The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has ordered the removal “All Eyes on the Judiciary” advertisement billboards across Nigeria with immediate effect.
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ARCON Director-General, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo in a statement said that all the materials being exposed be brought down immediately and the violators sanctioned.
He said that the Advertising Standards Panel (ASP) of the Council also erred in the approval of one of the concepts.
According to Fadolapo, the said advertisement failed vetting guidelines on some grounds.
“The cause forming the central theme of the campaign in the advertisement is a matter pending before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT), hence it’s jus pendis,” he added.
“A matter being jus pendis and awaiting judicial pronouncement is, by virtue of the Nigerian legal system, precluded from being a subject of public statement, debate, discussion, advertisement etc.
“The advertisement is controversial and capable of instigating public unrest and breach of public peace.”
Fadolapo said that the advertisement is considered blackmail against the Nigerian Judiciary, the PEPT and particularty the Honourable Justices of the Tribunal who are expected to discharge their judicial functions without fear or favour over a matter that is currently jus pendis.
He also dissolved the ASP Secretariat for failing to diligently exercise its function as the gatekeeper of advertising, advertisement and marketing communications in approving the advert.
Fadolapo said that the council will set up a committee to investigate the circumstances leading to the approval of one of the concepts of the inappropriate advert and the breach of the vetting guidelines.
“Consequently, the director and Deputy Director, Regulations have also been suspended. The suspension is to enadle unprejudiced investigation of the issue,” he said.
