By Milcah Tanimu
The Federal Government has taken the decision to dissolve the Secretariat of the Advertising Standard Panel due to its endorsement of billboards that have been accused of attempting to influence the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal with the slogan: ‘All Eyes on The Judiciary.’
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, the Director-General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, conveyed the disbandment of the Panel.
The Advertising Standards Panel, a body within the Council, is responsible for ensuring that advertisements adhere to the laws of the Federation and the Code of Ethics for advertising professionals.
Explaining the reasons for the disapproval of the advertisement, Fadolapo stated:
“The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria has been made aware of the ‘All Eyes on the Judiciary’ advertisements displayed on various billboards across the country. These concepts were not granted approval by the Advertising Standards Panel. Consequently, the Council has instructed for the immediate removal of all displayed materials and the penalization of those responsible.
“The Council’s Advertising Standards Panel also erred in granting approval to one of the concepts as the advertisement did not adhere to the following guidelines:
1. The campaign’s central theme in the advertisement pertains to a matter that is currently pending before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal. This renders it ‘jus pendis.’
2. According to the Nigerian legal system, matters under ‘jus pendis’ and awaiting judicial pronouncement are prohibited from being publicly discussed, debated, or advertised.
3. The advertisement has the potential to incite public unrest and disrupt public peace.
4. The advertisement is considered an act of blackmail against the Nigerian Judiciary, the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, and specifically the Justices of the Tribunal who are obligated to execute their judicial duties impartially over matters that are currently ‘jus pendis.’
Fadolapo also stated that the Council has initiated a temporary suspension of its Director and Deputy Director responsible for Regulations while an investigation is conducted into the matter.
Acknowledging that certain advertisements did not receive approval from the Advertising Standards Panel, Fadolapo admitted an error in the approval process for one of the concepts. The advertisement did not meet the vetting guidelines.
The Director-General mentioned that the Council intends to establish a committee to probe the circumstances surrounding the “mistaken approval” of one of the advert’s concepts and the violation 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’s failure to diligently execute its responsibilities as the guardian of advertising, advertisement, and marketing communications has led to its dissolution,” he announced.
