Court Rules FCCPC Cannot Issue Telecom Licenses

The Federal High Court in Lagos ruled that the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) lacks the authority to issue telecommunications licenses, impacting the legal status of five firms approved under its Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-traditional Consumer Lending (DEON) Regulations. Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa delivered the judgment on Monday in Suit No.

FHC/L/CS/760/2026, while affirming the FCCPC’s regulatory powers over Nigeria’s consumer lending and competition landscape. The court upheld the validity of the DEON Regulations, stating they are lawful under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA).

However, it clarified that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is the sole authority for licensing telecommunications operators. The ruling dismissed a suit by the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria (WASPAN), which challenged the DEON Regulations' legality.

The judgment raises questions about the legal foundation of the FCCPC's prior approvals under DEON, as the FCCPC cannot issue telecom licenses.