Court defends Facebook against ₦60 billion fine, halts Nigerian government action
On Thursday, December 19, a Federal High Court in Lagos temporarily blocked the Nigerian government from enforcing a ₦60 billion fine against Meta’s Facebook. This ruling came after Facebook’s lawyers filed an application challenging the fine, which had been imposed by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) in October 2024.
So, what happened? ARCON accused Facebook of running unauthorized ads in Nigeria, claiming they hadn’t been reviewed by its Advertising Standards Panel. They also said the ads went against the country’s cultural and moral values. As a result, ARCON slapped Meta with the hefty ₦60 billion fine along with other penalties.
But Meta wasn’t backing down. The company argued that the fine was excessive and unconstitutional. They also questioned ARCON’s power to impose such penalties, pointing out that Facebook follows global advertising standards.
Justice Yellim Bogoro ruled in favor of Meta for now, temporarily halting ARCON from enforcing the fine or taking further action against Facebook until the case is fully heard. The next hearing is scheduled for February 2025, where both sides will present their arguments. Stay tuned!
