TikToker gets two-year jail term for defaming NDA commandant

A Kaduna High Court has sentenced TikTok personality Ruth Ogunleye to two years in prison for defaming Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Commandant, Oluyemi Thomas Olatoye, but suspended the sentence for three years under a plea bargain agreement.

Ogunleye was convicted after pleading guilty to two of the five charges filed against her by the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu.

Justice Rilwanu Aikawa sentenced her to one year imprisonment on each count, with the terms to run concurrently, and imposed a fine of N250,000 per count, totalling N500,000.

The court, however, suspended the custodial sentence for three years, subject to her compliance with the terms of the agreement reached between the prosecution and defence.

The case arose from videos Ogunleye allegedly posted on her TikTok account, @ogunleyeruthsavage, on August 14, 2026, containing defamatory statements against the NDA commandant.

One of the videos reportedly carried the caption, “Maj General Yemi Olatoye is responsible for my death,” while another stated, “I go post your oga own too, your oga own dey my phone”.

The prosecution alleged that the publications contained false claims intended to provoke annoyance, insult, hatred and damage to the military officer’s reputation.

The charges were brought under Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, as amended by the Cybercrimes Amendment Act 2024.

Under the plea bargain, Ogunleye admitted to the first two counts, while the prosecution agreed to withdraw the remaining three charges.

The court also ordered her to publish a public apology in two national newspapers within 14 days of sentencing.

She was further directed to delete all videos and posts relating to Olatoye from her TikTok and other social media accounts within 48 hours of her release from custody.

The agreement prohibits her from making further statements or publications about the commandant, contacting him directly or indirectly, or circulating the disputed materials through any platform, account or third party.

The court warned that any violation of the conditions within the three-year suspension period could result in Ogunleye being returned to prison to serve the sentence.

The restriction on contacting or publishing materials about the complainant will remain in force for life.

Speaking after the proceedings, counsel to Olatoye, Mohammed Sani Katu, said the plea bargain followed an approach by Ogunleye’s lawyer to resolve the matter without a full trial.

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Katu explained that the agreement provided for the defendant to plead guilty to two counts in exchange for the withdrawal of the remaining charges.

He said the suspended sentence was intended to give Ogunleye an opportunity to demonstrate remorse and comply with the court’s conditions.

“Having pleaded guilty, she was sentenced to serve the prison time of one year each on the two counts and then to pay a fine of N250,000 on each count, cumulatively N500,000,” he said.

“Now, the sentence is suspended for three years so that we can put her under observation to see whether she will be remorseful. If within these three years she violates these terms, she will be brought back to serve the sentence.”

Katu added that Ogunleye’s guilty plea amounted to an admission of the offences contained in the two counts, warning that any breach of the court-approved conditions could trigger the enforcement of her prison sentence.