The High Court of Imo State has dismissed a fundamental rights suit filed by Chika B. Chukwuemeka, who sought US$25 million in damages from Meta Platforms Inc. over alleged violations of her privacy and data protection rights.

Justice L. C. Alinnor, sitting in the Mbaitoli/Ikeduru Judicial Division, held that Chukwuemeka failed to establish that Meta infringed her constitutional right to privacy or unlawfully processed her personal data.

Panic In Osogbo As Discount Food Store Disappears After Collecting Customers’ Money

Chukwuemeka had alleged that Meta collected, processed, profiled and used her personal data for behavioural advertising without her consent, contrary to Section 37 of the Nigerian Constitution and provisions of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023. She sought declarations against the alleged processing, orders restraining further processing and directives requiring Meta to comply with Nigerian data protection laws.

The applicant also sought substantial financial compensation, including the naira equivalent of US$10 million in general damages and US$15 million in exemplary damages, as well as post-judgment interest.

However, the court found that a significant part of Chukwuemeka’s case relied on Final Orders previously issued against Meta by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).

Those orders had subsequently been challenged before the Federal High Court in Abuja in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/355/2025, Meta Platforms, Inc. v. Nigeria Data Protection Commission. The proceedings ended in a consent judgment under which the NDPC Final Orders were set aside.

The Imo State High Court held that following the setting aside of the NDPC orders, they could no longer provide a legal basis for Chukwuemeka’s claims against Meta.

The court further held that, even without relying on the NDPC orders, the applicant had not presented sufficient evidence demonstrating specific acts by Meta that amounted to an infringement of her privacy rights.

According to the judgment, the allegations were largely bare assertions without the detailed factual evidence required to establish the alleged violations.

Justice Alinnor consequently dismissed the suit in its entirety for want of merit.