- Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore criticized singer Adekunle Gold regarding legal actions taken against a social media user.
- The user was imprisoned for over two years for allegedly spreading false statements about Adekunle Gold and his family.
- Sowore questioned the ethics of pursuing such legal action, highlighting concerns about freedom of expression.
Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has taken a swipe at singer Adekunle Gold over reports surrounding the imprisonment of a social media user accused of spreading false statements about the artist and his family.
In a viral interview circulating online, Sowore questioned the decision by Adekunle Gold and his wife, singer Simi, to pursue legal action that allegedly led to a young man serving more than two years in prison over comments posted on X (formerly Twitter).
He argued that public figures should be able to tolerate online misinformation instead of resorting to law enforcement against critics or social media users.
“How can Adekunle Gold, after gaining some level of fame and wealth, send someone to prison for two years over a statement that everyone knows is false?” Sowore said. He added that he had also faced similar situations, noting that he once received false reports about his own family but chose to verify and move on.
The activist further cited other global examples, including former U.S. President Donald Trump and a Kaduna-based cleric who was falsely declared dead during the COVID-19 period, to highlight how misinformation spreads widely online.
According to Sowore, the incident reflects what he described as a growing tendency among influential individuals to misuse power when they feel attacked online.
“How can someone work with police and prosecutors to imprison another person for years over a few lines on Twitter? People complain about oppression, but when they gain influence, they often become worse,” he added.
The issue has further fueled ongoing debates in Nigeria around cybercrime laws, freedom of expression, and the arrest of individuals over controversial online posts.
See post below:
