The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) and Meta Platforms Inc., parent company of Facebook and Instagram, have agreed to settle their ongoing legal dispute over a $32.8 million fine and a series of compliance orders issued against the tech giant for alleged data privacy violations involving Nigerian users.
The development was disclosed before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, where the court was scheduled to deliver a ruling on NDPC’s preliminary objection to Meta’s suit and the company’s motion to amend its court filings.
At the proceedings, Meta’s counsel, Fred Onwuobia, SAN, informed the court that both parties had reached “an advanced stage of settlement,” and urged the judge to defer the ruling to allow time for final negotiations.
“The draft terms of settlement have been exchanged,” Onwuobia said, adding that the parties believed an early ruling might disrupt their discussions.
Counsel to the NDPC, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, confirmed the submission, noting that the settlement talks had “advanced appreciably.” He requested that the court adjourn the matter to enable the parties to return with mutually agreed terms for adoption as a consent judgment.
In response, Justice Omotosho commended both parties for opting for dialogue and stated that the court encourages amicable settlement of disputes. He subsequently adjourned the case to October 31, 2025, for either the adoption of the settlement terms or the delivery of the pending ruling.
The case originated in February 2025, when the NDPC fined Meta $32.8 million and issued eight corrective orders over alleged breaches of the Nigeria Data Protection Act. The Commission said the action followed a petition by the Personal Data Protection Awareness Initiative (PDPAI), which accused Meta of engaging in behavioural advertising on Facebook and Instagram without obtaining the explicit consent of Nigerian users.
NDPC also alleged that Meta failed to submit its 2022 compliance audit, violated cross-border data transfer rules, and processed the personal data of non-users of its platforms.
Meta, however, challenged the Commission’s findings and enforcement process, claiming it was denied fair hearing and due process. In a motion filed on March 19, Meta’s lead counsel, Prof. Gbolahan Elias, SAN, argued that the Commission’s actions violated Section 36 of the Nigerian Constitution, and urged the court to quash the enforcement orders.
In its objection, NDPC maintained that Meta’s suit was incompetent and that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear it, citing non-compliance with Order 34 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019. Adedipe further argued that Meta’s attempt to amend its reliefs was improper under court rules.
Justice Omotosho had earlier granted Meta permission to initiate a judicial review of the NDPC’s decision but refused to stay enforcement of the Commission’s orders. After hearing submissions from both sides, the court initially fixed October 3, 2025, for a consolidated ruling before the parties opted for settlement.
If the ongoing negotiations succeed, the October 31 sitting is expected to formalize the resolution between the NDPC and Meta, marking a major development in Nigeria’s enforcement of data protection laws against global tech firms.
