The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has praised the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal for its ruling on the appeal brought by Meta Platforms Incorporated (Facebook) and WhatsApp LLC.
This announcement was made in a statement by Mr. Ondaje Ijagwu, the FCCPC Director of Corporate Affairs, on Friday in Abuja.
Ijagwu noted that the Executive Vice Chairman of the commission, Mr. Tunji Bello, also recognized the exceptional diligence of the FCCPC’s legal team.
He reported that the tribunal ruled in favor of the FCCPC on issues one through seven, rejecting the appellants’ objections to the commission’s findings, orders, and legal authority.
Ijagwu added that the tribunal’s three-member panel, led by Mr. Thomas Okosun, upheld the commission’s authority and actions on nearly all contested matters.
He emphasized that the tribunal found the commission had adhered to applicable laws, fulfilled its mandate, and exercised its powers appropriately.
Ijagwu announced that the tribunal upheld the $220 million fine imposed on Meta Platforms Incorporated and WhatsApp LLC by the commission, and additionally awarded $35,000 to the FCCPC to cover investigation costs.
He noted that this case stemmed from a 38-month joint investigation conducted by the FCCPC and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, which examined the practices, privacy policies, and consumer data management of Meta Platforms and WhatsApp.
Ijagwu explained that Meta and WhatsApp, dissatisfied with last year’s ruling, appealed to the tribunal, contesting both the legal foundation and the findings of the FCCPC.
“The tribunal largely ruled in favor of the FCCPC on issues one to seven, rejecting the appellants’ objections to the commission’s findings, orders, and legal authority,” he stated.
He added that the tribunal confirmed the FCCPC acted within its statutory powers, reaffirming its authority under Section 104 of the FCCPA to oversee competition and consumer protection, even in regulated sectors.
