Adunni Ade Wins ₦30 Million Privacy Suit Against Google Over Defamatory Articles

LAGOS, Nigeria — Nollywood actress Adunni Ade has recorded a significant legal victory against Google LLC after a Lagos High Court awarded her ₦30 million in general damages for violating her constitutional right to privacy through the publication and continued retention of defamatory online articles linking her to former Dino Melaye.

Justice I.O. Harrison delivered the judgment on July 9, 2025, holding that Google breached the actress’s privacy rights by processing and retaining content that falsely associated her with Dino Melaye and portrayed her in what the court described as a “false light.”

The court ordered Google to immediately delete two articles from all its platforms:

• How Dino Melaye used a fake Patek Watch to woo and knack Actress Adunni Ade back, front and centre.
• Actress Adunni Ade is involved in a heated exchange with a famous Instagram blogger after being listed among six celebrities to have dated Dino Melaye.

Court documents show that Adunni Ade commenced the legal action on July 11, 2024, seeking enforcement of her fundamental right to privacy under Section 37 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.

She argued that Google’s continued publication of the stories, alongside her name and photographs, unlawfully invaded her privacy and damaged her reputation by presenting her in a misleading and embarrassing context.

In the judgment, Justice Harrison ruled that Google, acting as a data controller, failed to ensure that the actress’s personal data was processed fairly, lawfully and transparently as required under Section 24 of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.

Delivering the ruling, the judge stated:

“The main issue is the association of her name and picture to a false and embarrassing narrative, and this constitutes publication in a false light and is an invasion of her right to privacy.”

The court also noted that Google neither entered an appearance nor filed any defence despite being duly served with the originating processes.

Legal analysts say the judgment is one of Nigeria’s most significant privacy rulings involving a global technology company and is expected to strengthen the enforcement of digital privacy rights under the Nigeria Data Protection Act.

The decision could also influence future cases involving online publications, search engines and technology platforms that process or retain personal information capable of causing reputational harm.

Why This Matters

The judgment reinforces the principle that digital platforms operating in Nigeria have legal responsibilities under the country’s data protection laws. It also affirms that individuals, including public figures, retain enforceable privacy rights where online publications create false, misleading or defamatory impressions.

PixelPulse Media will continue to follow developments in media law, digital rights and privacy regulation across Nigeria.