Legal representative to Nigerian singer Adekunle Gold, Oyinkansola Fawehinmi, has spoken after the conviction of an X user identified as Adeboye Samuel Adeyeye, popularly known online as @Swanky001, over posts targeting the singer’s daughter.
The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos found Adeyeye guilty of cyberbullying, cyber-threats and cyber-harassment directed at Adekunle Gold and his family. The judgment, delivered in the case involving the Inspector General of Police against the defendant, has already drawn attention from legal observers who described it as one of the country’s notable rulings on online harassment and defamation.
The matter began in July 2025 after the defendant allegedly published false claims on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating that the daughter of celebrity couple Adekunle Gold and Simi had died.
The prosecution told the court that despite backlash from users who urged him to take down the post due to concerns for the child’s wellbeing and safety, Adeyeye allegedly ignored the appeals and kept the claims online.
Investigators further revealed that the false reports were deliberately maintained for several months in an attempt to generate engagement and increase earnings through X’s monetisation programme. Authorities said the online attacks continued until March 2026 when the defendant was eventually arrested by security operatives.
During the court proceedings, defence counsel appealed for leniency, pointing to the defendant’s health condition, age and status as a first-time offender. The court also considered apology letters reportedly written by his parents, alongside his decision to admit guilt.
In his ruling, the presiding judge sentenced Adeyeye to two years imprisonment for cyberbullying under the Cybercrimes Act 2024, another two years for cyber-threats and one year for cyber-harassment under the Criminal Code Act.
The court, however, directed that the sentences run concurrently and also gave the convict the option of paying a ₦1 million fine. A permanent restraining order was equally issued against him to prevent further actions capable of harming the reputation or peace of the complainants.
The judgment has continued to generate reactions within legal circles, with many describing it as one of Nigeria’s most high-profile convictions linked to celebrity cyberbullying. Observers also noted that Adekunle Gold and his legal team chose to seek justice through the courts rather than engaging in prolonged social media exchanges.
Reacting after the ruling, Fawehinmi warned that investigations involving other accounts allegedly connected to the smear campaign were still ongoing.
She stated that the decision should serve as a warning to individuals spreading or promoting defamatory statements against their clients, adding that authorities were already looking into other accounts tied to the campaign and that due process would continue to take its course.
The lawyer also praised the Nigeria Police Force and the judiciary for the way the case was handled, while appreciating fans and supporters who stood by the family throughout the legal battle.
