Lagos Court Keeps Injunction on FCCPC’s DEON Regulations, Schedules Joint Hearing for May

*TL;DR: Lagos Federal High Court denied the FCCPC’s request to lift an injunction against the DEON Regulations and ordered a combined hearing on May 15, 2026.

Context The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) seeks to enforce the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non‑Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations (DEON Regulations) 2025 against members of the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria (WASPAN). WASPAN obtained an interim injunction on April 15, preventing the FCCPC from applying the contested rules while the case proceeds.

Key Facts - Justice A. Lewis‑Allagoa rejected the FCCPC’s bid to discharge the interim injunction, keeping the restraining order fully in force. - The judge ordered that the substantive lawsuit and the FCCPC’s preliminary objection be heard together, rather than separately. - Proceedings were adjourned to May 15, 2026, giving both parties additional time to prepare. - The injunction shields mobile value‑added service providers—such as those offering airtime loans and data advances—from immediate regulatory action until a final ruling on the regulations’ legality.

What It Means The decision preserves the status quo for WASPAN members, who argue that the DEON Regulations exceed the FCCPC’s statutory authority and clash with the Nigerian Communications Commission’s sectoral mandate. By keeping the injunction active, the court prevents the FCCPC from imposing compliance requirements that could impose costly operational changes on telecom‑based service providers.

For the FCCPC, the ruling delays enforcement of consumer‑protection measures aimed at curbing predatory airtime‑lending practices. The commission must now present its substantive case alongside its preliminary objection, a procedural move that could extend the litigation timeline.

Stakeholders in the digital finance ecosystem will watch the May 15 hearing closely. The outcome will clarify the regulatory boundaries between consumer protection and telecommunications oversight, shaping how mobile lenders operate across Nigeria.

Looking ahead, the joint hearing will test the legal footing of the DEON Regulations and could set a precedent for future disputes over digital lending oversight.