A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned until July 22 the N10 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Nollywood actor Emeka Ike against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Justice S.O. Ibrahim ordered the adjournment to allow INEC, the second respondent, to appear before the court after its absence at Thursday’s proceedings. The court also directed that INEC be served with the hearing notice and all relevant court processes before the next hearing.

Counsel for Ike, L.T. Adeh, told the court that the first respondent had filed a response to the suit and that hearing notices had been served on both respondents. He also informed the court that a reply to the first respondent’s counter-affidavit would be filed before the next sitting.

Counsel for Olayinka, Akpama Ekwe, said he was ready to proceed with the case and opposed further delays, arguing that INEC could not be compelled to appear. However, the judge held that the short adjournment was necessary to ensure fair hearing.

The suit arose after screenshots showing the transfer of Ike’s voter registration from Imo State to the Federal Capital Territory were allegedly published on Olayinka’s official X account. The actor claims his voter registration details were disclosed without his consent after being accessed through a restricted INEC administrative portal.

Ike is seeking N10 billion in damages for the alleged violation of his right to privacy, as well as an order directing the removal of the social media post and a public apology.

INEC has maintained that the incident did not result from a breach of its database but was caused by the misuse of authorised internal access credentials.

Speaking after the hearing, Ekwe argued that the documents relied on by the plaintiff were inadmissible and insisted his client had not violated any law. He maintained that the published material contained only Ike’s name, transfer number and passport photograph, adding that no sensitive personal information was disclosed.

Adeh, however, expressed confidence in his client’s case, stating that the suit could set an important legal precedent for protecting voters’ personal data and preventing future breaches.