Court Stops FCCPC’s Directives To Telcos On Airtime, Data Loans

Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, has restrained the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, from the enforcement and or implementation of the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations 2025 (‘The Deon Consumer Lending Regutations”)

Plaintiff in the matter, Wireless Application Service Providers Association Of Nigeria, LTD/GTE, approached vourt to secure an order stopping the directive by the FCCPC to telecommunication companies to stop giving loans to subscribers in form of airtime and data.

The association, through its lawyer, Mr Kemi Pinheiro SAN, had sought an order of the court restraining the Defendant (FCCPC) whether by itself, officers, employees, agents or such other persons howsoever named from enforcing, implementing and or otherwise giving effect to the enforcement and or implementation of the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations 2025 (‘The Deon Consumer Lending Regutations”).

The plaintiff also sought an order of interim injunction pending the hearing and final determination of the Motion for Interlocutory Injunction restraining the Defendant whether by itself, officers, employees, agents or such other persons howsoever named from taking any steps towards interfering with or Preventing the Plaintiff’s members from providing Or continuing to provide or deploy any services or Product governed by the Digital, Electronic, Online, or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations 2025 (“The Deon Consumer
Lending Regulations”).

Justice Allagoa, after listening to submission by Mr Pinheiro, ordered, “That an Order of interim injunction is granted pending the hearing and final determination of the Motion for Interiocutory Injunction restraining the Defendant whether by itself, officers, employees, agents or such other persons howsoever named from enforcing, implementing and or otherwise giving effect to the enforcement and or implementation of the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non Traditional Consumer Lending – Regulations 2025 (“The Deon Consumer Lending Regulations”) or otherwise giving effect to the enforcement and or implementation of paragraphs 3, 7, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 24, 27, 29
and 32 of the said regulations .

“That an Order of Injunction is granted pending the hearing and final determination of the Motion for Interlocutory Injunction restraining the Defendant whether by itself, officers, employees, agents or such other persons howsoever named from taking any steps towards interfering with or Preventing the Plaintiffs members from providing Or continuing to provide or deploy any services or Product governed by the Digital, Electronic, Online, or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations 2025 (“The Deon Consumer Lending Regulations”}.”

The case has been adjourned to April 27, 2026.