Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, has instituted a $5 million action before a Lagos High Court against a United State of America-based organisation, Meta Platforms Inc., over alleged invasion of his privacy by the company.

In the fundamental rights suit by his lawyer, Olumide Babalola, Falana accused the organisation of publishing motion images and voice captioned, “AfriCare Health Center,” in their website to the effect that Falana has suffered a disease known as ‘Prostatitis,’ which the lawyer claimed constitutes an invasion of his privacy as guaranteed by section 37 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.

Falana claimed the publication and the video as released through the organisation’s platform -www.facebook.com, are “false, inaccurate, misleading and unfair to the applicant and thereby violates the provision of section 24(1)(a) and (e) of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.”

To this end, the lawyer is praying the court for a declaration that the “Respondents continued publication of the applicants name, still and motion images and purported voice on a page and video captioned “AfriCare Health Centre on their platform – www.facebook.com to the effect that the applicant suffered from a disease known as ‘Prostatitis constitutes an invasion of the applicants privacy guaranteed by section 37 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.”

He is further praying the court for an order mandating the “Respondents to forthwith remove, erase and delete the video captioned “AfriCare Health Centre on their platform – www.facebook.com.”

For the damages the publication has caused him, Falana, is asking for a general damages in the sum of $million and a consequential order that the court may deem fit to grant in the circumstance.

Falana claimed that the published false video about his health status, which is his private life has rubished his image and the name he built over the years.

He argued that the publication by the respondent which is false, offensive and disturbing paints him in a false light, that has caused him mental and emotional disturbances.

The grounds upon which the suit was instituted are that the applicant as a reputable person is guaranteed the enjoyment of fundamental right to privacy under Section 37 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and that the respondents published the applicants name and images and ascribed a false illness to him and thereby violated his right to privacy guaranteed by the Constitution and Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 and he has suffered emotional and psychological distress as a result of the false story.

In the affidavit in support of the motion, Falana claimed that he is known for his fearless legal battles, often taking on cases against government policies and actions that infringe upon the rights of citizens and that his law practice covers a broad range of areas, including constitutional law, civil rights, public interest litigation, and international human rights law.

He said further that he is recognised for his work in defending freedom of expression, advocating the rights of marginalised groups, and challenging governmental overreach.



https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/03/falana-sues-meta-claims-5m-over-invasion-of-privacy/