Business
Legal Verdict: CBN’s Oversight on Gathering Customer Social Media Accounts Upheld by Court”
The Federal High Court in Lagos has ruled that a regulation by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) mandating financial institutions to request and gather customers’ social media handles as part of the Know-Your-Customer process does not violate privacy rights.
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba struck out a suit filed by a Lagos-based lawyer, Chris Eke, seeking a declaration that the regulation as contained in Section 6(a)(iv) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (Customer Due Diligence) Regulations, 2023, is undemocratic, unconstitutional, null and void, to the extent of its inconsistency with Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
The applicant had also asked the court, to grant an order of perpetual injunction, restraining CBN from enforcing the regulation which requires financial institutions, to request customers’ social media handles as part of normal bank customer due diligence requirements.
The CBN in its response to the suit, filed a notice of preliminary objection, challenging the competence of the suit. The apex bank also disagreed that the said regulation constitutes any interference with the private life of the applicant, as claimed.
In his judgment, Justice Dimgba held that the notice of preliminary objection had merit, and he subsequently struck out the suit.
The judge said in his view, the provision of a social media handle is the same as the provision of email address, phone numbers and other means by which a potential customer of a bank can be contacted and or due diligence, to determine if the person is a fit and proper person for the bank to do business with, and as such, the regulation does not amount to an infringement on the right to privacy.
According to Justice Dimgba, the essence of having a social media account was for one to be publicly visible communication-wise, and it would be highly unreasonable to hold the CBN in breach of privacy for it.
The judge held that “First, the Applicant claims that the requirements on the CBN Regulations for financial institutions to request and collect the social media handle of its customers as part of KYC infringes on his right to privacy.”
“This claim is very ambitious and amounts to a very far throw. The said Regulations are directed to and apply to financial institutions. It does not apply to private individuals such as the Applicant.
“Even if, as appears to be argued, that the Regulations itself would inevitably affect the Applicant, this claim is speculative for the simple reason that in nowhere in the affidavit in support was it stated that the Applicant operates an account with a financial institution and that the said institution had demanded his social media handle. So the suggestion that he would be affected by this Regulation, albeit negatively, is very speculative and at large.
“Secondly, there is also no deposition to the effect that any financial institution had begun to implement this Regulation and that its implementation had begun to create disruptions and inconvenience against the general population, in which case one could infer that the suit should be legitimated as a public interest litigation.
“Thirdly, assuming even that the banks had begun to implement these regulations, the applicant assuming he maintained any bank accounts or sought to open one, but is being hindered or irritated by the requirement of the Regulation to avail his social media handle as part of KYC, the Applicant still had a choice, which is to refuse to do business with any bank insisting on the information as part of its social media handle, but to seek other alternatives.
“Fourthly, and for all it is worth, I do not see how asking a banking or potential banking customer to provide his social media handle can ever amount to a breach of privacy.
the liberty to have access to it whether or not consent was obtained. It would be highly unreasonable to hold the Respondent in breach of privacy for what other persons have access to.
“The apprehension of the Applicant of his social interactions being monitored is manifestly speculative in itself and rather incredulous to believe that the financial institutions have the luxury of time to concern itself with such frivolities.
“In essence, had the NPO not been upheld, I would have dismissed the lawsuit based on the reasons provided. However, since the NPO stands, the lawsuit is hereby dismissed.
No costs are awarded.”
The Lagos International Trade Fair Complex Management Board (LITFCMB) has condemned the use of its facility for the production of counterfeit products and other illegal activities, pledging to work with regulatory and law enforcement agencies to rid the complex of such practice
The board also commended the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for its recent enforcement operation, which led to the arrest of two persons allegedly linked to the illegal revalidation of expired drinks and the production of counterfeit consumables within the complex.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of LITFCMB, Veronica Safiya Ndanusa, said the activities were contrary to the board’s commitment to promoting legitimate trade and ethical business practices.
She disclosed that relevant authorities had commenced investigations to establish the facts surrounding the incident and identify measures to prevent a recurrence.
Ndanusa warned that individuals and businesses found culpable of engaging in activities that endanger public health or undermine the integrity of local manufacturing would face the full weight of the law.
“As a body rooted in the principles of ethical business practices, transparency and genuine trade, we strongly condemn any activity that threatens public safety or brings the reputation of the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex Management Board into disrepute,” she said.
“Our facility exists to provide a conducive environment for legitimate businesses to thrive, not to serve as a breeding ground for the production or distribution of counterfeit and substandard products.”
The board chief assured members of the public that the management would collaborate with relevant regulatory and law enforcement agencies to ensure that the complex remained free of illegal activities.
She also urged traders and business operators within the facility to comply with established standards, stressing that the pursuit of profit must never come at the expense of consumers’ health and safety.
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, has cautioned governments against introducing new taxes or increasing existing tax burdens on vulnerable citizens and productive sectors, warning that such measures could deepen economic hardship.
Oyedele spoke on the sidelines of the 2026 annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank in Bangkok, Thailand, where he presented a communiqué on behalf of the Intergovernmental Group of Twenty-Four (G24), which he chairs.
“This is the wrong time to impose new taxes or increase the burden of tax, particularly on the vulnerable population and productive sectors of the economy,” he said.
Responding to questions on how developing countries could reduce debt-servicing costs without cutting essential public spending,report quoted Oyedele as urging governments to identify waste, find savings and improve revenue collection before placing additional financial pressure on citizens and businesses.
He said borrowing remained necessary to finance economic growth but stressed that governments must ensure that debt supports job creation and inclusive development.
“Borrowing and debt financing is a necessary condition for growth, and every country emerging, developing must be able to apply debt financing in a way that is overall of positive impact, particularly to stimulate job-rich and inclusive growth,” he said.
The minister also called for available public funds to be prioritised for essential services, including healthcare and education, while private capital could help finance other areas of investment.
On the choice between taxation and borrowing, Oyedele said both options carried consequences and should be considered in the context of their impact on household welfare.
“If you collect taxes, you raise the money now, and that itself has a lot of trade-offs. What taxes are you collecting? You collect taxes from the most vulnerable, and this will deprive them of money to provide food, health, education,” he said.
He argued that excessive taxation could leave low-income households with less money for basic needs, while borrowing also carried future obligations.
“Debt is future taxes, so it’s not one or the other. It’s to strike a balance, bearing in mind ultimately that the essence of tax and of debts is to cater for the people,” Oyedele said.in the report.
Former Governor of Ekiti State and ex-Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has warned the United States against slipping into isolationism in its engagement with Africa, insisting that Nigeria remains a must-have strategic partner in the evolving global order.
Fayemi maintained this position in Lagos while speaking as a panelist at the Nigeria Moment, a Nigeria–United States Strategic Dialogue organised by the American Business Council in collaboration with the Heritage Foundation.
In his presentation, which focused on why Nigeria is a must-have partner in the changing world order, Fayemi,former chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) stressed the need for a more holistic relationship between both countries grounded in transparency, mutual benefit and shared prosperity.
He insisted that Nigeria must be treated as a strategic partner in the emerging world order.
“While welcoming the growing American interest in Nigeria’s vast mineral endowment, Fayemi warned that the partnership must go beyond resource extraction.
“Nigeria must be engaged as a strategic actor and a co-creator in shaping the future of global energy and resource governance, rather than as a testing ground for experiments. A partnership built on mutual respect, shared interests and long-term cooperation offers the strongest foundation for an enduring relationship between Nigeria and the United States,” Fayemi said.
Describing the engagement as a pleasure, Fayemi said the dialogue brought together a distinguished group of policymakers, business leaders and strategic thinkers to reflect on the future of Nigeria-US relations.
He commended the convener of the dialogue, Mr Ayo Otuyalo,for an excellent convening and for bringing together such high-level participants for the important strategic conversation.
The conference featured Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State as keynote speaker, alongside senior representatives of the Federal Government, including the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of Power,
Also st the event were : Engr Joseph Tegbe; Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr Dele Alake, represented by Engr Simon Nkom; and the Head of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mrs Oritsemeyinwa Eyesan among others.
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