Global tech giant Meta Platforms, Inc. has moved to overturn a Lagos High Court judgment that awarded $25,000 in damages to prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana, escalating a legal dispute that could shape the future of digital rights and platform responsibility in Nigeria.
The appeal, filed on April 10, 2026, follows a ruling by Justice O. A. Oresanya of the Lagos State High Court in Suit No. LD/18843MFHR/2025, which found in favour of Falana over a video publication deemed to have infringed on his rights.
Meta’s legal team, led by Mofesomo Tayo-Oyetibo (SAN), submitted an eight-ground Notice of Appeal, contesting both the legal reasoning and procedures adopted by the trial court. Central to the company’s argument is the claim that the case was wrongly treated as a fundamental rights enforcement matter.
According to Meta, the issues raised in the suit relate primarily to alleged false publication and reputational harm, which fall under defamation law—not constitutional rights enforcement. The company argued that the lower court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules.
Meta also challenged the court’s reliance on the doctrine of undisclosed principal in assigning liability. It maintained that there was no proven relationship between the company and the publisher of the disputed video, identified as AfriCare Health Centre, insisting the content was created and uploaded by an independent third party.
The firm further emphasized its role as a digital intermediary, stating it neither created nor exercised editorial control over the content in question.
In addition, Meta disputed the court’s finding that it breached provisions of the Nigeria Data Protection Act, arguing it was wrongly classified as a data controller. The company said there was no evidence showing it determined how or why the personal data in the video was processed.
The $25,000 damages awarded to Falana were also described by Meta as excessive and unjustified. The company is urging the appellate court to nullify both the financial award and the entire judgment.
Meta further alleged that it was denied a fair hearing during the trial, claiming the judge raised and ruled on certain issues without inviting submissions from both parties and failed to fully consider its defence before delivering judgment.
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