Abuja Court dismisses Emeka Ike’s ₦10bn lawsuit against INEC and Wike’s aide

A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a ₦10 billion fundamental rights lawsuit filed by Nollywood actor Emeka Ike. The suit was brought against Lere Olayinka, an aide to the Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The legal action stemmed from the publication of Ike’s voter registration details on social media, which the actor claimed violated his right to privacy and data protection. Ike had sought damages and an apology following the exposure of information regarding his voter registration transfer from Imo State to Abuja.

Justice Salim Ibrahim dismissed the suit, ruling it was incompetent and improperly constituted. The judge noted that the claims regarding data privacy should have been addressed under the Data Protection Act 2023 rather than through fundamental rights enforcement. The court also stated that the applicant failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove an abuse of fundamental rights.