A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikorodu has ordered X Corp, the owner and operator of the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), to disclose information capable of identifying the anonymous operator of a parody account accused of manipulating and republishing a Nigerian student's birthday post without authorization.
The judgment, delivered by Justice Adeniyi Pokanu in June 2026 and recently made public, also awarded ₦20 million in general damages against the unidentified operator of the X account, @boutmoney112, for the unauthorized alteration and republication of the student's social media content.
The court further ruled that X Corp would be liable to pay ₦50 million in conditional general damages if the company fails, refuses, or neglects to comply with the order directing it to disclose information that could identify the account owner.
The suit was instituted by Nigerian student Esther Agboola, who operates the X handle @agirlnamed_esth. Agboola approached the court after alleging that the parody account manipulated her birthday post and republished it without her consent, causing reputational harm.
In its judgment, the court held that the disclosure of the anonymous user's identity was necessary to ensure accountability and enable the applicant to pursue appropriate legal remedies against the individual behind the account.
The ruling is being viewed as a significant decision on online anonymity, digital rights, and accountability on social media platforms, reinforcing the powers of Nigerian courts to compel technology companies to assist in identifying users accused of unlawful online conduct.
As of the time of filing this report, X Corp had not publicly commented on the judgment or indicated whether it would comply with the court's directive or challenge the ruling on appeal.