Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed administering oath of office to members of the tribunal
Photo: Oluwaseyi Ajibade
The Federal Government has inaugurated an Advertising Offenses Tribunal to protect consumers from illegal and distasteful advertising, advertisements and marketing communication targeting the Nigerian Market.
The Advertising Offenses Tribunal is made up of persons with relevant knowledge and background in the country’s judicial system and advertising space.
Inaugurating the Tribunal in Abuja, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed said the government would continue to support the advancement of the country’s advertising industry with respect for the nation’s rich cultural values.
Alhaji Mohammed said the tribunal was in line with the provisions of the Act establishing the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) and described it as the first of its kind across the world.
He stressed that the tribunal has the power to entertain all advertising and advertisement actions that violates the act and must do so without bias.
“The Council was vested with the power to regulate and control advertising in Nigeria in all aspects and ramifications,” the Minister reiterated.
“In order to ensure the success of the Council in carrying out her statutory responsibilities, the Advertising Offences Tribunal was established by the Act. The Tribunal is empowered to entertain all matters of violations of the provisions of the Act, the Code of Advertising Practice, Standard of Practice, and other subsidiary legislations made pursuant to the Act,” he explained.
“I am very confident that having come from different relevant backgrounds, Your Lordship and the members of the Tribunal will entertain every matter before you for adjudication justly, fairly, and without bias.”
He explained that the Advertising industry has abundant potentials with the capacity to trigger the nation’s economic growth, promising that government would do all it takes to give ARCON the needed support to deliver on its constitutional mandate.
The Director-General of ARCON, Dr Olalekan Fadolapo described the Tribunal as the council’s special adjudicators.
Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Cecilia Olatoregun, who spoke On behalf of the other members, promised they will discharge their responsibility effectively.
The Tribunal is made up of six persons drawn from different backgrounds.
Reporting by Oluwaseyi Ajibade; Editing by Tony Okerafor