Abuja, Nigeria (Naija247news) — The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) and Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, are scheduled to adopt the terms of settlement on November 3, 2025, in their legal dispute over a $32.8 million fine imposed on the U.S. tech giant for alleged data privacy violations affecting Nigerian users.
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja fixed the date after Meta’s counsel, Fred Onuobia, SAN, informed the court that both parties had reached an agreement but were unable to file the settlement documents on time.
Settlement Reached, Filing Delayed
At the resumed hearing on Friday, Onuobia told the court that Meta had finalized its settlement with the NDPC but encountered delays in submitting the required documents.
“We are happy to announce to my lord that the parties have reached a settlement,”
— Fred Onuobia, SAN (Counsel to Meta Platforms Inc.)
He apologized for the late filing, explaining that the delay was due to circumstances beyond the company’s control and requested a brief standdown to allow the court to receive a copy of the filed document.
However, Justice Omotosho declined the request, insisting on reviewing the terms thoroughly before giving approval.
“There are instances that what is not in the claims will be included in the terms of settlement. So, I will have to read it,” the judge said.
The judge subsequently adjourned the matter to November 3 at 12 noon for formal adoption of the settlement terms.
Background of the Dispute
The NDPC had, on February 18, 2025, imposed a remedial fine of $32.8 million and eight corrective orders against Meta Platforms Inc. for allegedly violating the fundamental privacy rights of Nigerian users through its behavioral advertising practices on Facebook and Instagram.
The Commission accused Meta of processing Nigerians’ personal data without adequate consent or transparency, contrary to provisions of the Nigeria Data Protection Act, signed into law by President Bola Tinubu in June 2023.
Dissatisfied with the sanction, Meta, through its counsel, filed a motion ex-parte on February 26, 2025, seeking judicial review to quash NDPC’s enforcement orders. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/355/2025, was brought before Justice Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Court Proceedings and NDPC’s Objection
On March 4, the judge granted Meta leave to proceed with judicial review, allowing it to challenge NDPC’s February 18 compliance orders. However, the court refused Meta’s request for a stay of all regulatory proceedings, opting instead for an accelerated hearing.
The NDPC, represented by Adeola Adedipe, SAN, of ALPHA & ROHI Law Firm, responded with a preliminary objection filed on April 11, arguing that Meta’s suit was incompetent and lacked jurisdictional merit.
Adedipe contended that Meta failed to comply with Order 34 Rule 6(1) of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules (2019), which governs judicial review applications. He urged the court to strike out the case, describing it as “academic” and incapable of invoking the court’s jurisdiction.
“The suit is liable to be struck out or dismissed in limine,” Adedipe argued.
Path Toward Reconciliation
Despite the initial legal stalemate, both parties indicated interest in an out-of-court settlement. On October 3, Meta’s counsel informed the court that reconciliation talks were underway, prompting Justice Omotosho to defer ruling on NDPC’s preliminary objection to allow for negotiations.
At Friday’s hearing, Adedipe thanked the court for accommodating the parties’ reconciliation efforts, confirming that progress had been made toward a mutual resolution.
Justice Omotosho emphasized the importance of judicial oversight in settlements involving regulatory actions, saying the court must ensure that “no terms outside the original claims” are introduced.
The final adoption of the settlement terms on November 3 is expected to formally end the high-profile dispute — one of the first major enforcement cases under Nigeria’s new data protection law, which seeks to hold global tech firms accountable for user privacy within the country’s digital ecosystem.
Naija247news Analysis
The Meta-NDPC case marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s evolving digital governance landscape. It underscores the government’s growing assertiveness in enforcing data protection laws and signals to multinational platforms the importance of compliance within Nigeria’s legal framework.
Industry analysts say the resolution of the case could set a regulatory precedent for future enforcement actions under the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) and help shape how international tech companies engage with the country’s rapidly expanding online user base.
SEO Title: Meta, NDPC to Adopt $32.8m Settlement Terms Over Data Privacy Fine Nov. 3
Meta Description: Meta Platforms Inc. and Nigeria’s Data Protection Commission will adopt settlement terms on Nov. 3, resolving a $32.8 million fine for alleged privacy breaches involving Nigerian users.
Tags: Meta, NDPC, Facebook Nigeria, Data Protection Act, Privacy Rights, Federal High Court Abuja, Nigeria Tech Regulation
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Reporting by Godwin Okafor, The Naija247news in Lagos, Nigeria.
