Ekweremadu: Organ Donor's Privacy Data Privacy Breach Being Investigated By FG

The federal government is currently investigating the breach of data privacy of David Nwamina, the young man at the centre of the organ harvesting allegation involving former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu.

Per reports, the investigation is being conducted through the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NDBP), coming on the heels of Nwamina's passport surfacing online.

It was alleged that Nwamina was trafficked to the United Kingdom by Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice. Both of them were subsequently arraigned at the Uxbridge Magistrate Court in London on charges of conspiracy and organ harvest last week.

The NDBP also stated that it was looking into the breach of the data privacy of Sonia Ekweremadu, the daughter of the Ekweremadus.

The investigation was ordered by the National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, NDPB, Dr Vincent Olatunji in a statement issued by the bureau on Monday.

"The National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Data Protection Bureau, Dr Vincent Olatunji, has ordered an investigation into the use and public circulation of the personal data allegedly belonging to Nwamini David and Sonia Ekweremadu in the ongoing case of organ transplant pending before a British Court.

"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 – particularly media organisations – without regard to the implications under the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation 2019.

"NDPR prohibits the processing of personal data without the informed consent or other lawful bases known to law", part of the statement reads.