The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has withdrawn its N30 billion lawsuit against Meta Platforms Incorporated (formerly Facebook Inc.), owners of Facebook and Instagram. The lawsuit, filed in 2022, alleged Meta violated Nigerian advertising laws by publishing unapproved ads.
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed the case (FHC/ABJ/CS/1701/2022) based on a notice of discontinuance filed by ARCON’s lawyer, Barrister Micheal Okorie.
ARCON previously argued that Meta’s platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, displayed advertisements targeted at the Nigerian market without prior vetting and approval, violating Nigerian advertising regulations. This, according to ARCON, led to financial losses for the Nigerian government.
A statement from ARCON reiterated the agency’s commitment to “not permit unethical and irresponsible advertising on Nigeria’s advertising space.” Director-General Olalekan Fadolapo explained that legal action was pursued after unsuccessful attempts to negotiate a regulatory framework with Meta.
The statement claimed Meta ignored requests for meetings and failed to respond formally after expressing intent to do so. Meta has not publicly commented on the lawsuit or its withdrawal.
While the reason for ARCON’s withdrawal remains undisclosed, the case highlights potential regulatory challenges faced by tech giants operating in Africa.
