Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has criticised Afrobeats singer Adekunle Gold following the imprisonment of a social media user convicted over defamatory online posts about the musician’s family.
The social media critic, identified as Adeboye Samuel, was reportedly sentenced to two years in prison after being found guilty of publishing false claims online concerning Adekunle Gold and his wife, singer Simi.
Reacting in a viral video, Sowore condemned the use of law enforcement and criminal prosecution to handle online rumours and social media exchanges.
“How dare Adekunle Gold, after getting some little money and fame, send somebody to jail for two years for writing something we all know is not true?” Sowore said.
The activist compared the situation to his own experience with false rumours circulating online.
“Yesterday, people were calling me to say that my wife and children had died in the US. I simply called them to confirm they were alive and moved on,” he added.
Sowore argued that public figures who once benefited from freedom of expression should not use cybercrime laws to silence critics or punish online commentary.
He also called on the Nigeria Police Force and the judiciary to stop criminalising social media banter, insisting that defamation disputes should be handled through civil legal processes rather than prison sentences.
Sowore maintained that using criminal charges against citizens over online posts could further threaten free speech and digital rights in Nigeria.
