A Nigerian court has sentenced a social media user to two years in prison after he was found guilty of posting a false and malicious tweet about the daughter of Afrobeats star Adekunle Gold and his wife, singer Simi.

The convict, identified in local reports as a user of the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), was arrested after he allegedly circulated a message claiming that the couple’s daughter, Deja, had died — a statement that was quickly debunked by the family and fans.

The false post reportedly went viral within hours, sparking confusion and concern across social media before being publicly dismissed as fake news.

He was subsequently charged under Nigeria’s cybercrime and anti-defamation laws. In court, he pleaded guilty to spreading false information and was convicted of cyberbullying and defamation.

The judge handed down a two-year custodial sentence, underscoring the growing legal consequences for misinformation and online harassment in the country.

The case has reignited debate across Nigeria’s digital space about responsible social media use, with many commentators calling for stricter enforcement of laws against the spread of false information, particularly when it targets public figures and their families.

Neither Adekunle Gold nor Simi has publicly commented further on the court ruling at the time of filing this report.