Abuja court rejects Nollywood actor's N10 billion privacy lawsuit against minister's aide and INEC

The Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed a N10 billion rights suit filed by Nollywood actor Emeka Ike against Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, and the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Justice Salim Ibrahim upheld the respondents' preliminary objections, ruling that the suit was incompetent and improperly constituted. The judge also dismissed the main case on the ground of lack of proof.

“amounts to gross breach and violation of the applicant's fundamental right to privacy and the protection of personal data”

Ike had sought to run for the House of Representatives seat for AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency in the 2027 general elections under the Nigerian Democratic Congress but lost in a primary poll.

The lawsuit alleged that Olayinka mocked Ike in a May post on X by leaking his confidential voter registration details, including information about his transfer from Imo State to the capital.

Ike argued that constitutional provisions and the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023 guaranteed his right to privacy and protection of personal data. He asked the court to declare that INEC owes voters a statutory duty of care to protect private data.

The actor had prayed for N10 billion in aggravated and general damages against Olayinka and INEC, to be paid jointly and severally for the alleged violation of his fundamental right to privacy.