The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria has made a significant announcement regarding the suspension of two high-ranking officials who were responsible for granting approval for the ‘All Eyes on Judiciary’ billboard advertisement located in Abuja.
This decision comes as a response to the Federal Government’s dissolution of the Advertising Standard Panel Secretariat. This dissolution was triggered by the approval of billboards that were perceived as an attempt to blackmail the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal. These billboards featured the title: ‘All Eyes on The Judiciary.’
In an official statement, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, the Director-General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, confirmed the suspension. The officials affected by this action include the Director and Deputy Director of Regulations within the council.
Fadolapo emphasized that the advertisement is being viewed as a form of blackmail directed at the Nigerian Judiciary. The specific targets include the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal and the esteemed Justices who are expected to carry out their judicial responsibilities impartially, especially concerning an ongoing matter.
A portion of the statement reads: “In response, the Council will initiate the establishment of a committee to thoroughly investigate the circumstances that led to the ‘erroneous approval’ of one of the advertisement’s concepts and the violation of vetting guidelines. Consequently, both the Director and Deputy Director of Regulations have been placed under suspension.”
“This step has been taken to ensure an unbiased inquiry into the matter. Furthermore, due to the Advertising Standards Panel Secretariat’s failure to adequately fulfill its role as the guardian of advertising, advertisements, and marketing communications, the Secretariat is hereby disbanded.”
