Federal High Court Abuja has dismissed a N10 billion, fundamental rights suit filed by Nollywood actor, Emeka Ike against Lere Olayinka who is the Senior Special Assistant to FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Justice Salim Ibrahim dismissed the suit after upholding the respondents’ preliminary objections, ruling that it was incompetent and improperly constituted.
The court also rejected the substantive claims for lack of proof.
Emeka Ike had accused Olayinka of violating his right to privacy by publishing details of his voter registration transfer from Imo State to Abuja on X in May.
The actor, who sought to contest the 2027 House of Representatives election for AMAC-Bwari Federal Constituency under the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC demanded N10 billion in damages, a retraction of the publication and a written apology.
He also sought a declaration that INEC failed in its duty to protect voters’ personal information.
However, INEC maintained that the information in question was neither classified nor confidential, arguing that the publication and display of voter information were authorised by law.
The Commission also denied any breach of its database or unauthorised access to its systems.
Olayinka, on his part, argued that they published document contained only Ike’s name and passport photograph, which were already in the public domain.
He denied unlawfully obtaining the information or owing the actor a duty of confidentiality.
The respondents urged the court to dismiss the suit, a request the court granted.
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(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
