The Advertising Standard Panel (ASP) Secretariat has been abolished by the federal government.
The decision came after billboards with the slogan “All Eyes on The Judiciary” were approved, according to a statement released on Tuesday by Dr. Olalekan Fadolapo, Director-General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON).
Fadolapo said that the ASP Director and the Deputy Director in charge of Regulations have both been suspended by the Council.
The ASP is the Statutory Panel under the Council and is in responsibility of making sure that commercials adhere to both the Federation’s current rules and the Code of Advertising Ethics.
The statement stated: “The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has been made aware of the “All Eyes on the Judiciary” billboard commercials that have been seen around the nation.
The Advertising Standards Panel of the Council also made a mistake in approving one of the concepts because the advertising violated the following standards:
“The issue that serves as the campaign’s main focal point in the advertisement is one that is currently being heard by the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal. It is therefore jus pendis.
According to the Nigerian legal system, a case that is jus pendis and pending judicial declaration cannot be the topic of a public speech, debate, discussion, advertisement, etc.
“The advertisement is divisive and has the potential to stir up public turmoil and disrupt public peace.
The advertisement is viewed as blackmail against the Nigerian judicial system, the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, and in particular the honourable justices of the tribunal who are supposed to carry out their judicial duties impartially and without fear or favour in relation to a case that is currently jus pendis.
“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.
The Advertising Standards Panel (ASP) Secretariat is disbanded by this decree for failing to diligently carry out its role as the guardian of marketing, advertising, and advertising communications.
