Renowned Nigerian human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, has taken legal action against Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, over an alleged violation of his privacy. He is demanding $5 million in damages.

Falana claims that Meta wrongfully used his name, image, and voice in an advertisement promoting a health product. The ad falsely portrayed him as someone suffering from prostatitis, a condition he insists he has never had.

According to him, this unauthorized use of his identity breaches his fundamental right to privacy as outlined in Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and specific sections of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.

He also accused Meta of spreading misleading information through a Facebook page called “AfriCare Health Centre.” The post allegedly stated that he had struggled with prostatitis for over 16 years, experiencing symptoms like pain, fatigue, and urinary issues.

Falana made it clear that he has never had any dealings with the platform or the pages involved regarding his health. He described the video as false, misleading, and damaging to his reputation.

As a result, he is asking the court to declare that Meta’s actions violated his privacy rights. He is also seeking an order for the immediate removal of the video, along with $5 million in damages for the distress and reputational harm he suffered.

He argued that Meta’s failure to verify the claims before allowing them to circulate had subjected him to public ridicule and emotional distress.