Court Rejects Emeka Ike’s N10 Billion Lawsuit Against Wike’s Aide and INEC

The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Nollywood actor Emeka Ike. He sought N10 billion in damages against Lere Olayinka, an aide to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The court ruled that the lawsuit was improperly filed and lacked sufficient evidence.

Justice Salim Ibrahim delivered the judgment on Wednesday. He stated that the claims made by Ike were not valid and did not meet legal standards. The actor had previously aimed to run for a House of Representatives seat in the upcoming 2027 elections.

The issue arose when Olayinka allegedly shared Ike’s private voter registration information on social media, which included details about his transfer of voter registration from Imo State to Abuja. Ike claimed this action violated his right to privacy.

In his lawsuit, Ike argued that the publication of his personal data without his consent was a serious breach of his privacy rights. He cited several legal protections, including the Nigerian Constitution and the Nigeria Data Protection Act, which he claimed guaranteed his right to keep his information private.

However, INEC and Olayinka responded by stating that the information shared was not confidential and was legally allowed to be published. They argued that the data was already public and that Ike had no grounds to claim damages.

Olayinka further claimed that the information he posted was not obtained unlawfully and that Ike, as a public figure running for office, should not be surprised by the circulation of his name and photo.

After considering both sides, the court dismissed Ike’s claims, stating that there was no breach of privacy and that the lawsuit was without merit.