Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Pierre Antoine
A Lagos State High Court has sentenced a social media user identified as Samuel Adeboye Adeyeye, known on X as @Swanky0001, to two years imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to publishing false information about the daughter of Nigerian singer Adekunle Gold.
Court documents and proceedings confirm that the defendant was arraigned on charges relating to the dissemination of false information and malicious online publication under Nigeria’s cybercrime laws. He admitted responsibility for the post during proceedings, which formed the basis of his conviction.
The court established that the defendant circulated a false claim alleging a serious incident involving the singer’s daughter. The post was shared on the social media platform X and gained attention before being identified as false.
Following his guilty plea, the court proceeded to deliver judgment, sentencing him to two years imprisonment. The ruling was issued after the court considered the admission of guilt and the nature of the offence as presented in the charge.
Prosecutors had argued that the publication violated provisions of Nigeria’s Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, which criminalises the intentional spread of false information capable of causing harm, panic, or reputational damage.
The court held that the act constituted a punishable offence under the relevant legal framework, particularly given that the post was made publicly and attributed to a named individual’s family member.
No additional penalties or fines were publicly confirmed in available court summaries beyond the custodial sentence. The judgment did not include a contested trial phase, as the defendant entered a guilty plea.
The case has drawn attention due to its connection to a public figure, Adekunle Gold, a prominent Afrobeats musician. However, the court’s decision focused strictly on the act of publishing false information and the defendant’s admission in court.
Legal observers note that the ruling reflects ongoing enforcement of cybercrime provisions in Nigeria, particularly in cases involving defamatory or false digital content. Courts have increasingly handled similar cases involving social media publications.
As of reporting time, there is no official indication that an appeal has been filed against the judgment.
Stone Reporters note that the conviction adds to a growing number of cyber-related prosecutions in Nigeria involving false publication on social media platforms.
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