Federal Government Dissolves ASP Secretariat Amidst Controversial Billboard Scandal

The Secretariat of the Advertising Standard Panel (ASP) has been dissolved by the Federal Government following its authorization of billboards that have been characterized as attempts to exert pressure on the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal. The billboards bore the caption: ‘All Eyes on The Judiciary.’

Dr. Olalekan Fadoləpo, the Director-General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), conveyed the dissolution of the Panel through an official statement issued on Tuesday.

Fadolapo elaborated that, in light of the situation, the Council has also taken the step of suspending its Director and Deputy Director responsible for Regulations.

While acknowledging that certain advertisements had not received the ASP’s approval, Fadolapo pointed out a particular lapse in the Panel’s judgment. One of the concepts had been erroneously sanctioned despite failing to meet the stipulated vetting guidelines.

The ASP, a body mandated by the Council, has the essential responsibility of ensuring that advertisements adhere to both the prevailing laws of the Federation and the Code of advertising ethics governing the advertising profession.

“The attention of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) 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.
“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.”

The ARCON DG said the Council would set up a committee to investigate the circumstances leading to the “erroneous approval” of one of the concepts of the advert and the breach 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 (ASP) Secretariat failing to diligently exercise its function as the gatekeeper of advertising, advertisement, and marketing communications is hereby dissolved,” he said.