Court dismisses Emeka Ike’s N10bn go well with towards Wike’s aide, INEC

The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a N10 billion go well with filed by Nollywood actor, Emeka Ike towards Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the Independent National Electoral Commission over the publication of his voter registration particulars on social media.

Ike had approached the court docket, alleging that the publication of his voter data on X violated his proper to privateness and information safety.

He sought N10 billion in damages, alongside an order compelling the defendants to take away the knowledge and situation an apology.

However, Justice Salim Ibrahim dismissed the go well with, ruling that Ike failed to supply adequate proof to assist his claims.

The choose additionally dismissed the preliminary objections raised by the defendants, who had challenged the competence of the go well with and argued that it was improperly constituted.

In his response to the go well with, Olayinka had maintained that the knowledge shared on-line consisted solely of Ike’s title and passport {photograph}, which he described as publicly accessible particulars.

“I did not unlawfully access the actor’s personal information, and the publication did not breach any legal duty owed to him,” Olayinka stated.

Olayinka additionally cited Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, arguing that the legislation offers for the publication of voter data forward of normal elections.

INEC, in its response, stated there was no proof that its Continuous Voter Registration database had been hacked or accessed by an unauthorised exterior occasion.

“The information was neither classified nor confidential and could be made public in accordance with the law,” INEC stated.

Ike had relied on Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution, Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 to assist his declare that his privateness rights had been violated.

The actor had additionally sought the removing and retraction of the printed data.

The case arose amid Ike’s political ambition to contest for a seat within the House of Representatives representing the Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC, and Bwari Federal Constituency within the 2027 normal elections.

He had sought the Nigeria Democratic Congress ticket however misplaced the occasion’s major election.