Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Yesterday, nollywood actress Adunni Ade announced that she has secured a landmark legal victory against Google LLC, with a Lagos High Court awarding her ₦30 million in general damages over the publication of defamatory articles linking her to former Senator Dino Melaye. The actress had originally sought ₦100 million in damages, and the judgment, delivered on July 9, 2025, by Justice I.O. Harrison, found that Google violated the actress's right to privacy by publishing and retaining stories that painted her in a "false light." The court also ordered the tech giant to immediately delete two articles titled "How Dino Melaye used fake Patek Watch to woo and knack Actress Adunni Ade back, front and center" and "Actress Adunni Ade involved in heated exchange with famous Instagram blog after being listed among 6 celebrities to have dated Dino Melaye" from all its platforms.
Adunni Ade filed the originating summons on July 11, 2024, seeking enforcement of her fundamental right to privacy under Section 37 of the Nigerian Constitution and the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023. The actress argued that Google's continued publication of her name and photographs in the articles constituted an invasion of her privacy by "painting her in a false light." The court ruled that Google, as a data controller, failed to ensure that the actress's personal data was processed in a "fair, lawful and transparent manner," violating Section 24 of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.
The actress had initially sued both Google LLC and Meta Platforms Inc. However, she later discontinued the suit against Meta, which was subsequently struck out, leaving Google as the sole respondent. The court noted that Google was served with the originating processes and hearing notices but did not file any defence or appear before the court.
In its judgment, the court held that Google, as a data controller, failed to ensure that the actress's personal data was processed fairly, lawfully, accurately and transparently as required under the Nigeria Data Protection Act. Justice Harrison found that associating Adunni's name and photograph with what the court described as a false and embarrassing narrative portrayed her in a false light and amounted to an invasion of her privacy.
While the actress sought ₦100 million in damages, the court awarded her ₦30 million in general damages. It also ordered Google to delete or expunge the disputed publications and remove Adunni Ade's name and photograph from the articles across its platforms. Adunni shared the certified true copy of the judgment on her Instagram page on Thursday, July 2, 2026, bringing renewed public attention to the case. She captioned the post: "Adunni Adewale Vs Google. Not every battle needs a response; some need a courtroom, unto the next."
The judgment marks a significant victory for public figures seeking to protect their privacy rights in the digital age. It reinforces the principle that tech platforms cannot continue to host defamatory content without consequence, and that individuals have the right to seek redress when their personal data is processed unfairly. Google had not publicly responded to the judgment or the actress's post as of the time of filing this report.
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