Prominent 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.
The lawsuit, filed before a Lagos High Court, accuses the tech giant of violating his privacy by publishing misleading and false claims about his health.
Represented by his lawyer, Olumide Babalola, Falana claims that Meta, through the Facebook page “AfriCare Health Centre,” posted a video and motion images falsely stating that he had been battling prostatitis for over 16 years.
The claims in the video assert that Falana has struggled with the condition, detailing symptoms like pain, fatigue, and urinary difficulties. However, Falana vehemently denies these allegations, calling them “false, inaccurate, misleading, and unfair.”
The legal action is brought under various sections of Nigeria’s Constitution and the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, which safeguards citizens’ privacy and data.
Falana has called the video an invasion of his privacy and a breach of the country’s data protection laws. He added that the publication has caused emotional distress, ridicule, and harm to his reputation.
“My health is part of my private life, and the video is entirely false. I have never suffered from prostatitis or any similar condition,” Falana said in a statement.
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He expressed frustration with Meta for allowing such a video to circulate without proper verification, stating that the platform had been reckless in publishing the video solely to drive traffic for advertising profits.
The video, which has been viewed millions of times globally, includes fabricated statements allegedly made by Falana, including details about his supposed health struggles and treatments.
Falana has strongly condemned the video, calling it “reckless and insensitive.”
Along with the $5 million in damages, Falana is also seeking a court order to have the video removed from the platform and for Meta to cease further publication of any false content regarding his health.
“I am taking this legal action to protect my reputation and fundamental right to privacy,” Falana declared.
