Court Convicts Ruth Ogunleye Over Defamatory TikTok Videos Against NDA Commandant, Orders ₦500,000 Fine
The Federal High Court in Kaduna has convicted Ruth Ogunleye over defamatory TikTok publications targeting the Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Major General Oluyemi Thomas Olatoye.
The court imposed a total fine of ₦500,000 on Ogunleye and sentenced her to two years’ imprisonment, with the custodial term suspended for three years under a plea bargain agreement.
The judgment was delivered by Justice Rilwanu Aikawa of Court One, Federal High Court, Kaduna Judicial Division, following an agreement reached between the prosecution and the defendant in accordance with Section 270 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
Ogunleye was initially arraigned on five counts filed by the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, over allegedly defamatory videos circulated on her TikTok account, @ogunleyeruthsavage, on or about August 14, 2026.
The prosecution accused her of deliberately publishing false statements about the NDA Commandant with the intention of causing insult, hatred, ill will and reputational damage.
Among the publications cited in the charges was a TikTok video captioned, “Maj General Yemi Olatoye is responsible for my death,” which reportedly displayed the senior military officer’s photograph.
Another publication carried the caption, “I go post your oga own too, your oga own dey my phone,” alongside statements concerning the Commandant.
The charges also alleged that Ogunleye claimed to possess intimate photographs of the military officer and threatened to make them public.
The offences were prosecuted under Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, as amended in 2024.
However, following negotiations, Ogunleye pleaded guilty to Counts One and Two, while the prosecution agreed to withdraw the remaining three counts after her conviction.
Consequently, the court imposed a fine of ₦250,000 on each count, amounting to ₦500,000. She was also sentenced to one year imprisonment on each count, with the sentences running concurrently but suspended for three years.
As part of the plea bargain conditions, Ogunleye is required to demonstrate remorse and publish a public apology in two national newspapers within 14 days of sentencing. The apology must be in a form approved by counsel to the nominal complainant.
She is also prohibited from making further publications or statements about the NDA Commandant through social media, text messages, spoken words or any other communication channel.
The agreement further bars her from contacting the senior military officer, directly or indirectly.
Additionally, she must delete all posts and videos concerning the Commandant from her TikTok accounts and other platforms under her control within 48 hours of her release from custody.
The agreement warns that any breach of the specified conditions during the three-year suspension period could result in her being returned to court to serve the suspended prison sentence, subject to the court establishing the breach.
Her undertaking not to publish further materials about or contact the nominal complainant is also stated to remain binding for life.
During the proceedings, Justice Aikawa confirmed that Ogunleye understood and accepted the terms of the agreement, including a restraining order under Section 24 of the Cybercrimes Act, which will remain effective until further order of the court.
Her defence counsel, I.S. Yahaya, subsequently endorsed the agreement.
Speaking after the judgment, Mohammed Sani Katu, SAN, counsel to the nominal complainant, disclosed that the matter was resolved through a plea bargain after the defendant’s lawyer approached the prosecution to explore an amicable settlement.
Katu explained that although the case initially involved five charges, both parties eventually agreed that Ogunleye would plead guilty to two counts while the remaining charges would be withdrawn.
He said the court adopted the negotiated terms, including the fines and suspended custodial sentences, to give the defendant an opportunity to demonstrate remorse and comply with the conditions.
The senior advocate emphasised that the suspended prison sentence remained valid and warned that failure to comply with the agreement could result in Ogunleye being returned to prison.
