Legal experts have called on victims whose nude photographs were shared online without their consent to pursue both civil and criminal actions against offenders, stressing that such acts violate privacy, human dignity, and fundamental rights guaranteed under Nigerian law.
The lawyers gave the advice in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos, following reports of cases where companies allegedly leaked intimate photos of models without authorisation.
A human rights lawyer, Mrs. Jumoke Ajayi, described the act as a “gross infringement of privacy and defamation of character,” urging victims to enforce their constitutional rights in court.
“Every individual has a constitutional right to privacy under Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution. When a person’s nude photos are published without consent, it amounts to a violation of that right. The victim can sue both the company and the individuals involved,” Ajayi said.
She added that victims could also petition law enforcement agencies under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, which criminalises the distribution of intimate images without consent.
According to her, Section 24 of the Act prescribes imprisonment for offenders found guilty of such digital abuse.
Another Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Franklin Ojumu, emphasised that consent and contractual clarity were essential in any modelling agreement. He cautioned that individuals should carefully review contracts before signing, especially where nude or semi-nude images might be involved.
“Even if there was consent, it does not give the company unlimited rights to publish or circulate those images online,” Ojumu said.
He noted that victims could claim damages for emotional distress, reputational harm, and invasion of privacy, adding that Nigerian courts are becoming increasingly receptive to digital rights and privacy-related cases.
Similarly, Mr. Chibuikem Opara, a legal practitioner with the Justification Firm, Ikeja, described the non-consensual release of nude photographs as a form of cyberbullying punishable under the Cybercrimes Act.
“The victim can report the matter to security agencies, and when it gets to court, the corporate veil can be lifted so that individuals personally involved will be held liable,” Opara explained.
He further stated that, on the civil side, a model could sue for breach of contract, fraudulent misrepresentation, and seek exemplary or aggravated damages, particularly at the National Industrial Court under unfair labour and human rights principles.
In his remarks, Mr. Ademola Owolabi, Managing Partner at Adetokunbo & Co Chambers, said that even in a contractual relationship, a party’s conduct could still attract criminal liability if there was no express permission for the use of such images.
“There is a breach of contract because there was no express permission for the picture to be used in the manner it was used,” he said.
Also speaking, the Country Director of Advocacy for Justice and Accountability, Mr. Ogedi Ogu, described the unauthorised release of a model’s nude photos as an outright violation of human rights and contractual boundaries.
“The agreement to model for a company does not automatically include posing nude or granting rights to commercialise such images. The individual can sue for damages and seek a court order restraining further distribution,” Ogu said.
The legal experts collectively urged victims to document evidence, seek immediate legal counsel, and pursue justice through both civil courts and cybercrime enforcement channels, warning that impunity in such cases could embolden further violations of privacy and dignity in Nigeria’s digital space.