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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Osun Election: Davido Alleges Soldiers Tried to Stop Him from Entering State

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Osun Election: Davido Alleges Soldiers Tried to Stop Him from Entering State

Osun Election: Davido Alleges Soldiers Tried to Stop Him from Entering State

Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has alleged that soldiers are attempting to prevent him from entering Osun State as voters head to the polls for Saturday’s governorship election. Davido, who is a nephew of incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, made the claim in a post on his verified X account early Saturday, insisting that no security personnel would stop him from accessing the state. “I’ve been reliably informed that soldiers are trying to prevent me from entering Osun tomorrow, this won’t happen, every citizen of Nigeria has the right to movement at any point of time,” he wrote. The singer did not disclose who gave him the information or identify the soldiers allegedly involved.

Davido’s allegation came hours after the Nigeria Police Force announced a restriction of movement across Osun State as part of security arrangements for the governorship election. According to the police, the restriction took effect from 12:00 midnight on Friday, August 14, and will remain in place until 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 15, 2026. The police also reiterated the ban on the participation of the Amotekun Corps and other non-state security groups in security operations for the election, warning that only security agencies recognised under the constitution are authorised to perform law-enforcement duties in connection with the election. Over 15,000 police personnel have been deployed across the state’s 30 local government areas, with a Deputy Inspector-General of Police coordinating the operation, while police helicopters and drones have also been deployed for aerial surveillance during the election. The Force Public Relations Officer had further disclosed that soldiers would seal roads leading into the state from midnight as part of measures to control movement.

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The singer’s claim generated significant reactions online, with some users arguing that security checks were expected because of the election-day lockdown, while others expressed concern that Davido could be facing a targeted restriction due to his prominent support for the incumbent governor. Reacting to Davido’s post, former presidential media aide Bashir Ahmad dismissed the allegation as “dramatic,” pointing to the publicly announced movement restrictions. “You are just dramatic, @davido. It has been widely announced by the security operators that movement in and around Osun will be restricted from 12 midnight today until 6 pm today due to the election and this is a standard security measure during elections anywhere not peculiar to Osun,” Ahmad wrote. Ahmad added: “So the right to freedom of movement does not mean ignoring lawful security measures put in place to ensure a peaceful and credible election.”

Some X users also questioned Davido’s awareness of the movement restrictions. One user, @OgbeniDipo, advised the singer to remain in Lagos to avoid being detained, stating: “You don’t know there is curfew on election day? You went to school nau.” The user added that security agents were enforcing the curfew at multiple locations including Ikire Junction, Gbongan bypass, Odeomu, and Owode Ede. Another X user, @Mz_Tosyn, also questioned Davido’s position, writing: “Him and his audience are not aware of curfew on Election Day or they are pretending not to.”

Davido has been one of the most visible supporters of his uncle, Governor Ademola Adeleke, who is seeking re-election under the Accord Party. The governor is facing leading challengers, including Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress. Earlier in the week, Davido called on United States President Donald Trump and the international community to monitor the Osun election, expressing concern over reported cases of violence and intimidation. Davido later defended the appeal after some Nigerians questioned why he referred to Trump as his president, explaining that he holds both Nigerian and American citizenship. Davido’s involvement in Osun politics dates back to the 2022 governorship election, when he campaigned for Adeleke and mobilised young voters across the state. There was no immediate public statement from the military confirming Davido’s allegation that soldiers had been instructed to stop him from entering the state.

Osun Election: Davido Alleges Soldiers Tried to Stop Him from Entering State

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Davido Halts London Concert, Threatens to Walk Off Stage Over Fan’s Disrespect to Staff

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Osun Election: Davido Alleges Soldiers Tried to Stop Him from Entering State
David Adedeji Adeleke, popularly known as Davido

Davido Halts London Concert, Threatens to Walk Off Stage Over Fan’s Disrespect to Staff

Afrobeats superstar Davido briefly brought his “Oriadé Royal Night” concert at the O2 Forum Kentish Town in London to a standstill on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, after accusing a fan of disrespecting a member of his crew, warning that he would walk off the stage if the behaviour continued.

The Grammy-nominated artist, who was performing tracks from his newly released sixth studio album, Oriadé, abruptly stopped the music after spotting an incident involving his staff and an audience member. Reports suggest the confrontation may have involved crew members attempting to block fans from accessing areas around the stage that were off-limits to the audience. Addressing the fan directly from the stage, Davido said: “You’re not going to come to my show and disrespect my staff like that. These people have been working here and you can see them holding cameras.” He then issued a firm warning: “If I see you here one more time, I’m going to walk off the stage.” The singer reminded the audience that his team had worked tirelessly throughout the day to put the concert together and deserved appreciation, not disrespect. “These people have been working here all day. Don’t do that,” he added. The performance continued after the brief interruption.

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A video of the incident has since circulated widely on social media, drawing strong reactions from fans. Many praised the singer for defending his team, with some describing his reaction as “true leadership” and that of a boss who values and protects his staff. One fan commented: “Davido is right. Even if you paid for the show, you can’t because of that attitude disrespect his staff.” Another wrote: “This is called encouragement to the staff. I love it.” The exact nature of the alleged disrespect toward the staff member has not been independently confirmed, and it remains unclear whether the fan was eventually removed from the venue. However, Davido’s swift response has been widely applauded as a display of loyalty and respect for his crew.

The London show comes as Davido continues his international run following the release of Oriadé. He is also scheduled to headline the “Davido & Friends” concert at Crystal Palace Bowl in London on Friday, August 14. The album, which has already garnered millions of streams across platforms, marks a significant milestone in the singer’s career, further cementing his status as one of Africa’s biggest musical exports.

Davido Halts London Concert, Threatens to Walk Off Stage Over Fan’s Disrespect to Staff

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Soso Soberekon Offers Peter Okoye N500m to Fight Twin Brother Paul in Boxing Match

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Soso Soberekon Offers Peter Okoye N500m to Fight Twin Brother Paul in Boxing Match
Jude and Paul Okoye of P-Square

Soso Soberekon Offers Peter Okoye N500m to Fight Twin Brother Paul in Boxing Match

Nigerian music executive, Soso Soberekon, has offered N500 million to singer Peter Okoye (Mr P) to fight his twin brother, Paul Okoye (Rudeboy), in a celebrity boxing match, adding a dramatic new twist to the ongoing P-Square feud. The offer was made on Sunday night during Peter’s stage performance. A viral video circulating on social media showed Soberekon in the audience holding up his phone towards the singer, displaying the message: “500 Million Naira to fight your twin in a boxing match.” Peter was seen smiling at the offer before continuing with his performance. The music executive’s proposal comes amid a renewed and intense public dispute between the Okoye twins, who were the famed duo behind the defunct group P-Square.

The dramatic proposal comes amid a renewed and intense public dispute between the Okoye twins, who were the famed duo behind the defunct group P-Square. The feud has largely centred on financial disagreements, with Peter recently accusing Paul and their elder brother, Jude Okoye, of diverting music royalties and other financial improprieties. The brothers’ relationship has been marked by multiple public fallouts over the years. P-Square split in 2017 following disagreements over the role of their elder brother Jude as manager, before reuniting in 2021. However, another fallout emerged in 2024, and the dispute has since escalated, with Peter releasing a series of video exposés detailing his version of events. In the series, Mr P has made several allegations concerning the group’s finances and management, his relationship with his brothers, and the treatment of his wife, Lola Omotayo-Okoye, and their son. He claimed that over $1.2 million in music royalties were diverted through Northside Music Limited without his consent. Jude Okoye has denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that all royalty payments were properly documented and distributed according to existing agreements.

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The boxing proposal has generated strong reactions across social media platforms, with many Nigerians questioning the idea of paying the brothers to fight each other. @NsibidiHrt criticised the proposal, describing it as “utterly disgusting” and an example of what it means to be “power-drunk, when money becomes the master, and one becomes subservient to it.” @carefully__ described the offer as disrespectful, calling the music executive a “mumu low budget millionaire” who chases “nonsense clout.” @BekeeOzzy also opposed the idea, saying: “You people have sworn to wreck this family completely.” Others reacted with humour. @omo_babaOndo joked: “Imagine fighting your own twin for ₦500m,” while @The_Ghosted suggested: “He knows too many jobless people will watch.” @emycee4 joked about the possible outcome, writing: “Peter go too wound Paul eh. Abeg o.”

It remains unclear whether Peter Okoye will accept Soberekon’s N500 million offer or if Paul Okoye has any interest in stepping into the boxing ring to settle their differences. Henry Okoye, the eldest brother, has expressed doubts about a reconciliation between the twins, stating: “I will be happy for them to come back together, but I don’t think it will happen.” The dispute continues to generate significant public interest as one of Africa’s most famous music families remains entangled in a long-running feud. With legal proceedings still ongoing and fresh revelations continuing to emerge, the P-Square saga shows little sign of ending anytime soon.

Soso Soberekon Offers Peter Okoye N500m to Fight Twin Brother Paul in Boxing Match

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