Adunni Ade Wins ₦20 Million Law Suit Over False Dino Melaye Dating Report

Nollywood actress Adunni Ade has recently achieved a significant legal victory as a Lagos High Court awarded her ₦20 million in damages.

This ruling comes after she filed a lawsuit against a media platform for publishing false claims about her dating Senator Dino Melaye. The court’s decision highlights the importance of accountability in media reporting.

This case, filed under suit number LD/17781MFHR/2024, centered on an article published in January 2023 titled “Six Popular Nigerian Actresses Who Have Been Accused of Dating Dino Melaye.” In her claim, Adunni Ade contended that the report painted her in a misleading and offensive light, infringing her constitutional right to privacy under Section 37 of the Nigerian Constitution as well as under the Nigeria Data Protection Act.

In defending itself, the online platform and its reporter argued that Adunni Ade had posted personal photos publicly on social media and that she delayed bringing the suit. However, Justice Ibironke Harrison rejected those arguments. The court held that the misuse of a person’s name or image does not require that data be voluntarily submitted by the claimant, and that a misleading portrayal (false light) is actionable in Nigerian law.

When judgment was delivered on June 24, 2025, the court ordered removal of her name and image from the contentious article and awarded her general damages of ₦20 million.

Legal analysts describe this ruling as landmark. The recognition of a “false light” claim marks a significant development for privacy and defamation law in Nigeria.

In months prior, Adunni Ade had threatened legal action over other fabricated stories and misquoted statements circulated online.