million fine.
A permanent restraining order was also issued, prohibiting further online actions that could harm the reputation or safety of the complainants.
The case has been described by legal analysts as one of Nigeria’s most significant rulings on celebrity-related cyber harassment, highlighting increasing judicial scrutiny of online behaviour.
Adekunle Gold’s lawyer, Oyinkansola Fawehinmi, said investigations are still ongoing into other social media accounts allegedly linked to the campaign.
“This decision should serve as notice to anyone publishing or amplifying defamatory statements against our clients,” she said.
She also praised the Nigeria Police Force and the judiciary for their handling of the case and thanked supporters of the family for their solidarity during the legal process.
The ruling underscores the growing enforcement of Nigeria’s cybercrime laws as authorities intensify efforts to curb online harassment, misinformation, and digital defamation across social media platforms.
