A court in Lagos State has sentenced a social media user, Samuel Adeboye Adeyeye, popularly known as Swanky_concept on X, to two years imprisonment for falsely announcing the death of the daughter of Nigerian music stars Adekunle Gold and Simi.
Adeyeye was convicted after pleading guilty to charges related to spreading false information online with malicious intent, cyberbullying, and defamation.
Key Highlights:
- A Lagos court sentenced social media user Samuel Adeboye Adeyeye to two years in prison for spreading false news.
- He falsely claimed on X that the daughter of Adekunle Gold and Simi had died.
- The post went viral, causing public outrage and widespread misinformation online.
- Adeyeye pleaded guilty to charges including cyberbullying, defamation, and spreading false information.
- The case has sparked renewed debate in Nigeria about fake news, cyberbullying, and online responsibility.
The controversy began after the defendant shared a viral post on X, formerly Twitter, claiming that the couple’s daughter, Deja, had died.
“My sincere condolences to the Adekunle family. Rip to Deja,” the post read.
The false claim quickly circulated across social media, triggering outrage among fans and other users who condemned the spread of fake news involving a child.
Reports indicated that Adeyeye was arraigned before the court on May 14, where he admitted guilt to the charges brought against him.
He was subsequently sentenced on May 15 to two years imprisonment.
The ruling has reignited conversations around misinformation, cyberbullying, and the growing trend of social media users spreading fabricated stories for engagement and online attention.
Read also:
- Lawyers Without Borders seeks transparent trial for Delta police officer over alleged extra-judicial killing
- Delta Police intercept 490g Cocaine, recover Pump-Action Gun in Ughelli crackdown
- Delta Police crack down on extortion, ban proxy arrests as CP Yemi Oyeniyi issues tough directive
Media personality Do2dtun was among those who earlier criticised the incident, condemning the culture of using celebrities and their families for clout chasing on social media.
Many Nigerians have since reacted to the court’s decision, with some describing the sentence as a strong warning against fake news and malicious online behaviour, while others noted that authorities appear to be taking a firmer stance on cyberbullying and online harassment.
The case also adds to growing concerns over misinformation on X, where false celebrity death rumours and misleading stories often gain traction before being debunked.
As of the time of filing this report, neither Adekunle Gold nor Simi had publicly commented on the sentencing.
