Meta Platforms, Inc. has officially resolved its dispute with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, NDPC, after both parties agreed to an out-of-court settlement over the $32.8 million fine imposed on the social media giant earlier this year.
The agreement was formally adopted and entered as judgment by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, marking the conclusion of one of Nigeria’s most closely watched digital-regulation cases.
The dispute began on February 18, when the NDPC sanctioned Meta with a $32.8 million remedial fee and issued eight corrective orders for alleged violations of Nigerians’ data privacy rights, particularly relating to behavioural advertising practices on Facebook and Instagram.
The Commission accused the company of using Nigerians’ personal data in ways that breached the principles of lawful consent and transparency under the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023.
Meta challenged the sanction through a judicial review suit filed on February 26, asking the court to quash the enforcement orders.
Justice Omotosho granted Meta permission to proceed with the judicial review but refused the company’s request to halt NDPC’s actions while the case proceeded.
The turning point came in October, when Meta’s counsel, Fred Onuobia (SAN), informed the court that both parties had begun advanced reconciliation talks.
He asked the court to defer rulings on NDPC’s preliminary objection to allow negotiations to conclude.
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NDPC’s lawyer, Adeola Adedipe (SAN), confirmed the discussions, paving the way for a settlement.
On Monday, both sides adopted a jointly signed terms-of-settlement document dated October 30 and filed on October 31.
Justice Omotosho praised the parties for choosing alternative dispute resolution , noting that settlements often provide more sustainable outcomes than prolonged litigation.
He then entered the agreement as the final judgment of the court in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/355/2025.
The exact details of the settlement were not disclosed in open court, but the decision effectively brings an end to Meta’s challenge and signals cooperation between the tech giant and Nigeria’s increasingly assertive data protection regulator.
Legal analysts say the case is significant for Nigeria’s enforcement of its new data protection framework, which aims to safeguard citizens’ data from misuse by public and private entities.
The NDPC has stepped up oversight since the 2023 Act came into force, issuing compliance orders to several major organisations.
For Meta, the settlement allows the company to move forward without the uncertainty of a prolonged legal battle, while for NDPC, it represents another milestone in asserting regulatory authority over global digital platforms operating in Nigeria.
NAN
