The Director General of Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development, Barrister Wale Ojo-Lanre, has strongly condemned and disclaimed the unauthorized use of his image in a political campaign video currently circulating across Ekiti State.
The said video mischievously inserted his picture to falsely portray endorsement of a political aspirant. Ojo-Lanre categorically refuted any involvement, emphasizing that he never granted consent for his image to be used and that he remains firmly opposed to the aspirant in question.
“I completely denounce, repudiate, and dissociate myself from the said video. It is fraudulent, deceptive, and designed to mislead the good people of Ekiti State. At no time did I authorize the use of my photograph for political purposes, nor do I support the said aspirant or his ambition,” Ojo-Lanre declared.
He called on the people of Ekiti State and the Nigerian public to totally disregard the video, describing it as an orchestrated falsehood and an assault on his integrity and reputation.
Barrister Ojo-Lanre further revealed that appropriate legal action is being taken against those behind the act, stressing that:
Under the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, particularly Section 24, it is a criminal offense to engage in cyberstalking, harassment, or the transmission of false and misleading material likely to cause annoyance, insult, or injury. Convictions attract fines running into millions of naira or terms of imprisonment.
Under the Nigerian Data Protection Act 2023, an individual’s photograph constitutes “personal data” and cannot be processed, published, or used for political or commercial purposes without consent. Any such misuse is punishable by regulatory sanctions and civil liability.
The Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP) 2015, Section 17, criminalizes stalking, including repeated or unwanted use of a person’s identity to cause distress or reputational harm.
“These laws exist to protect individuals from the very abuse that has been perpetrated against me,” Ojo-Lanre noted. “Let it be clear that this is not only an insult to my person but a crime against the statutes of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
He assured the public that his legal team is pursuing remedies to ensure that those responsible are held accountable under the law.
This statement serves as a public notice that Barrister Wale Ojo-Lanre has no affiliation whatsoever with the said campaign, its promoters, or their agenda.
0 Comments