The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) and Meta Platforms, Inc. are scheduled to adopt the terms of their $32.8 million fine settlement on November 3 at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The court date was set by Justice James Omotosho after Meta’s lawyer, Fred Onuobia, SAN, was delayed in filing settlement documents but confirmed advanced talks. This move ends months of legal wrangling following NDPC’s February 2025 fine against Meta for violating Nigerian users’ privacy rights on Facebook and Instagram, including unauthorised data use for advertising.
Meta initially challenged the fine but chose to reconcile with Nigeria’s data regulator, marking a significant moment for data privacy enforcement in Africa. The court emphasized reviewing the settlement details thoroughly before approval. The case highlights Nigeria’s growing commitment to enforcing its Data Protection Act, signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, and holding global tech giants accountable.
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