NGA Federal High Court in Lagos has nullified a N60 billion fine imposed by the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) on Facebook Nigeria Operations Limited for allegedly running unapproved advertisements. The court ruled that ARCON exceeded its statutory authority and violated Facebook Nigeria's constitutional right to a fair hearing. In its decision, Justice Yellim Bogoro declared ARCON's notice of violation unconstitutional and unlawful, stating that the regulator cannot impose fines for alleged criminal violations without a prior court conviction. The dispute stemmed from ARCON's claim that Facebook Nigeria operated ads on Facebook and Instagram without proper approval. Facebook Nigeria argued that it is a separate legal entity from Meta Platforms Inc., which owns the platforms, and that ARCON did not provide sufficient evidence to hold it responsible for the alleged violations.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a judicial ruling regarding a regulatory action against a major technology company. It provides balanced perspectives from both Facebook Nigeria and ARCON, quoting their respective legal arguments and presenting the court's findings without apparent bias toward either side. The措
