The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has been granted permission by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to serve a writ of summons on Meta Platforms, the social media giant and owners of Facebook. This comes after ARCON’s application in a pending N30 billion lawsuit against the company for violating Nigeria’s advertising laws.
The court’s decision allows ARCON to proceed with its legal action against Meta Platforms and is a significant development in the ongoing dispute. The case centers on the social media giant’s alleged violation of Nigeria’s advertising regulations, which ARCON claims has caused significant harm to the advertising industry in the country.
With the court’s permission to serve the writ of summons, ARCON can now take further legal action against Meta Platforms. The lawsuit seeks to hold the company accountable for its actions and to ensure that it complies with Nigeria’s advertising laws going forward.
This development underscores the importance of regulatory compliance in the advertising industry and highlights the Nigerian government’s commitment to enforcing its regulations. The case also serves as a warning to other social media companies operating in Nigeria to adhere to the country’s advertising laws or face legal consequences.
ARCON is, therefore, 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.
It is also seeking N30 billion in fines and sanctions for the continued violations and infractions of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria Act No. 23 of 2022.
