Court Fines Stanbic IBTC ₦15m for Sending Promotional Messages to Former Customer

The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc to pay ₦15 million in damages to a former customer for repeatedly sending unsolicited promotional text messages after the individual had closed all accounts with the bank. The court held that the bank's actions amounted to a violation of the customer's constitutional right to privacy.

Delivering judgment, the court ruled that financial institutions are not permitted to continue marketing products or services to individuals who have ended their relationship with the bank without obtaining fresh consent. It noted that persistent unsolicited messages constituted an unwarranted intrusion into the claimant's private life and caused unnecessary inconvenience.

The claimant told the court that despite closing all accounts with Stanbic IBTC and repeatedly demanding that the promotional messages stop, the bank continued to send marketing text messages. According to the claimant, the repeated messages caused annoyance and infringed on personal privacy, prompting the legal action.

In its decision, the court awarded ₦15 million as general damages and emphasised that organisations handling customers' personal data must strictly comply with Nigeria's data protection and privacy laws. The judge stressed that customers have the right to determine how their personal information is used, particularly after ending a business relationship.

The judgment is expected to reinforce compliance with data privacy regulations in Nigeria's banking sector, serving as a reminder that institutions must obtain valid consent before sending promotional communications. Legal analysts say the ruling could encourage stronger respect for customers' privacy rights and influence how banks manage marketing communications in the future.