The Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NDPB) has ordered an investigation into the use and public circulation of personal data belonging to David Nwamini and Sonia Ekweremadu amid human trafficking and organ harvesting allegations in the UK.

Vincent Olatunji, the chief executive officer of NDPB, gave the directive in a statement by Babatunde Bamigboye, the legal, enforcement and regulations lead of the bureau in Abuja.

“The bureau notes with concern that certain sensitive personal data purportedly belonging to the two Nigerian citizens, complainant and patient in this case, are being processed by data controllers,” the statement said. “The information is being processed, particularly by media organisations, without regard to the implications under the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) 2019.”

UK authorities had arrested Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice Ekweremadu, accusing them of trafficking Mr Nwamini to harvest his organ for their ailing child, Ms Ekweremadu, said to be suffering from kidney failure.

The couple appeared before a magistrate’s court on Thursday afternoon and was denied bail.

The case was subsequently adjourned until July 7, after the allegedly trafficked person was identified as a homeless 15-year-old from Lagos.

However, Mr Olatunji maintained that NDPR was against data processing without consent.

“NDPR prohibits the processing of personal data without the informed consent or other lawful bases known to law. Accordingly, all data controllers and all persons are hereby warned of the consequences of using anyone’s data in violation of NDPR,” he said.

The CEO further mentioned that respecting the boundaries of citizens’ privacy was obligatory.

He stated that the NDPB had implemented measures to collaborate with other public institutions within and outside Nigeria to ensure transparency and accountability in the case. 

(NAN)