Court Halts FCCPC's Digital Lending Regulations Enforcement

On April 14, 2026, the Federal High Court in Lagos, presided over by Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa, granted an interim restraining order against the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC). This order prevents the FCCPC from enforcing specific provisions of its digital lending regulations until the determination of a substantive suit.

The application was filed by the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria (WASPA), which challenged the legality of the regulations, claiming they were ultra vires the regulatory framework. WASPA, represented by senior advocate Kemi Pinheiro SAN, argued that the FCCPC lacked statutory authority to regulate technical operations within the telecommunications sector, which falls under the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

The court found sufficient urgency to warrant temporary protection and scheduled a hearing for April 27, 2026, while preserving the status quo and preventing the FCCPC from imposing sanctions or penalties on WASPA members during this period.