Nigerian actress Adunni Adewale has secured a major legal victory for privacy rights, winning two separate court cases and a total of N33 million in damages.
First, on May 7, 2026, Hon. Justice Olalekan A. Oresanya ruled in her favour at the Lagos High Court. The court held Vanguard Media Limited and journalist Ayo Onikoyi responsible. They published a story titled “Beauty not enough to keep a man” that exposed her private marital life without her consent.
As a result, the judge awarded her N3 million for violating her privacy rights and the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.
Additionally, on July 9, 2025, Hon. Justice I. O. Harrison delivered another strong ruling. The court ordered Google LLC to delete two misleading online stories from its platforms. These articles falsely linked Adunni Adewale to politician Dino Melaye with sensational claims. The judge awarded her N30 million in damages. Meanwhile, the court struck Meta Platforms Inc. from the case.
These rulings show the power of Nigeria’s privacy laws. They protect both celebrities and ordinary citizens from unwanted media exposure. Moreover, the decisions strengthen the 1999 Constitution and Data Protection Act.
