A Lagos High Court has ruled in favour of Nollywood actress Adunni Ade, awarding her million (twenty million Naira) in damages after an online publication falsely linked her to a romantic relationship with Senator Dino Melaye.
The judgement serves as a strong rebuke to speculative reporting and upholds the actress’s right to privacy.
Case Details and Complaint
The lawsuit, filed under suit number , named a specific news outlet and its reporter as defendants. The case centered on a story published on January 18, 2023, titled “Six Popular Nigerian Actresses Who Have Been Accused of Dating Dino Melaye.”
Adunni Ade argued that the publication presented her in a “misleading and offensive way,” grossly misrepresenting her personal life and damaging her reputation.
Court’s Ruling on ‘False Light’
The presiding judge ruled definitively in the actress’s favour, granting the million compensation. Crucially, the court also:
- Ordered the immediate removal of Adunni Ade’s name and pictures from the defamatory online publication.
- Recognized “false light” as a distinct form of privacy violation under Nigerian law, setting an important legal precedent for public figures seeking protection from misleading reporting.
This victory follows previous action taken by Adunni Ade, who had earlier threatened legal proceedings against another blog regarding false reports concerning her marital status.
Source: ladunliadinews
