Top Officials Suspended By Advert Regulatory Body Over Controversial Billboard

Afimag.com –

The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria has suspended two principal officials for granting the permission to erect, ‘All Eyes on Judiciary’ billboard advert in Abuja.

This comes on the heels after the abolishment of the Secretariat of the Advertising Standard Panel by the Federal Government over its approval of billboards perceived to drag Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in bad light.

The Director-General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, confirmed the suspension in a statement obtained by Africa Investigative Magazine on August 15, 2023.

In a billboard title: ‘All Eyes on The Judiciary’ Fadolapo listed the affected officials to include the Director and Deputy Director, Regulations of the council.

Fadolapo explained that the advertisement is deemed to portray the image of the Nigerian Judiciary, the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, and particularly the Honourable Justices of the Tribunal in bad light.

The statement in part reads: “The Council would set up a committee to investigate the circumstances leading to the “erroneous approval” of one of the concepts of the advert and the breach of the vetting guidelines.

“Consequently, the Director and Deputy Director, Regulations have also been suspended. The suspension is to enable an unprejudiced investigation of the issue. The Advertising Standards Panel Secretariat failing to diligently exercise its function as the gatekeeper of advertising, advertisement, and marketing communications is hereby dissolved.”