The Federal Government has inaugurated a newly constituted Advertising Offences Tribunal to strengthen regulation, promote professionalism and improve compliance in Nigeria’s advertising and marketing communications industry.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, inaugurated the five-member tribunal on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at Radio House, Abuja.
The tribunal is chaired by Justice Cecilia M. A. Olatoregun, a Judge Emeritus of the Federal High Court. Other members are Musa Ahmed Attah, SAN; Merga Tyowanan Kachina, Esq.; Dr. Ken Onyeali Ikpe, FRPA; and Hajia Sa’a Ibrahim, RPA.
The Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation said the tribunal is empowered under Section 37(1) of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) Act, 2022, to adjudicate offences created under the Act, the Code of Advertising Practice, Standards of Practice and other subsidiary regulations.
The minister said the tribunal would play an important role in promoting professionalism and ethical standards within the industry. He urged members to discharge their responsibilities with integrity, fairness and independence and to determine matters before them strictly on their merits.
Idris said effective regulation was necessary to build confidence in the advertising industry and support its contribution to economic growth, employment, innovation and investment.
Director-General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, Dr Olalekan Olumuyiwa Fadolapo, described the inauguration as an important step towards strengthening compliance and regulatory enforcement in the sector.
According to the ministry, Fadolapo also described the Advertising Offences Tribunal as the first of its kind globally, reflecting the distinctive legal and regulatory framework established for Nigeria’s advertising industry.
The reconstituted tribunal is expected to handle offences arising under the ARCON Act and relevant advertising regulations and codes, providing a dedicated adjudicatory mechanism for matters within its statutory jurisdiction.
The inauguration comes as the government continues efforts to strengthen the regulatory framework governing advertising and marketing communications in Nigeria.
