The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has welcomed the ruling of the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal, which upheld a $220 million fine against Meta Platforms Inc. (Facebook) and WhatsApp LLC.
In a statement released Friday in Abuja, FCCPC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, said the commission’s Executive Vice Chairman, Tunji Bello, praised the legal team for its diligence throughout the case.
According to Ijagwu, the tribunal, led by Thomas Okosun, ruled in favor of the FCCPC on all seven key issues raised by the appellants. It dismissed Meta and WhatsApp’s objections, affirming the FCCPC’s authority and its adherence to due process.
The tribunal confirmed that the FCCPC acted within its legal powers under the 1999 Constitution and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA), particularly Section 104, which allows the commission to regulate competition and consumer rights—even in already regulated sectors.
In addition to affirming the $220 million penalty, the tribunal awarded the FCCPC $35,000 to cover the cost of its investigation.
The fine stemmed from a 38-month joint investigation by the FCCPC and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission into Meta and WhatsApp’s data handling, privacy policies, and consumer practices.
Ijagwu reiterated the FCCPC’s dedication to protecting Nigerian consumers and ensuring a fair and competitive business environment.
