Adunni Ade wins legal battle over false story
File photo: Adunni Ade
Adunni Ade wins legal battle over false story.
Nollywood actress Adunni Ade has announced that she won her fundamental human rights case against Polance Media Limited, publishers of Naija News, over a report linking her romantically to Senator Dino Melaye.
The judgment, delivered by Justice I.O. Harrison of the Lagos State High Court, granted in her favour in suit no. LD/177818MFHR/2024 reaffirmed her right to privacy as protected under the Nigerian Constitution.
According to the court document, the matter was titled “In the Matter of an Application by Adunni Adewale for the Enforcement of Her Fundamental Human Right to Privacy as Guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.”
The suit, which began in January 2023, stemmed from a publication on NaijaNews.com titled “Six Popular Nigerian Actresses Who Have Been Accused of Dating Dino Melaye.” The actress was listed among those allegedly linked romantically to the politician.
Adunni Ade maintained that the story was “false, misleading, and offensive,” arguing that it misrepresented her personal life and violated her right to privacy. She said the publication caused her emotional distress and was done without her consent to attract web traffic.
Announcing her victory in a post shared on Instagram on Tuesday, Ade wrote, “I won my case — a false story was published about me, but truth stood tall. This judgment reaffirms that privacy matters — and so does integrity. Justice delayed isn’t justice denied.”
The actress also expressed gratitude to her legal team, saying, “Many thanks to my lawyer! You worked tirelessly on this case. Olumide Babalola LP — two cases won, a few more to go.”
She further hinted that there were pending defamation matters in court, adding, “You who are running up and down avoiding court papers, please stand still so you can be served.”
Adunni also appeared to address an unnamed colleague, saying, “And to you, my fellow actress who told a false story to the Cutie Jules, don’t worry, very soon the world will know the kind of snake you are. Envy and bitterness live and breathe in you. You are deadly! You must have forgotten what you showed me in my room?”
The court, in its preamble, explained that the judgment was delivered later than the constitutionally prescribed three months due to disruptions following the #EndSARS protests, which had affected court operations in Lagos.
Justice Harrison stated that despite the delays, the court was “fully abreast of the facts and issues raised in the case” and that “neither party will suffer a miscarriage of justice by reason thereof.”
The ruling marks a significant victory for Adunni Ade, who described it as a reaffirmation of “truth and integrity” in defending her privacy rights against false online publications.
