Mohammed Shosanya
The Federal Government has filed N30billion suit against Facebook for violating the country’s advertising laws.
Facebook,now Meta,is the first defendant,while AT3 Resources Limited is the second defendant in the suit.
Already, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, ARCON has received approval from the Federal High Court, Abuja to serve the writ of summons and other court processes to Facebook Head office in USA, in the suit against the company.
The follows an application by ARCON in a N30billion suit against the internet giant, owners of Facebook, Instagram, messenger and WhatsApp social media apps.
The advertising regulator is seeking, among others,is seeking a declaration that the publication and exposure of various advertisements and marketing communications materials targeted at the Nigeria market and in Nigeria through the online/social media platforms of the first defendant which include Facebook and Instagram by the fefendants without the prior vetting and approval by the Advertising Standards Panel (ASP), and having no regards for the Nigerian culture, constitutional tenets, moral values and religious sensitivity of the Nigerian people is illegal, unlawful and a violation of extant advertising laws in Nigeria.
It also seeks an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Defendants, their privies, agents, assigns, servants, workers, associates or however constituted or described from publishing or exposing any advertisement and marketing communications material targeted at the Nigeria market and in Nigeria through the online/social media platforms of the 1st defendant without first submitting the proposed advertisement and marketing communication to the plaintiff for vetting and approval before exposure in line with the Nigerian Advertising Law.
