Renowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has filed a lawsuit against Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, over what he describes as a serious invasion of his privacy.
The legal luminary is seeking $5 million in damages after discovering a video falsely claiming he has been battling prostatitis for over 16 years.
The lawsuit, filed before a Lagos High Court, accuses Meta of publishing misleading content under the name “AfriCare Health Centre.”
The video, which appeared on Facebook, features Falana’s name, image, and a voice-over allegedly quoting him as saying he had suffered from prostatitis since the age of 50 and had struggled to find an effective treatment. According to Falana, the entire video is a fabrication, and he has never had any dealings with Meta or the page responsible for the post.
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In his legal submission, Falana asserts that the publication violates his fundamental right to privacy, as guaranteed under Section 37 of the Nigerian Constitution (1999, as amended).
He further argues that Meta’s actions contravene Sections 24(1)(A) and (E) and Section 34(1)(D) of the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, which protect individuals from unauthorized use of their personal data and safeguard against emotional and psychological distress caused by false information.
The Senior Advocate is asking the court to declare that Meta’s continued publication of the video constitutes an invasion of his privacy. He is also seeking an order compelling the company to immediately remove and erase the video from its platform.
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Expressing his distress over the publication, Falana described the false claims as deeply offensive, reckless, and insensitive. Additionally, he is demanding $5 million in damages for the harm caused to his reputation, emotional well-being, and psychological health.
He emphasized that his health status is a private matter and insisted that he has never suffered from prostatitis. He further stated that the misleading content has subjected him to anxiety, sadness, and unnecessary public ridicule.
Given Meta’s global reach, the video has already been seen by millions of people since its publication in January 2023, further compounding the damage to his reputation. Falana believes that Meta acted negligently by failing to verify the information before allowing its widespread circulation.
This case has sparked discussions about the responsibility of social media platforms in curbing misinformation and protecting individuals’ privacy. If successful, it could set a significant legal precedent in Nigeria regarding digital privacy, online defamation, and the accountability of tech giants like Meta.
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