Court Adjourns Emeka Ike's ₦10bn Privacy Breach Suit Against INEC, Wike's Aide - Newstrends
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Court Adjourns Emeka Ike’s ₦10bn Privacy Breach Suit Against INEC, Wike’s Aide

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Court Adjourns Emeka Ike's ₦10bn Privacy Breach Suit Against INEC, Wike's Aide

Court Adjourns Emeka Ike’s ₦10bn Privacy Breach Suit Against INEC, Wike’s Aide

A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned until July 22, 2026, further proceedings in the ₦10 billion privacy breach suit filed by Nollywood actor and politician Emeka Ike against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

Justice S.O. Ibrahim fixed the new date after INEC, the second respondent, failed to appear in court despite being served with hearing notices.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1272/2026, centres on the alleged unlawful disclosure of Ike’s voter registration details, which were published on Olayinka’s verified X (formerly Twitter) account during a political exchange over the actor’s participation in the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency House of Representatives primary ahead of the 2027 general election.

At Thursday’s proceedings, counsel to the plaintiff, L.T. Adeh, informed the court that Olayinka had filed and served a counter-affidavit but noted that INEC was absent despite receiving hearing notices.

Adeh urged the court to grant a short adjournment to enable the electoral commission to appear and participate in the proceedings. He also disclosed that the plaintiff would file a reply to the first respondent’s counter-affidavit before the next hearing.

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Counsel for Olayinka, Akpama Ekwe, said he was ready to proceed with the case but did not oppose the request for an adjournment. He argued, however, that INEC could not be compelled to appear before the court.

Justice Ibrahim ruled that the interest of fair hearing required giving the electoral commission another opportunity to participate in the proceedings. He subsequently adjourned the matter until July 22 and directed that INEC be served afresh with hearing notices and all court processes filed in the suit.

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The legal action stems from screenshots showing the transfer of Emeka Ike’s voter registration from Imo State to the Federal Capital Territory, which surfaced on social media in May.

According to the actor, the information was obtained from INEC’s restricted Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) administrative portal and published without his consent.

Ike contends that the disclosure violated his constitutional right to privacy under Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and breached the provisions of the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023.

The actor is asking the court to declare the publication unlawful, order the removal of the social media post from all platforms, compel Olayinka to publish a public apology, and award him ₦10 billion in general, aggravated and exemplary damages.

Speaking with journalists after the hearing, Olayinka’s lawyer, Akpama Ekwe, argued that his client did not publish any sensitive personal information.

According to him, the documents only contained Ike’s name, passport photograph and voter transfer reference number.

“There is no case against my client. What he published was already in the public domain and did not contain any confidential personal information,” Ekwe maintained.

He also described the documents relied upon by the plaintiff as inadmissible and insisted that Olayinka committed no offence.

Reacting after the proceedings, Ike’s lawyer, L.T. Adeh, said the case extends beyond his client and could help strengthen the protection of Nigerians’ personal information.

He argued that if one person’s voter record could be accessed and published without authorisation, millions of other voter records could also be vulnerable.

Adeh expressed confidence that the court would establish an important legal precedent capable of improving compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act and safeguarding the personal data of registered voters.

Meanwhile, INEC has consistently maintained that its servers were not hacked.

The electoral commission said preliminary investigations showed that the documents were accessed through the alleged misuse of authorised internal credentials rather than any breach of its database.

INEC has reportedly suspended the electoral officer linked to the incident and said it is cooperating with relevant security agencies and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) in ongoing investigations.

The case has attracted widespread public attention because it raises significant questions about data protection, cybersecurity, electoral integrity and the responsibility of public institutions to safeguard the personal information of more than 90 million registered Nigerian voters.

Legal observers believe the outcome of the suit could become one of Nigeria’s most significant judicial interpretations of the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, particularly regarding the handling and disclosure of citizens’ personal data by government agencies and public officials.

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Court Adjourns Emeka Ike’s ₦10bn Privacy Breach Suit Against INEC, Wike’s Aide

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Phyna Knocks Out Nkechi Blessing in Fourth Round, Wins ₦50m, New Car

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Phyna Knocks Out Nkechi Blessing in Fourth Round, Wins ₦50m, New Car

Phyna Knocks Out Nkechi Blessing in Fourth Round, Wins ₦50m, New Car

Reality TV star Phyna has defeated Nollywood actress Nkechi Blessing Sunday by fourth-round knockout in their highly anticipated celebrity boxing bout in Lagos.

The contest took place at Balmoral Hall, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, during Balmoral Promotions’ Chaos in the Ring event in the early hours of Friday, October 2.

The four-round bout ended in the final round after Phyna knocked Nkechi Blessing to the canvas, securing victory in one of the headline contests of the celebrity boxing event.

Phyna, the winner of the 2022 edition of the reality TV show Big Brother Naija, had been involved in a heated build-up with Nkechi Blessing before the fight, with both entertainers trading words during their promotional activities.

After the opening three rounds, Phyna stepped up her attack in the fourth and eventually stopped the actress to bring the contest to an end.

The victory earned Phyna a ₦50 million cash prize and a new car, adding to the attention surrounding her participation in the boxing event.

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Following her victory, Phyna indicated that she was interested in continuing with boxing and also called out actress Etinosa Idemudia, who was present at the event.

Etinosa accepted the challenge, potentially setting up another celebrity boxing bout involving Phyna.

The Phyna-Nkechi Blessing contest was one of several celebrity bouts staged as part of Chaos in the Ring, which combined entertainment personalities with professional boxing.

Another celebrity contest featured content creator Carter Efe against entertainer Speed Darlington, with Carter Efe emerging victorious.

The professional headline bout saw Ghanaian boxer Seth “Freezy Macbones” Gyimah defeat Nigeria’s Godday “Zodsolo” Appah to claim the WBO African Light Heavyweight Continental Championship.

The Lagos event attracted entertainers, boxing fans and other personalities, with the celebrity contests generating significant attention ahead of and during the programme.

For Phyna, however, the night ended with a knockout victory over Nkechi Blessing, a ₦50 million prize, a new car and a fresh challenge for another celebrity boxing contest.

Phyna Knocks Out Nkechi Blessing in Fourth Round, Wins ₦50m, New Car

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Nollywood Mourns as Actor Cjay Nwokafor Dies Suddenly

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Nollywood Mourns as Actor Cjay Nwokafor Dies Suddenly
Chijioke Temidayo Nwokafor

Nollywood Mourns as Actor Cjay Nwokafor Dies Suddenly

The Nollywood industry has been thrown into mourning following the sudden death of actor Chijioke Temidayo Nwokafor, popularly known as Cjay Nwoks or Cjay.

Cjay died on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, after he was taken to a hospital in the Badore area of Lagos State, according to reports. His colleague, actress Nkechi Blessing Sunday, announced his death in an emotional social media video from the hospital.

Nkechi said she had spoken with Cjay at about 8am on Wednesday, only to learn of his death a few hours later. She described the development as devastating and said they had plans together before his sudden passing.

The actress had also been preparing to release her movie Egusi Ogbono, in which Cjay featured, at 5pm the same day. Following news of his death, she cancelled the planned release.

The cause of Cjay Nwokafor’s death has not been officially disclosed by his family or a medical authority.

However, actor Emeka Okoye, while mourning his colleague, alleged that a shortage of oxygen at the hospital contributed to Cjay’s death and questioned the state of Nigeria’s healthcare system. The allegation has not been independently verified and should not be treated as the established cause of death.

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Okoye also described Cjay as a talented baker who used his skills to support and help others. He said the late actor had touched the lives of several people beyond his work in the film industry.

Cjay’s death has shocked colleagues and fans, particularly because he had remained active in the industry shortly before his passing. An interview with the actor focusing on his career and ambitions was published only days before his death.

Born in Awka, Anambra State, and based in Lagos, Cjay began his professional acting career in 2021. He went on to feature in several Nollywood productions, including Larry Cold, Mum Overnight, A Day to My Wedding, The Lies She Tell, What Time Left, Fond of You, Godly Escort and Tide.

In an interview published shortly before his death, Cjay recalled how his first experience on a film set influenced his decision to pursue acting professionally. He said working alongside filmmaker Ruth Kadiri helped inspire his interest in building a career in Nollywood.

His appearance in Egusi Ogbono was among his recent projects, with the film’s scheduled release cancelled following his death.

Nkechi Blessing later shared a video collage featuring moments she spent with Cjay, expressing disbelief over the loss and the plans they had made. Fellow entertainers, including Fathia Williams, Peggy Ovire, Destiny Etiko and Ruth Kadiri, were among those who expressed condolences following news of his death.

Cjay’s final social media posts have also drawn renewed attention from fans, with many expressing shock at the suddenness of his passing.

As of Thursday, October 1, no official cause of death had been announced, and details of his funeral arrangements had not been made public.

The death adds to the recent losses recorded in Nollywood, as colleagues and fans continue to pay tribute to the actor and remember his contributions to the Nigerian film industry.

Nollywood Mourns as Actor Cjay Nwokafor Dies Suddenly

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Jetour Takes Adventure Beyond the Road, Brings Solar-powered Borehole to Ibeju-Lekki community 

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Jetour Takes Adventure Beyond the Road, Brings Solar-powered Borehole to Ibeju-Lekki community 

 

Jetour Nigeria has taken its SUV adventure beyond the asphalt, combining a high-octane convoy through some of Lagos toughest coastal trails with a humanitarian intervention that delivered clean, reliable water to the people of Iwerekun Orile, Ibeju Lekki.

The automaker’s 2026 Africa Expedition last Saturday turned into more than a showcase of automotive power and off-road capability as the convoy of eight Jetour models arrived at the Roman Catholic Mission Primary School, Iwerekun Orile, to commission a new solar-powered borehole for the community.

The convoy, comprising the Jetour Dashing, X50, X70 Plus, X90 Plus, T2, T2 PHEV, X70 PHEV and flagship G700, departed Falomo Square, Ikoyi, after a road safety briefing by the Federal Road Safety Corps.

Escorted by personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, the convoy moved through Victoria Island and beyond the city’s urban landscape before tackling difficult stretches of the Coastal Highway.

The demanding terrain, characterised by swampy sections, rocks and uneven trails, provided an opportunity for the vehicles to demonstrate their off-road capability and endurance.

But beyond the adventure and display of automotive technology, the expedition took on a more significant purpose when the convoy arrived at the Roman Catholic Mission Primary School, Iwerekun Orile.

There, Jetour Nigeria commissioned a new solar-powered borehole, providing the school and surrounding community with access to clean and reliable water.

The intervention was greeted with excitement as schoolchildren, traditional leaders, farmers and market women turned out to welcome the visitors with cultural performances.

Jetour also distributed food items to households in the community, while pupils received books and refreshments.

A representative of Jetour Nigeria, Kemi Adeola, said the initiative reflected the company’s belief that its activities should extend beyond automobiles to making a positive difference in the communities it reaches.

“This is where adventure meets purpose,” Adeola said. “Our mission doesn’t stop at building capable vehicles; it lives in our pledge to drive tangible progress and touch the hearts of the communities we reach.”

The community’s traditional leader, High Chief Michael Oluwa, described the water project as an unprecedented development in the history of Iwerekun Orile and pledged that residents would protect and maintain the facility.

The head teacher of the school, Mrs Ariyike Bakre, also expressed gratitude to Jetour, describing the intervention as a lifetime gift to the school and community.

“This is my first time seeing a solar-powered borehole,” Bakre said, adding that the facility would make a significant difference to the children and residents.

She thanked Jetour for making it possible for the community to witness the commissioning of the project.

The expedition later ended at a beach lounge, where the drivers, organisers and participants relaxed over food, music and entertainment.

For Jetour Nigeria, however, the significance of the expedition extended beyond conquering difficult terrain. It demonstrated how an automotive adventure could be linked to community development, leaving behind not only memories of a demanding road trip but also a lasting source of clean water for Iwerekun Orile.

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