Due to its support of billboards with the motto, “All Eyes on The Judiciary,” that were allegedly trying to influence the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, the Federal Government dismissed the Secretariat of the Advertising Standard Panel.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, Director-General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, announced the Panel’s dissolution.
The job of ensuring that advertisements comply with the applicable laws of the Federation and the Code of Ethics for advertising professionals falls within the purview of the ASP, a Statutory Panel within the Council.
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The Director-General of ARCON noted in the release the following reasons why the advertisement should not have been approved:
“The attention of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria has been drawn to the “All Eyes on the Judiciary” advertisements exposed on some billboards across the country. The concepts exposed were not approved by the Advertising Standərds Panel, hence, the Council has directed that all the materials being exposed be brought down immediately and the violators sanctioned.
“The Advertising Standards Panel of the Council also erred in the approval of one of the concepts as the advertisement failed to vet guidelines on the following grounds:
“The cause forming the central theme of the campaign in the advertisement is a matter pending before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal. Hence, it’s jus pendis.
“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.
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“The advertisement is controversial and capable of instigating public unrest and breach of public peace.
“The advertisement is considered blackmail against the Nigerian Judiciary, the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, and particularly 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.”
Fadolapo added that the Council has placed its Director and Deputy Director who are in charge of regulations on leave until an inquiry is conducted.
Fadolapo recognised a mistake in the approval procedure for one of the concepts while recognising that certain commercials were not approved by ASP. The advertisement did not adhere to the verification requirements.
The Council will form a committee to look into the circumstances behind the “erroneous approval” of one of the advertisement’s concepts and the violation of the vetting standards, according to the ARCON DG.
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“As a result, the Regulations and the Director and Deputy Director have both been suspended. The suspension is necessary to allow for a fair investigation of the problem.
Fadolapo added that the Council has placed its Director and Deputy Director who are in charge of regulations on leave until an inquiry is conducted.
Fadolapo recognised a mistake in the approval procedure for one of the concepts while recognising that certain commercials were not approved by ASP. The advertisement did not adhere to the verification requirements.
The Council will form a committee to look into the circumstances behind the “erroneous approval” of one of the advertisement’s concepts and the violation of the vetting standards, according to the ARCON DG.
“As a result, the Regulations and the Director and Deputy Director have both been suspended. The suspension is necessary to allow for a fair investigation of the problem.
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The Advertising Standards Panel Secretariat failing to diligently exercise its function as the gatekeeper of advertising, advertisement, and marketing communications is hereby dissolved,” he said.
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