The Incorporated Trustees of Digital Rights Lawyers Initiative (DRLI) has asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to stop the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON)’s planned regulation of internet advertisements.
DRLI, through two of its lawyers, Solomon Okedara and Olumide Babalola, is seeking a declaration that APCON lacks the power to vet and charge fees on Internet-based advertisements posted by non-advertising practitioners.
The lawyers are contending that going by the decision of the Court of Appeal in the case of APCON vs Registered Trustees of International Covenant Ministerial Council and others, “the respondent (APCON) does not have powers to vet and or charge fees on Internet-based advertisements made by non-advertising practitioners.”
They prayed the court to perpetually restrain APCON and its agents from further vetting and charging fees on online and social media advertisements made by non-advertising practitioners as it violates their fundamental rights to freedom of expression and the press.
In an 11-paragraph supporting affidavit, one Sunkanmi Bello explained that DRLI is a non-governmental organisation, which advertises its activities, events and achievements on its website, www.drlawyers.com
Bello said the NGO also used Internet-based social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, to disseminate information about itself.
