A Nigerian social media user has been sentenced to two years imprisonment after being found guilty of spreading false information about singer Adekunle Gold’s family on X (formerly Twitter).
The convict, identified as Samuel Adeboye Adeyeye, known on X as @Swanky0001, was accused of posting a fake announcement claiming that Adekunle Gold and Simi had lost their daughter, Adejare, to a rare disease. The post quickly circulated online before being debunked.
According to reports, the misleading post falsely stated that the child had died from Canavan disease, a rare genetic disorder.
The post read: “Adekunle Gold just lost his daughter Deja at a tender age of 6. Reports have it that she lost her life to a rare disease called Canavan disease. May her perfect, gentle soul rest in peace”.
Following his arrest, the defendant was brought before a court where he admitted to spreading the false information. Therefore, he was subsequently convicted and sentenced to two years in prison.
In addition, the case highlights the need for growing enforcement of cybercrime and defamation laws in Nigeria.
The misinformation case also sparked reactions from public figures, including former Big Brother Naija housemate Pere Egbi.
Commenting on the situation, Pere wrote: “Lol. Normally na wetin so many of them deserve be this. You wanna troll, it’s okay. Get ready to take a stroll to kirikiri”.
However, concerns have also been raised about balancing free speech with accountability on social media platforms.
