The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal in Nigeria has ordered Meta Platforms Inc. and its subsidiary, WhatsApp, to pay a $220 million fine, along with $35,000 in investigative costs, to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) within 60 days.
The ruling, delivered on Friday, affirms penalties imposed on the tech giants over alleged data discrimination practices in Nigeria.
A three-member panel of the tribunal, chaired by Thomas Okosun, upheld the FCCPC’s decision, dismissing the appeal filed by Meta and WhatsApp challenging the regulatory action.
The $220 million fine was originally levied by the FCCPC following an investigation into alleged violations of consumer rights and data protection laws.
The Commission accused Meta of engaging in abusive and discriminatory data practices that negatively impacted Nigerian consumers.
Legal teams from both sides presented their final arguments on January 28, 2025. Meta and WhatsApp were represented by Professor Gbolahan Elias (SAN), while the FCCPC was represented by Babatunde Irukera (SAN), former Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission.
Meta and WhatsApp, in their appeal, had raised 22 objections to the FCCPC’s ruling, citing issues such as vague regulatory directives, unreasonable timelines, unjustified data-sharing requirements, and procedural irregularities.
The appellants argued that the FCCPC’s actions lacked legal foundation under Nigerian law.
Despite these arguments, the tribunal found no merit in the appeal and ordered full compliance with the FCCPC’s sanction.
