The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal has upheld a $220 million administrative fine imposed by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) on Meta Platforms Inc. and WhatsApp LLC for violating consumer rights and engaging in exploitative practices in Nigeria.
In a landmark ruling delivered on Friday, April 25, 2025, the Tribunal dismissed nearly all the appeals filed by the tech giants, affirming the FCCPC’s legal authority, investigative process, and final orders. It also awarded an additional $35,000 to the Commission as the cost of investigation.
The three-member panel, chaired by Hon. Thomas Okosun, ruled that Meta and WhatsApp’s actions—found to be discriminatory and abusive towards Nigerian consumers—were correctly identified by the Commission and that the penalty was well within legal bounds.
The Tribunal rejected arguments raised by the companies’ legal team, led by Prof. Gbolahan Elias (SAN), particularly on claims of breach of fair hearing and FCCPC’s jurisdiction over data privacy. It upheld the FCCPC’s investigative powers under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA), 2018, especially Section 104, which empowers the Commission to act even in regulated sectors.
Meta and WhatsApp had appealed the FCCPC’s Final Order of July 19, 2024, which came after a joint 38-month investigation by the FCCPC and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), launched in 2020 to probe the companies’ data and consumer policies.
The Tribunal found no merit in the appeal on all seven issues raised, except for one—Order 7 of the FCCPC’s Final Order—which it set aside for lacking sufficient legal basis.
Reacting to the judgment, FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Mr. Tunji Bello, praised the diligence of the Commission’s legal team led by Mr. Babatunde Irukera. He described the verdict as a victory for Nigerian consumers and a strong message to global and local corporations operating in Nigeria.
“This decision validates our commitment to ensuring a fair and just marketplace for all Nigerians,” Bello said. “We will continue to enforce the law vigorously in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
