ARCON Clamps Down On ‘All Eyes On The Judiciary’ Ad Violators

The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has suspended two top officials for approving the ‘All Eyes on Judiciary’ billboard advert in Abuja.

The suspension is sequel to the Federal Government dissolution on Tuesday the Secretariat of the Advertising Standard Panel (ASP) over its approval of those billboards termed as blackmailing the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal with the title: ‘All Eyes on The Judiciary.’

A statement by the Director-General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, confirmed the suspension.

According to the statement, the suspended officials are the Director and Deputy Director Regulations of the council.

ARCON has said it will sanction all violators of the “ALL EYES ON THE JUDICIARY” advertisements circulating the country as the material was not approved by the Advertising Standards Panel before it was exposed.

ARCON noted that “ALL EYES ON THE JUDICIARY” failed vetting guidelines on four different grounds therefore it will set up a committee to investigate the circumstances that lead to the approval of the inappropriate ad as well as suspend director and deputy director regulations.

Fadolapo had ordered the immediate removal of all the materials being exposed and the violators sanctioned.

The statement read: “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 Standards Panel, hence, the Council has directed that all the materials being exposed be brought down immediately and the violators sanctioned.”

Stating the four reasons why the advertisement was grounded, the regulatory body said: “The Advertising Standards Panel of the Council also erred in the approval of one of the concepts as the advertisement failed vetting 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 just pendis.

A matter being just 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 Advertising Standards Panel (ASP) Secretariat failing to diligently exercise its function as the gatekeeper of advertising, advertisement and marketing communications is hereby dissolved.

The council will set up a committee to investigate the circumstances leading to the erroneous 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 enable unprejudice investigation of the issue.