Actress Adunni Ade took Google to court over romance rumours tying her to Dino Melaye. Here’s how she won ₦30 million and forced a takedown.
A Lagos High Court has handed Nollywood actress Adunni Ade a major victory after she took Google to court over stories that linked her romantically to Dino Melaye. The court awarded her ₦30 million in damages and ordered the removal of the disputed posts from Google Search and YouTube.
The ruling has quickly sparked fresh conversation about privacy, online accuracy, and how far a story can travel once it hits the internet. For Adunni Ade, it was not just about headlines, it was about being tied to claims she said were misleading and harmful.
Justice I.O. Harrison of the Lagos Judicial Division delivered judgment on July 9, 2025, and ruled in Adunni Ade’s favour. The court awarded her ₦30 million in general damages, ordered Google to delete the publications, and directed that an apology be issued.
The judge also accepted the argument that Google, as the data controller, failed to ensure the information was accurate and not misleading. That finding matters because it places responsibility not only on publishers, but also on platforms that help keep such stories alive.
One of the most striking parts of the case was Google’s silence. Despite being served electronically, the company did not appear in court, file a defence, or send a representative throughout the proceedings.
The court moved ahead without them. That absence made the outcome feel even more one-sided, especially in a case built around claims of reputational harm and digital accountability.
Cases like this rarely make it this far, let alone end in a tech giant losing by default. For Nigerian celebrities who’ve long felt powerless against viral rumours, this ruling hints at a new tool: the courts.
