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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Federal Government through the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has dragged Meta Platforms Incorporated, the parent company of popular social media platforms – Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, before a Federal High Court in Abuja, for violating the extant advertising laws of Nigeria.
In the suit, ARCON claimed that Meta violated No. 23 of its 2022 Act, by publishing various advertisements targeting the Nigerian market without proper vetting and approval.
The council is seeking N30 billion in damages from Meta and its agent in the country, AT3 Resources Limited, for the alleged breach of advertisement regulations.
ARCON is also seeking an order of perpetual injunction “restraining the defendants, their privies, agents, servants and associates from publishing any advertising or marketing communications materials without recourse to ARCON in line with the country’s advertising law.”
The court had on Wednesday, May 3, approved the case to proceed, naming Meta and AT3 Resources Limited as the first and second defendants respectively.
The writ of summons is expected to be served on Meta at its corporate headquarters in the United States.