Abuja, April 27, 2025 – The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Meta to pay the $220 million fine imposed on it by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) or face legal action over grave consumer, data protection and privacy laws infringements in Nigeria.
It also urged Meta and Mark Zuckerberg, its Chief Executive, to pay the $35,000 awarded by the The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal as the cost of investigation.
It also urged Mr. Zuckerberg and Meta to immediately halt the violations found by the Tribunal and prevent their re-occurrence, as well as ensure the accountability of any person(s) responsible for the violations.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal, had last Friday, upheld the $220 million fine against Meta by Nigeria’s FCCPC for the grave violations of consumer, data protection and privacy laws.
SERAP threatened to file a suit against the two if they fail to pay the $220 million fine imposed on them by the FCCPC and upheld by the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal.
SERAP gave the advice in a letter dated April 26, 2025 and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.
The letter reads: “As Chairman and CEO, you ought to ensure enhanced transparency, human rights due diligence, accountability and remediation by Meta to ensure that Nigerians’ human rights are not threatened or violated.
“The Tribunal’s judgment confirms that the operations of Meta (Facebook) in Nigeria have violated Nigerians’ human rights and continued to have a chilling effect on the enjoyment of human rights on Meta platforms.
The open letter, read in part: “SERAP is concerned that the human rights violations found by the Tribunal may be ongoing, and have a high risk of recurrence, if not adequately and effectively redressed.
“SERAP urges you and Meta not to unnecessarily prolong the harms suffered by the victims by resisting the temptation to pursue any appeal against the Tribunal’s judgment under the provisions of section 55 the FCCP Act.
“The Tribunal’s judgment also shows clear and strong evidence that the operations of Meta in Nigeria are inconsistent and incompatible with international human rights standards including the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
“We would be grateful if these measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter.
“If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions at the national, regional or international levels to compel you and Meta to comply with our requests in the public interest.
“Our requests are brought in the public interest, and in keeping with the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and other applicable international human standards binding on Meta.
“SERAP is concerned that Meta has not only grossly violated the provisions of the FCCP Act as confirmed by the Tribunal but also international human rights standards including the UN Guiding Principle on Business and Human Rights.”
