Falana sues Meta for $5m over alleged privacy invasion

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has filed a $5 million lawsuit against Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, accusing it of violating his privacy. Falana alleges that Meta used his name, image, and voice in a misleading advertisement for a health product on its platform, falsely suggesting that he was suffering from prostatitis, a condition he asserts he has never had.
The lawsuit, which was filed at the Lagos State High Court on February 3, 2025, argues that the unauthorized use of his identity breaches his fundamental right to privacy as outlined in Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Sections 24(1)(A) and (E) & Section 34(1)(D) of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.
Falana alleged that Meta published false and misleading content under the page “AfriCare Health Centre” on Facebook, falsely claiming he had battled prostatitis for over 16 years and struggled with symptoms like pain, fatigue, and urinary issues.
He stated in court documents that he had never had any dealings with the respondent or its pages on issues concerning his health and that the video is false, misleading, and unfair to him.
Falana is seeking a declaration that Meta’s actions violated his privacy rights, an order for Meta to remove the false video immediately, and $5m in general damages for the distress and reputational harm caused.
He argues that Meta’s failure to verify the claims before publishing had exposed him to ridicule and emotional distress.
He also asserted that the alleged false publicity was driven by Meta’s desire to boost engagement and ad revenue at his expense.
The court has yet to fix a date for hearing.