In a major legal victory for Nigeria’s data protection regime, the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal on Friday upheld a $220 million fine imposed on Meta Platforms Inc. and WhatsApp LLC by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) for multiple data privacy violations.
In addition to the hefty penalty, the Tribunal directed the tech giants to pay $35,000 to the FCCPC to cover the cost of its investigation—bringing the total amount payable to $220.035 million within 60 days.
Delivering judgment in Abuja, the three-member panel led by Thomas Okosun ruled that the FCCPC acted within its constitutional and legal mandate, and that its findings regarding the violations were sound and lawfully executed.
The ruling reaffirms Nigeria’s regulatory power over global tech platforms operating within its borders, marking a pivotal step in enforcing digital consumer rights and data protection compliance in the country.