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Alleged Privacy Invasion: Court Rules In Falana’s Favour, Awards $25,000 As Damages Against Meta
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The Lagos High Court at the Tafawa Balewa Square area of Lagos has awarded the sum of $25, 000 as damages in favour of Femi Falana (SAN), in the $5,000,000 lawsuit against Meta Platforms Inc., the U.S-based tech giant owned by Mark Zuckerberg, over alleged invasion of his privacy.
In a judgment delivered on Tuesday, Justice Olalekan Oresanya held that a global technology company such as Meta, which hosts pages for commercial benefit, owes a duty of care to persons affected by content disseminated on its platform.
Falana, through his lawyer, Olumide Babalola, had accused Meta of publishing motion images and voice captioned, “AfriCare Health Centre,” on their website to the effect that he suffered a disease known as ‘Prostatitis’ which constitutes an invasion of his privacy as guaranteed by section 37 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.
The suit was also filed pursuant to Section 24(1)(A) and (E) & Section 34(1)(D) of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, Order 2 Rule 1 Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules, 2009.
Falana said that the published false video about his health status has rubbished his image and the name he built over the years. He also argued that the publication by the respondent, which is false, offensive, and disturbing, paints him in a false light, which has caused him mental and emotional disturbances.
In its judgement, the court rejected the notion that platforms can rely solely on “hosting” or “intermediary” arguments where the platform monetises content, and harm from misinformation is reasonably foreseeable.
For Falana’s lawyer, Olumide Babalola, this issue reinforced a platform accountability standard under Nigerian law, which aligns with emerging global jurisprudence.
The court also found that “the fact that the applicant is a public figure does not rob him of his right to privacy”. The publication of false medical information was found to intrude into the claimant’s private life, regardless of his public standing.
Babalola said that this finding settles an important misconception in Nigerian practice and affirms that health data enjoys heightened protection, even for public figures.
The Court also found that Meta determines the means and purposes of processing content; monetises pages and controls distribution algorithms; and therefore acts as a joint data controller with page owners. Accordingly, Meta was held vicariously liable for the offensive video.
Babalola said, “This is a major development under the NDPA and weakens the ‘mere platform’ defence traditionally relied upon by Big Tech”.
The Court further held that Meta breached Section 24 of the NDPA, having processed personal data that was inaccurate, harmful, lacking a lawful basis, and unfair to the learned Senior Advocate. The False health information was held to be unlawful processing per se.
The Court emphasised that where the risk of inaccuracy is foreseeable, especially in relation to sensitive personal data, a platform owes a heightened duty to ensure accuracy and integrity, meaning that Meta failed to deploy adequate safeguards to prevent or mitigate harm.
As a global technology company with advanced resources, Meta was expected to implement effective content review mechanisms, rapid takedown processes, and safeguards proportionate to the risk posed by misinformation. Its failure to do so amounted to regulatory non-compliance.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ekiti State Office, on Thursday announced the extension of the ongoing collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) has been extended from Friday, 12th June to Sunday, 14th June 2026.
The was contained in a statement by the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Bunmi Omoseyindemi in Ado Ekiti
The statement read: “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ekiti State Office, wishes to inform all registered voters in the State that the ongoing collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) has been extended from Friday, 12th June to Sunday, 14th June 2026
“The extension is intended to provide an additional opportunity for eligible voters who are yet to collect their PVCs to do so before the Governorship Election scheduled for Saturday, 20th June 2026.
“Collection of PVCs will continue at the designated Local Government Area Offices of the Commission during official hours. Voters are advised to collect their PVCs personally, as collection by proxy will not be permitted.
INEC urges all registered voters who have not collected their PVCs to take advantage of this extension, as the PVC remains the only means of identification for voting on Election Day.
“The Commission remains committed to ensuring that every eligible voter is given the opportunity to participate in the electoral process.”
US President Donald Trump on Thursday said he was calling off strikes on Iran and flagged the signing of a possible deal with Tehran after top-level talks.
“Based on the fact that discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved, I have… cancelled the scheduled strikes and bombings against Iran this evening,” Trump said on his Truth Social network.
“Time and place of the signing to be announced shortly,” he added.
Iran Warns Of ‘Endless Quagmire’
Iran had warned Washington on Thursday that it risked wading into an “endless quagmire” of war and soaring energy prices, after Trump vowed to launch a new round of airstrikes and to seize an island oil terminal.
Iran’s chief negotiator in talks with the Americans, parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, issued his stark warning after the two sides exchanged overnight fire and Trump threatened that US forces would hit “VERY HARD TONIGHT”.
“Wrong strategies and impulsive decisions will reset the entire board for the worse, explode energy infrastructure and markets and create an endless quagmire that you will be stuck in for years,” Ghalibaf said.
The war, which began on February 28 with a wave of US-Israeli strikes on Iran, was paused under an April truce, but efforts to hammer out a permanent end to the fighting have since stalled.
US forces have also, since the ceasefire, hit radar arrays and disabled Iranian ships, and Tehran has maintained a chokehold on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
“At some point in the not too distant future, we will be taking Kharg Island, and other oil infrastructure points, and assume total control of their Oil and Gas Markets, much like we have with Venezuela,” Trump said, in a post on his own social media platform, referring to a Gulf island that hosts Iran’s biggest oil export terminal.
General Ali Abdollahi, head of the Iranian military’s central headquarters, warned that “if the United States once again seeks to carry out attacks against heroic Iran, it would receive a harsher response than before, and the flames of war, in addition to creating insecurity in the region, will become more widespread and far-reaching”.
The conflict has destabilised oil and gas prices, fuelling inflation and fears of recession in many economies.
On Thursday, the World Bank lowered its global growth forecast to its lowest level since the coronavirus pandemic, predicting it would drop to 2.5 percent in 2026, from 2.9 percent last year.
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Hon. Dr. Olotu Akpodiete JP, who’s vying for the Ughelli North, South and Udu Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives, has sent his congratulations to Rt. Hon. Frederick Agbedi. Agbedi’s new role as Minority Leader was announced today during plenary by Speaker Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.
Dr. Akpodiete said Agbedi’s emergence shows the trust and confidence his colleagues have in him. He described the new Minority Leader as dependable, strong-willed, and a politician of principle who acts on conviction rather than convenience.
Rt. Hon. Agbedi represents Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency in Bayelsa State. Before this appointment, he led the PDP Caucus in the House and also served as Bayelsa PDP chairman. He remains a committed PDP member and believes the party has a vital role as a strong opposition.
Akpodiete said he’s confident Agbedi will use his experience, competence and character to serve the House, the legislature, and Nigerians well.
Signed:
Hon. Dr. Olotu Akpodiete JP
House of Representatives Candidate Hopeful
Ughelli North, South and Udu Federal Constituency
INEC extends PVCs collection in Ekiti for 72hours
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