Adunni Ade Wins N20M Defamation Case Over Dino Melaye Romance Claims

Court Awards N20 Million in Damages

On Tuesday, the Lagos State High Court ruled in Adunni’s favor, awarding her N20 million for invasion of privacy and defamation. It’s been a long road, nearly two years since the news platform first published allegations naming her among “six popular Nigerian celebrities” supposedly dating the former Kogi State senator.

Taking to Instagram to share the news, Adunni wrote: “Won my case Adunni Ade vs. Polace Media Limited (www.naijanews.com). A false story was published about me, but truth stood tall. This judgment reaffirms that privacy matters , and so does integrity.”

How the Case Started

Shortly after the 2023 publication, the actress hit back hard, filing a N100 million lawsuit and categorically denying the allegations. According to court documents, she was seeking damages for what she called “malicious and unfounded” claims that harmed her reputation and caused emotional distress.

Her legal team made the case that the publication didn’t just damage her professional standing, it violated her constitutional right to privacy. The court agreed, though it reduced the original N100 million demand to N20 million.

More Cases in the Pipeline

This isn’t Adunni’s first win. It’s actually her second successful defamation suit against Nigerian media outlets, and she made it clear there are more to come. “2 cases won, a few more to go,” she posted on Instagram. “You who is running up and down avoiding court papers, please stand still, so that you can be served.”

When followers asked how she plans to actually collect the money, her response was telling: “Judge granted N20 million in damages, but blogger don japa. Na to garnish account remain.” In other words, the defendants may have already fled, which could make enforcing the judgment tricky.

Part of a Bigger Pattern?

Adunni’s victory appears to be part of a wider shift. Nigerian celebrities are increasingly turning to the courts to fight back against gossip blogs and entertainment sites that publish unverified stories. Entertainment lawyers say they’ve seen a noticeable uptick in defamation cases, especially as social media platforms make it easier than ever to spread damaging claims.

The N20 million award may send a message, at least, that’s what some legal experts believe. Lagos-based media law attorney Chidinma Okonkwo put it this way: “This judgment reinforces that freedom of the press doesn’t include freedom to publish false information without consequences.”

Still, the case raises questions about Nigeria’s digital media landscape, where the race for clicks can sometimes overshadow basic fact-checking. It’s a tension that’s not going away anytime soon.

What This Means for Entertainment Journalism

Will this ruling actually change how celebrity news gets covered? Hard to say. Some industry watchers think awards this size might push entertainment platforms to adopt stricter editorial standards, especially when it comes to stories about celebrities’ personal lives that lack solid sources.

Adunni has built a solid career in Nollywood over the years, appearing in dozens of films and cultivating a loyal social media following. Her willingness to drag these cases through court suggests that Nigerian celebrities are becoming savvier about protecting their brands, and less willing to let bloggers get away with publishing whatever sells.

She hasn’t said whether she’s planning more lawsuits, but based on her Instagram comments, it seems she’s not done fighting what she sees as false reporting about her private life.

By National Scoop