The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has resumed the implementation and enforcement of the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, 2025 (DEON Regulations) following a Federal High Court judgment in Lagos that upheld the validity of the regulations.
Justice A. L. Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on Monday dismissed a suit filed by the Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria Ltd/Gte (WASPAN) challenging the FCCPC’s authority to issue and enforce the rules.
In Suit No. FHC/L/CS/760/2026, the court rejected all reliefs sought by the plaintiff and ruled that the DEON Regulations were issued within the commission’s statutory and constitutional powers.
The court also affirmed the validity of the specific provisions challenged in the suit and discharged the interim order that had previously restrained the FCCPC from enforcing the rules.
Following the judgment, the FCCPC stated that the legal barrier leading to the temporary suspension had been removed, making the DEON Regulations fully operational and enforceable.
WASPAN had challenged the commission’s authority to regulate digital lending operators under the framework.
Following an interim court order issued in April 2026, the FCCPC suspended implementation of the regulations in compliance with the directive.
Reacting to the judgment, the Director of Corporate Affairs of the FCCPC, Mr. Ondaje Ijagwu, reiterated the commission’s commitment to the rule of law and effective regulation.
“The commission has always maintained that the rule of law is fundamental to effective regulation and good governance. When the court issued its interim order, we immediately suspended implementation of the regulations in full compliance with its directive,” he said.
Ijagwu added that the court’s decision reaffirmed the commission’s mandate to regulate the digital lending sector in line with its statutory responsibilities.
According to him, the DEON Regulations were introduced to promote responsible lending, improve regulatory accountability, curb unfair and exploitative practices, and strengthen consumer protection within Nigeria’s digital lending market.
He noted that the commission would continue to support innovation and financial inclusion while ensuring digital lending operates within a transparent, fair, and accountable regulatory environment that protects consumers and encourages responsible operators.