Don’t Criminalise Citizens Over Online Banter — Sowore Blasts Adekunle Gold After Twitter Troll Gets 2 Years Jail Sentence
The sentencing of a Twitter user to two years in prison over false claims about Adekunle Gold’s daughter has sparked widespread debate across social media. Now, activist Omoyele Sowore has weighed in, warning against using influence to criminalize online banter and raising fresh concerns about free speech in the digital age.
The conviction of a Twitter user over his post about the death of Adekunle Gold’s daughter, Deja, has been trending for the past few days. Now, activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore is talking about it, sparking yet another heated debate.
The controversy began after a Twitter/X user, identified as Samuel Adeboye Adeyeye (@Swanky0001), was reportedly sentenced to two years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to spreading false information about singer Adekunle Gold’s daughter.
Reacting to the news, Sowore took to social media to criticise the move, citing old tweets by Adekunle Gold about former president Goodluck Jonathan, while warning influential public figures against using the justice system to silence ordinary citizens.
His message was blunt:
“Don’t criminalise your fellow citizens over online banter now that you’re influential.”
For Sowore, the issue goes beyond Adekunle Gold or one Twitter troll. He argues that Nigeria is gradually creating a dangerous culture where criticism, jokes, online trolling, and unpopular opinions are increasingly being treated as crimes rather than speech.
As expected, social media users are split; some believe dragging a celebrity is one thing, but bringing a child into it is another and spreading false information about someone’s family should have consequences. While some believe a 2-year prison sentence feels too harsh for an online offence.
What started as an online banter has now evolved into a national conversation about power, accountability, and free speech in Nigeria. Which brings forth the question: Should people go to prison for harmful tweets?
Source: TrendyBeatz
