Renowned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has filed a $5 million lawsuit against Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, over an alleged breach of his privacy rights.
Femi Falana claims that Meta wrongfully used his name, image, and voice in a deceptive advertisement for a health product, falsely portraying him as suffering from prostatitis—a condition he insists he has never had.
The lawsuit, filed at the Lagos State High Court on February 3, 2025, argues that Meta’s actions violated Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and multiple provisions of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.
Meta Accused of Spreading False Information
According to court documents, the alleged misinformation was published via the “AfriCare Health Centre” page on Facebook. The false advert reportedly claimed that Falana had struggled with pain, fatigue, and urinary issues for over 16 years—a statement he categorically denies.
Femi Falana maintains that he has never engaged with Meta or its affiliates on any health-related issue and that the video in question is misleading, defamatory, and unfair.
Demands in the Lawsuit
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria is seeking:
✅ A court declaration that Meta’s actions violated his right to privacy.
✅ An immediate removal of the misleading video from all Meta platforms.
✅ $5 million in general damages for emotional distress and reputational harm.
Falana further alleges that Meta failed to verify the claims before publishing them and that the false promotion was driven by a desire to boost engagement and ad revenue at his expense.
The court is yet to fix a hearing date for the case.