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Ayomide Ayomide 
Meta Platforms Inc.—the company behind Facebook and WhatsApp—has lost its legal challenge against a massive $220 million fine from Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC). The ruling, delivered by a panel of three judges led by Thomas Okosun, is being called a big win for consumer rights in Nigeria.
The fine came after a joint investigation by the FCCPC and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), which lasted over three years and looked into Meta’s privacy policies and how it handled user data in Nigeria.
Meta had argued that it wasn’t given a fair hearing and claimed that the FCCPC overstepped its bounds. But the Tribunal disagreed, saying the FCCPC acted fully within its legal powers and followed the rules in the 1999 Constitution.
FCCPC’s spokesperson, Ondaje Ijagwu, said the Commission did its job by enforcing the law and protecting Nigerian consumers.
Out of seven major points raised in the appeal, the Tribunal sided with the FCCPC on almost all of them. They also confirmed that the Commission had the authority to handle issues related to data privacy, as stated in Section 104 of the FCCPC Act.
However, the Tribunal did remove one part of the FCCPC’s original order—Order 7—saying it wasn’t backed up by enough legal evidence.
In addition to upholding the $220 million fine, the Tribunal also told Meta to pay $35,000 to cover the cost of the investigation.
FCCPC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Mr. Tunji Bello, praised the outcome and the team behind the case, calling it a major step forward in making sure companies respect Nigerian laws and consumers.
“This ruling is a victory for every Nigerian. It sends a strong message that even global tech giants must follow our rules,” he said.
