Renowned human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has filed a $5 million lawsuit against Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, over an alleged invasion of his privacy.
Falana, through his lawyer, Olumide Babalola, filed the suit at a Lagos High Court, accusing the social media giant of publishing a misleading video on Facebook. The video, shared by a page named “AfriCare Health Centre,” falsely claimed that Falana had suffered from prostatitis for over 16 years.
Citing Section 37 of the Nigerian Constitution and provisions of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, Falana argued that the publication was false, misleading, and a violation of his fundamental right to privacy. He also contended that the video had subjected him to emotional and psychological distress.
As part of his demands, Falana is seeking a court declaration that Meta’s continued publication of his name and images in connection with the false medical claim constitutes an invasion of his privacy. He is also requesting an order for the immediate removal of the video from Facebook.
The senior lawyer further alleged that Meta failed to verify the content before its publication, describing the company’s actions as reckless and an unjustifiable intrusion into his private life. He maintained that he had never suffered from prostatitis and had no dealings with Meta or the Facebook page responsible for the misleading content.
Falana is demanding $5 million in general damages, arguing that the video has tarnished his reputation and caused him significant emotional distress. He urged the court to intervene and protect his image from further harm.
