Pharmacy Staff Sues Moniepoint for ₦225m Over Alleged Image Misuse and Coercion
A Lagos-based pharmacy staff member, Nwafor Joshua Abba, has dragged Moniepoint Microfinance Bank Limited before the Lagos State High Court, demanding N225 million in damages over alleged unauthorised use of his image in corporate advertising and claims of coercion involving his employer.
In suit LD/14617GCMW/2025 filed through Afrilaw Attorneys, Abba alleges that Moniepoint secretly took his photograph inside his workplace in April 2025 and later published it on its official website as part of a promotional testimonial for its payment services, creating the impression that he personally endorsed the company.
According to court filings, the image showed him holding a Moniepoint POS terminal inside a pharmacy, alongside marketing content referencing other businesses said to use the company’s services. The claimant insists he has never had any relationship with Moniepoint, never gave consent, and never authorised the use of his image for any commercial purpose.
Abba is seeking N200 million in general and aggravated damages, N10 million for breach of fundamental rights and corporate misconduct, N10 million in exemplary damages, and N5 million in costs. He is also asking the court to order the removal of his image, a public apology, and a perpetual injunction restraining further use of his personal data.
The case raises key questions under the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, particularly on valid consent, commercial use of personal images, and corporate responsibility in data handling.
A central allegation in the suit is that after Abba’s lawyers demanded removal of the image and compensation, Moniepoint allegedly contacted his employer, Bodycare Pharmacy and Store Limited, which then summoned him and allegedly compelled him—under threat of dismissal—to sign a retroactive consent form. Abba claims this consent was not voluntary and was later withdrawn in writing within 24 hours.
He argues that the consent was obtained under duress, citing financial dependency, fear of job loss, and lack of legal advice at the time of signing.
The claimant further states that despite multiple legal letters, reminders, and notices between April and June 2025, Moniepoint allegedly failed to remove the image, which remained publicly accessible across its website and downloadable marketing materials.
He is asking the court to declare the publication unlawful, enforce removal of all content, and award damages for privacy violation, misrepresentation, and ongoing reputational harm.
Moniepoint is expected to respond to several key issues, including whether consent was ever obtained, why the employer was contacted after legal correspondence, and why the image remained online despite repeated demands.
The case, if decided, could become a landmark test of Nigeria’s data protection law and the legality of using individuals’ images for corporate marketing without clear, voluntary consent.
