Nollywood actress Adunni Ade has secured a landmark ₦30 million judgment against Google LLC at a Lagos High Court, following a lawsuit over defamatory stories that linked her romantically to former senator Dino Melaye. The ruling, delivered on July 9, 2025, by Hon. Justice I.O. Harrison of the Lagos Judicial Division, awarded the actress general damages and ordered Google to delete the offending publications from both Google Search and YouTube, as well as issue a formal apology.
Background of the Case
The lawsuit, filed in July 2024, centered on two specific articles published on Google's platforms. The first story was titled "How Dino Melaye used fake Patek Watch to woo and knack Actress Adunni Ade back, front and centre." The second described her as being involved in a heated exchange with an Instagram blog after being listed among six celebrities allegedly linked to Melaye. Adunni, whose legal name is Adunni Adewale, argued that these publications violated her constitutional right to privacy under Section 37 of Nigeria's 1999 Constitution and breached the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, which mandates that personal data be processed in a fair, accurate, and transparent manner.
Court's Findings and Ruling
The court agreed with the actress, finding that Google, as the data controller, failed to ensure that the information tied to her was accurate and not misleading. In her judgment, Justice Harrison stated that Google's continued publication of the stories constituted a violation of Adunni's privacy rights. The court ordered the tech giant to remove the publications from its platforms and issue an apology. Adunni had initially sought ₦100 million in damages, but the court settled on ₦30 million.
Google's Absence in Court
Perhaps the most striking aspect of the case was Google's complete absence from the proceedings. Despite being served electronically by court order in December 2024, Google filed no response, sent no legal representative, and made no appearance at any stage of the hearing. The court proceeded without them, noting that Google had been properly served. Meta Platforms, originally listed as a second respondent, was dropped from the case in April 2025 after filing a preliminary objection.
Implications for Data Privacy
This judgment underscores the growing importance of data privacy in Nigeria, particularly under the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023. Legal experts say the ruling could set a precedent for holding tech companies accountable for content published on their platforms. The court's decision also highlights the obligation of data controllers to ensure accuracy and fairness in processing personal data. Neither Google nor Adunni Ade has issued a public statement on the judgment at the time of this report.
