The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a ₦10 billion fundamental rights suit filed by Nollywood actor Emeka Ike against Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Justice Salim Ibrahim delivered the judgment on Wednesday, ruling that the suit was incompetent and improperly constituted and that the actor had failed to establish sufficient grounds for the reliefs he sought.
Ike had approached the court over the publication of his voter registration details on social media, alleging that the disclosure violated his right to privacy and seeking ₦10 billion in damages.
The actor also sought orders compelling the respondents to remove the disputed information and issue an apology.
The dispute arose after Olayinka reportedly shared information relating to Ike’s voter registration transfer from Imo State to the Federal Capital Territory on X in May. The publication attracted controversy over the handling and disclosure of personal information.
Ike, who had sought to contest the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency seat in the 2027 general elections under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), lost the party’s primary election.
During the legal proceedings, the respondents challenged the suit, arguing that it was defective and should not proceed in its existing form. Olayinka maintained that the information he shared consisted of details he considered publicly available.
INEC, in its response, reportedly maintained that there was no evidence that its Continuous Voter Registration database had been hacked or accessed by an unauthorised external party.
The court’s dismissal means Ike’s claims for damages and other reliefs were unsuccessful in the suit. The decision does not, by itself, establish that every aspect of the disputed publication was appropriate; it reflects the court’s determination of the case presented before it.
The matter highlights the continuing legal questions surrounding personal information, voter registration records and the boundaries between public disclosure and individual privacy, particularly as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.