In a landmark case of Ndidi-Amaka Odogwu v. Quilox Restaurant and Bar Limited where the Federal High Court held that the unauthorized use of an individual’s photograph for commercial purposes constitutes a violation of the fundamental rights to privacy and dignity as guaranteed under Sections 37 and 34(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The case arose from the unauthorised use of the plaintiff’s image to promote a nightclub event, which falsely associated her with activities inconsistent with her personal, cultural, and religious identity.
PUNUKA Attorneys & Solicitors successfully represented the plaintiff in the landmark case, a judgment that continues to shape the development of image rights protection in Nigeria. The significant victory resulted from collaboration between the firm’s Media, Entertainment, Intellectual Property and Technology Practice led by Isioma Idigbe (Partner) and its Litigation Teams led by Nnamdi Oragwu (Partner). Other team members included Adeyinka Abdulsalam (Partner), Decency Nkume (Associate), and Ogooluwa Osilesi (Associate).
The judgment reaffirms constitutional protections for privacy and dignity and provides crucial guidance for businesses and creators on obtaining proper consent before using personal images for commercial gain. The decision also reflects the firm’s ongoing commitment to advancing individual rights and contributing meaningfully to the evolution of Nigerian jurisprudence.
Readers may access the full case summary and learn more about the firm at www.punuka.com
