A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed July 2, 2026, for hearing in a ₦10 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Nollywood actor and politician Emeka Ike against Lere Olayinka, an aide to Governor Nyesom Wike, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Court Adjourns to Allow Respondents Time to File Defence
Justice Salim Ibrahim set the new date after counsel to the applicant, Leonard Adeh, requested an adjournment to give the respondents adequate time to file their defence. When the case was called on Thursday, June 25, only the applicant's lawyer was present in court. Adeh informed the judge that the matter was listed for mention and raised concerns about the service of court processes on the respondents, particularly Olayinka.
The court directed that proof of service be made available from its records. After reviewing the court documents, the applicant's counsel confirmed satisfaction with the service process, and the matter proceeded.
Applicant Seeks N10 Billion for Alleged Privacy Violation
Adeh subsequently asked for an adjournment on the grounds that the respondents were still within time to respond. Justice Ibrahim adjourned the case until July 2, 2026, for further mention and ordered that hearing notices be issued and served on the defendants.
In the suit, Ike is seeking ₦10 billion in damages over alleged violations of his fundamental right to privacy and protection of personal data. He is challenging an alleged social media post by Olayinka in May, which purportedly shared screenshots of his voter registration details and sparked controversy over access to electoral data.
Alleged Breach of Constitutional and Data Protection Laws
The actor alleges that the publication of his personal voter information on the social media platform X amounted to a breach of his constitutional rights under Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023. He is also asking the court to hold both Olayinka and INEC liable for failing to protect voter data from unauthorised access.
Ike is seeking several reliefs, including an order compelling the removal of the alleged post, a public apology, and the payment of ₦10 billion in aggravated and general damages jointly against the defendants. The case continues as the court prepares for substantive hearing in July 2026.
