The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, on Tuesday tasked judges to strengthen their respective adjudication skills in the “complex areas” of fintech, digital markets, and data exploitation.
Kekere-Ekun gave the charge at the opening of the Strategic Judicial Training on Competition and Consumer Protection Law under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018, held at the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Abuja.
The three-day event, attended by Nairametrics, is jointly organised by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the NJI.
What They Are Saying
- Speaking at the event, Kekere-Ekun stated that the FCCPC occupies a pivotal position within Nigeria’s regulatory architecture as the statutory authority responsible for enforcing competition and consumer protection laws.
- The CJN highlighted that the competition mandate of the Commission is directed at promoting fair, transparent, and efficient market structures that encourage innovation, productivity, and sustainable economic growth.
She also stated that the Commission’s consumer protection mandate ensures that individuals are shielded from exploitative practices across critical sectors of the economy, including financial services, telecommunications, transportation, energy, healthcare, and pharmaceuticals.
She specifically observed that the proliferation of AI-driven systems is transforming markets in unprecedented ways.
While these technologies offer immense benefits, the CJN highlighted that they have also introduced complex risks, including data exploitation, algorithmic manipulation of consumer choices, privacy infringements, and the dissemination of misleading information.
She noted that the FCCPC has taken steps toward integrating technological tools into its regulatory framework through the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations (DEON) 2025, which resulted in the development of a National Digital Traceability Portal, among other initiatives.
- “I am therefore pleased to observe that the programme for this training includes sessions addressing Digital Markets, Data Exploitation, and Fintech, as well as Comparative Perspectives on Competition Adjudication,” she added.
- According to her, these topics are both timely and essential to “equipping judicial officers with the knowledge required to effectively adjudicate disputes arising in these complex areas.”
She encouraged all participants, particularly judicial officers, to engage actively in the deliberations, contribute meaningfully to discussions, and take full advantage of the expertise of the distinguished facilitators and discussants assembled for the programme.
For his part, the Chairman/CEO of the FCCPC, Mr Tunji Bello, maintained that the FCCPC Act introduced a comprehensive national regime governing anti-competitive conduct, consumer protection, mergers and acquisitions review, and market surveillance.
He stressed that as the implementation of this framework continues to evolve, the role of the courts in interpreting its provisions remains central to the development of coherent and predictable competition jurisprudence in Nigeria.
He opined that technological innovation, digital commerce, cross-border transactions, and increasingly complex corporate structures have raised new legal and economic questions relating to market dominance, restrictive agreements, price-fixing, unfair trade practices, and the protection of consumer rights.
- “Nigeria operates a market-based economic system in which prices are largely determined by market forces. At the same time, the law provides mechanisms for examining market conduct where concerns arise regarding competition, consumer welfare, or unfair commercial practices,” he said.
He explained that an important dimension of the discourse is the interaction between the judiciary and regulatory authorities, ensuring that regulatory enforcement and judicial interpretation are both legally sound and responsive to the realities of modern markets.
What You Should Know
The ongoing training on consumer and competition legislation is taking place at the NJI, an institution responsible for the continuing education, training, and professional development of judicial officers and court staff.
In 2024, the CJN encouraged judges to explore information technology options.
- “The introduction of digital case management systems, the Judicial Performance Evaluation Software (JPES), virtual courtrooms, e-filing systems, digital databases, web seminars, online meetings, and advanced research engines provides a myriad of tools for efficiency in case disposition,” she had said.
Nigeria’s digital economy has experienced rapid growth in recent years, driven largely by fintech innovation, mobile adoption, and changing consumer behaviour.
At the centre of this shift is a broader transformation in how Nigerians interact with money, platforms, and online services.
From banking apps to payment wallets, digital transactions are becoming the default, necessitating regulatory oversight and judicial intervention where necessary.
According to data from the FinTech Association of Nigeria, cashless transactions across fintech platforms reached over N126 trillion in early 2023, reflecting a significant year-on-year increase in digital payment adoption.
