Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has filed a $5 million lawsuit against Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, accusing it of violating his privacy by publishing false claims about his health. The lawsuit was filed before a Lagos High Court.
Falana, represented by his lawyer Olumide Babalola, is pursuing the case under Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Sections 24(1)(A) and (E) and 34(1)(D) of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023. He claims Meta published a video and motion images on the “AfriCare Health Centre” Facebook page, falsely stating that he had been suffering from prostatitis for over 16 years.
According to Falana, the publication violated his right to privacy and breached Nigeria’s Data Protection Act. “The video and its contents are false, inaccurate, misleading, and unfair to me,” Falana stated. “It paints me in a false light, making it a clear invasion of my privacy.”
The video included fabricated claims, falsely attributing the following statement to Falana: “My name is Femi Falana, and I have been battling prostatitis for over 16 years. At the age of 50, I was diagnosed with this condition. Every day I faced pain, discomfort, and constant fatigue. I had trouble urinating, lower back pain, and other symptoms that made it difficult to live a full life. Despite consulting the best urologists in the country, no one could offer me effective treatment. I was prescribed numerous medications, physical therapy, even surgery, but the problem was that these methods only temporarily relieved the symptoms.”
Falana strongly denied these claims, asserting, “I have never suffered from prostatitis in my life. My health is private, and this publication is completely false, offensive, and fabricated.” He added that he had no association with Meta or the “AfriCare Health Centre” page.
Falana also expressed the negative impact of the publication on his reputation, stating, “The video has greatly prejudiced me. It has painted me in a false light, exposing me to ridicule, emotional distress, and psychological harm.” He noted that millions had viewed the video, which further amplified the damage.
Additionally, Falana accused Meta of negligence for failing to verify the page and video before publishing, suggesting that the tech giant’s actions were intended to drive traffic and boost advertising revenue. He described the video as “reckless, insensitive, disturbing, and an unjustifiable intrusion into my privacy.”
In addition to seeking $5 million in damages, Falana is requesting a court order for Meta to remove the video and cease further dissemination of the false claims. He emphasized the importance of the lawsuit in protecting his reputation and fundamental right to privacy. “This suit is necessary to safeguard my image and protect my fundamental right to privacy,” he concluded.
