The Advertising Offences Tribunal has issued a bench warrant for Captain Ado Sanusi, MD of Aero Contractors, for failing to attend hearings on advertising violations

In a significant development, the Advertising Offences Tribunal (AOT) has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Captain Ado Sanusi, the Managing Director of Aero Contractors Company of Nigeria Limited. This action follows his failure to attend a crucial hearing in an ongoing case involving alleged breaches of Nigerian advertising laws.

The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has brought forward a 22-count charge against both Captain Sanusi and Aero Contractors.

The charges accuse them of exposing advertisements to the Nigerian market without securing the necessary approvals from the Advertising Standards Panel (ASP), a requirement under established Nigerian advertising regulations.

The case was initially set for hearing on February 26, 2025. However, Captain Sanusi was absent, prompting his legal representatives to assure the tribunal that he would attend the rescheduled hearing.

They also sought leniency, requesting the tribunal to consider his absence. Despite these assurances, Captain Sanusi once again failed to appear at the adjourned hearing.

The continued absence of Captain Sanusi led the Advertising Offences Tribunal to take a firm stance, issuing a bench warrant for his arrest.

This decision underscores the tribunal’s commitment to enforcing compliance with advertising regulations in Nigeria. The tribunal has ordered that Captain Sanusi be brought before it at the next sitting, which is scheduled for May 8, 2025.

As the case progresses, further updates are expected following the tribunal’s next session in May.