N30bn suit: Court grants ARCON leave to serve summons on Meta

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A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), leave to serve writ of summons on Meta Platform.

Meta is a social media giant and owner of Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp platforms.

After an application by ARCON in a pending N30 billion suit against Meta for violation of the extant advertising laws of Nigeria, the court granted the writ.

The writ is to be served at the United States corporate headquarters of Meta.

Meta is the first defendant in the suit and AT3 Resources Limited is the second defendant.

Background

ARCON approached the court seeking a declaration that the publication of advertisements and marketing communications materials targeted at Nigeria via Meta’s platforms without prior scrutinizing and consent by the Advertising Standards Panel is unlawful.

The regulatory body also alleged that the act ignored Nigerian culture, constitutional tenets, moral values, and religious sensitivity of citizens.

Thus, ARCON wants Meta to be restrained from publishing any advertising or marketing communications materials without recourse to ARCON in line with the country’s advertising law.

It seeks a N30 billion fine and sanction for the constant violations and infractions of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria Act No. 23 of 2022.

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