A Federal High Court in Lagos has temporarily halted the Nigerian government’s attempt to enforce a ₦60 billion fine against Meta’s Facebook, following a ruling by Justice Yellim Bogoro. The fine was imposed by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) in October 2024, citing unauthorized ads that allegedly violated cultural and moral values.
Facebook’s lawyers challenged the fine, arguing it was excessive and unconstitutional, and also questioned ARCON’s authority to impose such penalties. They emphasized that Facebook operates within global advertising standards .
The court’s interim order restrains ARCON from demanding the fine or taking further action against Facebook until the case is decided. The next hearing is scheduled for February 2025, where both parties will present their arguments in detail .
This development is a significant setback for ARCON, which had accused Facebook of running unauthorized ads in Nigeria. The court’s decision allows Facebook to continue operating in Nigeria without paying the fine or facing penalties, for now.
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