Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has strongly criticised Afrobeats singer Adekunle Kosoko, popularly known as Adekunle Gold, following the conviction and sentencing of a social media user.
The critic, identified as Adeboye Samuel, was handed a two-year prison sentence after being found guilty of posting defamatory claims online concerning the musician’s family.
Reacting to the development in a viral video, Sowore questioned the decision of the musician and his wife, Simi, to use law enforcement and criminal prosecution to resolve online rumours.
“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? 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,” Sowore stated.
The activist said that public figures who have previously benefited from the right to freedom of expression should not turn around to weaponise the cybercrime framework against citizens over social media exchanges.
Sowore further called on the judiciary and the Nigeria Police Force to stop criminalising online banter, maintaining that defamation matters should be handled through civilian means rather than custodial sentences.
