Nigerian actress Adunni Ade has emerged victorious in a protracted defamation lawsuit against Polace Media Limited, operators of the news website naijanews.com, securing a landmark judgment that awards her N20 million in damages.
The legal battle, which concluded this week, stems from a controversial report published nearly two years ago that falsely identified Adunni Ade as one of “six popular Nigerian celebrities” allegedly romantically involved with former Kogi State Senator Dino Melaye. The actress vehemently denied the claims and immediately challenged the publication’s credibility.
In her initial response to the damaging report, Adunni Ade filed a N100 million lawsuit against the media outlet, citing invasion of privacy and defamation of character. The actress maintained that the story was entirely fabricated and sought legal redress through Nigeria’s judicial system.
Announcing her victory on Instagram Tuesday evening, the elated actress praised the Nigerian judiciary for delivering justice. “Won my case, Adunni Ade vs. Polace Media Limited (www.naijanews.com). A false story was published about me, but truth stood tall,” she wrote. “This judgment reaffirms that privacy matters—and so does integrity. Justice delayed isn’t justice denied.”
However, the celebration comes with a caveat. While the court granted N20 million in damages—significantly lower than the N100 million initially sought—enforcing the judgment may prove challenging. Responding to inquiries from followers, Adunni Ade revealed that the responsible party has fled the country. “The judge granted N20 million in damages, but the blogger don japa. Na to garnish account remain,” she stated, using Nigerian colloquialism to indicate that the blogger has absconded and that she may need to pursue asset seizure to recover the awarded damages.
This legal win marks Adunni Ade’s second successful defamation case, and she indicated that more lawsuits are pending. In a pointed message to other defendants, she warned, “2 cases won, a few more to go. You who are running up and down avoiding court papers, please stand still so that you can be served.”
The case underscores growing concerns about the proliferation of unverified celebrity gossip and false information published by online platforms in Nigeria’s digital media landscape. It also highlights the willingness of public figures to pursue legal remedies to protect their reputations, despite the lengthy nature of such proceedings.
Legal observers note that while the judgment represents a significant victory for celebrity privacy rights, the challenge of enforcing such rulings—particularly when defendants flee the jurisdiction—remains a persistent problem in Nigeria’s legal system.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Nollywood actress Adunni Ade has won a two-year defamation battle against naijanews.com, securing N20 million in damages after being falsely linked to Senator Dino Melaye. While the court ruled in her favor, the blogger has reportedly fled the country, making it difficult to collect the awarded sum.
This marks her second legal victory, with more cases pending—a strong warning to online platforms that publish false celebrity stories without consequences. The case demonstrates that Nigerian courts will protect privacy and reputation, but enforcement remains a challenge when defendants abscond.
