Falana Files Lawsuits Against Meta, Demands $5m

Femi Falana, a human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, has launched a $5 million lawsuit against Meta Platforms Inc., Facebook’s parent corporation, accusing the internet giant of violating his privacy by posting bogus health claims. The lawsuit was filed in the Lagos High Court.

Falana, represented by lawyer Olumide Babalola, filed the complaint under Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Sections 24(1)(A) and (E), and Section 34(1)(D) of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023. He claims that Meta posted a video and motion photographs on Facebook under the name “AfriCare Health Centre,” falsely claiming that he has had prostatitis for over 16 years.

Falana claimed the publication violated his right to privacy and was a breach of Nigeria’s Data Protection Act. “The video and its contents are false, inaccurate, misleading, and unfair to me,” Falana said, adding, “The video paints me in a false light and as such is an invasion of my privacy.”

The human rights lawyer also noted the fabricated claims in the video, which falsely attributed the following statement to him:
“My name is Femi Falana, and I have been battling prostatitis for over 16 years. At the age of 50, I was diagnosed with this condition. Every day I faced pain, discomfort, and constant fatigue. I had trouble urinating, lower back pain, and other symptoms that made it difficult to live a full life. Despite consulting the best urologists in the country, no one could offer me effective treatment. I was prescribed numerous medications, physical therapy, even surgery, but the problem was that these methods only temporarily relieved the symptoms.”

Falana strongly refuted the claims, asserting, “I have never suffered any disease known as prostatitis in my life. My health life is part of my private life, and the publication is entirely false, offensive, and fabricated.” He added that he has had no dealings with Meta or the “AfriCare Health Centre” page.

The legal practitioner lamented the impact of the publication on his reputation, stating, “I have been greatly prejudiced by the video. It has painted me in a false light, exposed me to ridicule, and caused me emotional and psychological distress.” He also emphasized that the video had been viewed by millions worldwide since its publication, amplifying the damage.

Falana further accused Meta of negligence, stating, “For their failure to verify the page and video before publishing, I believe the Respondent’s publicity of my name and image in a false light was done carelessly and recklessly to draw traffic to the Respondent’s platform to boost its advertisement revenues.”

He described the video as “reckless, insensitive, disturbing, and an unjustifiable intrusion into my privacy,” adding, “I find the Respondent’s use of my name and image highly offensive and emotionally disturbing. This continues to cause me anxiety, sadness, and exposure to ridicule.”

In addition to the $5 million in damages, Falana is requesting a court order compelling Meta to erase the video and cease any publishing of misleading claims. He pleaded with the court to save his image, saying, “This suit is necessary to protect my reputation and fundamental right to privacy.”

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli