Category: Business Day

The Federal High Court in Abuja will on December 8, 2025, in the trial of Emmanuella Eteta Ita, Head of the Stakeholders Unit at the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and her company, Surestart School Limited, who are facing charges of alleged N2 billion fraud.

Giwa Ogunbanjo, Presiding Judge fixed the date after both parties adopted their final written addresses on Tuesday, October 21, 2025.

Ita and her company were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 25-count charge bordering on criminal misappropriation, diversion of funds, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering involving about N2 billion. During the proceedings, Ita’s counsel, Paul Erokoro, urged the court to dismiss the case, arguing that the EFCC failed to prove its allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.

He referenced his final written address dated December 10, 2014, and a reply filed on June 13, 2025, adopting both as the defendant’s response to all issues raised by the prosecution. Erokoro further asked the court to acquit his client and order the EFCC to refund N19.5 million allegedly recovered from Ita so she could repay her lenders.

However, prosecuting counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, countered the defence’s argument, maintaining that the prosecution had established its case beyond a reasonable doubt. He pointed the court to the prosecution’s final written address filed and adopted on January 10 and June 16, 2025, respectively, urging the court to convict the defendants accordingly.

Iheanacho also objected to portions of the defence’s reply which, he argued, attempted to re-argue issues already canvassed in their main address.

According to a statement by Dele Oyewale, Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, after hearing both sides, Ogunbanjo adjourned the case until December 8, 2025, for judgment.

An Abuja High Court on Wednesday adjourned the trial of Godwin Emefiele, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) until November 27 to rule on the eligibility of a witness from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF) to testify in the case.

Justice Hamza Muazu made the ruling following objections raised by Emefiele’s defense team regarding the prosecution’s attempt to call the witness.

Emefiele is being prosecuted by the OAGF in case number CR/577/2023 on an amended 20-count charge including criminal breach of trust, conferring corrupt advantage, forgery, conspiracy to obtain by false pretence, and obtaining money by false pretence during his tenure as CBN governor.

He is accused of using his position to award six contracts for the supply of vehicles worth N1.2 billion to April 1616 Investment Ltd., a company in which Sa’adatu Ramalan Yaro, a CBN staff member, is a director and shareholder. Emefiele has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

At the resumed hearing, Mathew Burkaa SAN, Emefiele’s counsel, objected to the prosecution’s 11th witness, Alvan Grumman, testifying in the case.

Burkaa argued that Grumman’s name was included in an additional proof of evidence dated October 15, 2024, which the court had struck out in a ruling on March 20.

He stated that the prosecution had appealed the March 20 decision and, as such, the witness should not be allowed to testify, describing the prosecution’s attempt as an abuse of court procedure for pursuing both vertical and horizontal proceedings simultaneously.

In response, Rotimi Oyedepo SAN, prosecution counsel said the March 20 ruling only pertained to witnesses Tommy Odama and Ifeanyi Omeke and did not mention Grumman. He said Grumman is the lead investigator who holds material facts essential to the case and urged the court to reject the defense’s objection.

After hearing both sides, Justice Muazu adjourned the matter until November 27 to decide on the admissibility of Grumman’s testimony and the continuation of the trial.

Earlier, Oyedepo informed the court that the prosecution had filed two separate applications to subpoena Tommy Odama and Ifeanyi Omeke, who hold information important to the case. Emefiele’s counsel opposed the applications, arguing that the March 20 ruling remains binding and that since the prosecution has appealed, they cannot return to the lower court to seek the same requests.

He also noted that the subpoenas were filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), not the OAGF, which is prosecuting the case.

Justice Muazu has reserved ruling on these subpoena applications.

Stakeholders at a conference organised by HACEY Health Initiative have called for greater investment in digital literacy, safety, and inclusive education to equip Nigerian girls with the skills and confidence to thrive in a rapidly evolving, technology-driven world.

Held under the theme ‘Shaping Tomorrow: Girls’ Leadership and Digital Power,’ the event brought together adolescent girls, educators, policymakers, and private sector leaders to explore how digital innovation can drive inclusion, leadership, and long-term empowerment for young women across Nigeria.

The conference, which also marked HACEY’s 18th anniversary and the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child, celebrated the transformative potential of young girls to shape society through technology, creativity, and purposeful leadership.

Delivering the keynote address, Victoria Ajayi, group managing director and chief executive officer of TVC Communications, urged the girls to see technology as a tool for transformation. ‘They saw a problem, they became curious, and they used technology and creativity to solve it,’ she said. ‘That’s how you should use the internet better.’

Ajayi encouraged the participants to take initiative beyond the event. ‘When you leave here, you have to be determined to make a mark in this digital world. We live in an extraordinary time where a girl with a smartphone and an idea can change the world,’ she said.

A panel session on ‘Bridging the Gender Digital Divide’ featured Ayodele Olojede, division head of retail and SME at Wema Bank, who highlighted the role of digital literacy in economic empowerment. ‘Exposure to digital platforms and financial literacy is a means to an end – economic empowerment,’ she said. ‘Women need to be economically empowered to make a difference in their communities. That’s why we are intentional about initiatives like ALAT Explore, which introduces teenage girls to digital banking, budgeting, and online safety with parental guidance.’

Rhoda Robinson, executive director of HACEY, emphasised that empowerment also requires structural support. ‘We need to ensure menstrual hygiene policies are properly implemented in schools,’ she said. ‘Safety must also be prioritised, so girls can attend school and return home without fear of harassment. When girls feel protected, they are better positioned to make the right choices for themselves.’

A highlight of the summit was the award ceremony for the top ten winners of HACEY’s national creative competition. 15-year-old Nusaybah Abdulhake, a senior secondary student from Iwerekun Community Senior High School, Lakowe, clinched the top spot with an essay addressing menstrual health stigma, earning a laptop and a cash prize.

Second and third place winners, Khadija Alhassan and Oreoluwa Ogunsola, also received cash prizes. All ten finalists will join HACEY’s Girls’ Advisory Board, gaining access to mentorship and leadership development opportunities.

The conference also marked a major milestone for HACEY, which is celebrating 18 years of championing gender equality, health, and social inclusion across Africa. Through its work, the organisation continues to empower young girls with the skills, confidence, and voice to lead in a digital world.

Nigeria today has left many people in crippling agitation. The events that occasion this feeling are the everyday experiences of hapless fellow compatriots. Kidnapping, robbery, Ponzi schemes and other nefarious dealings stare the common man in the face. So, in a country stormed by insecurity, one cannot but raise an alarm at any situation that signals an impending doom. This provides a narrative landscape for the recent altercation between an Uber driver and his passenger.

Netizens on WhatsApp took to an aggressive reposting of the report made by one X (formerly Twitter) user, Nevermind (@Big_Itohan), against an Uber driver named James Oluwatosin Ogunsanwo. The former posted that Nigerians should beware of the latter, as he uses his Uber service to provide victims to a syndicate of area-boy robbers. She went further to give details of how his indescribably faulty car is a scheme in the notorious business. However, as luck would have it, a live chat between a concerned reposter and a neighbour of James’s was leaked. In the conversation, the godsend persuasively dispelled the rumour with repulsion at the defamation of James’s character.

Whatever our evaluation of this drama may be, there is no ‘victor or vanquished’. In this situation, John Donne’s all-time pithy poem No Man Is an Island is timely. The closing lines of the poem, which read, ‘. never send to know for whom the bell tolls;/It tolls for thee,’ bespeak the empathy behind Miss Nevermind’s action. Granted that she made a wrong judgement of her robbery experience in the course of her travel in Mr James’ car, her reaction was a response to what the nation has done to you and me. Nowhere is safe. No one can be trusted. And in times like this for that matter. Everywhere is precarious. And as it is believed in a street prognosis, a dangerous person does not bear the mark of their identity on their forehead. So, @Big_Itohan did what was right because the country presently teeters on the edge of insecurity. She raised the right alarm, albeit on a wrong judgment.

In the same way, those who spread the message like wildfire were right in their action. The bell tolls for everyone in today’s Naija. The message and false accusation could have been true anyway. And that single support of the finger could have saved my own family member, whose next Uber trip would have carted them to the prickling number of missing persons. In that wise, their action starkly justifies Niyi Osundare’s rhetoric in his poem Not My Business. If they had minded their own business, that most likely would have given vent to the subterfuge of road banditry. Nigeria’s insecurity issue is past taking lying low. In fact, there is logically no way anyone could have treated such a heartbreaking message with indifference. On this note, let us bury the hatchet and withdraw the boiling contempt.

There should also be an immediate dismissal of prejudice. In the presumption that the complainant is to be sued for defamation, let no one hijack the argument for ethnophobic claims. That has plagued us enough as a nation. We are quick to tender reductionist views. Our binary alternatives mentality has hampered critical thinking: it is either this or that or nothing else. But this matter on the ground is more sensitive than our parochial perception of it. We are also very obsessed with sensational stories.

Emotions should not supersede reasoning. This is not a matter of the woman fingering manhood for gender malice. That would be an outright evasion of the truth that two aggrieved Nigerians are psychologically molested by a failed system. We cannot dispute the obvious fact that this nation is toying with its citizens’ mental well-being.

An unchecked use of social media can put society asunder. We should stay conscious of that drawback and learn to fact-check every alarm raised. In the name of the cruise, issues have got out of hand. Nigerians should learn to control their emotions: not every item of news on the internet is true. To this end, the courts of the internet should temper justice with mercy. Finally, our unreserved apology goes to the transportation company whose image seems tainted.

The naira appreciated across foreign exchange (FX) markets on Tuesday despite a sharp 32.9% decline in weekly FX inflows into the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM). This development underscores the currency’s resilience amid lower market liquidity and sustained foreign investor activity.

After Tuesday’s trading session, the naira appreciated slightly by 0.12% as the dollar was quoted at N1,463.45, representing a gain of N1.84 compared to N1,465.29 quoted on Monday at the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market, according to data published by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Similarly, at the parallel market, also known as the black market, the local currency gained strength over the last two weeks, appreciating by 0.67% to close at N1,485 per dollar on Tuesday, compared to N1,495 per dollar on October 11, 2025.

A report by Coronation Merchant Bank’s Research Department revealed that total foreign exchange inflows through the NFEM moderated to US$1.10 billion last week, down from US$1.64 billion recorded in the previous week, reflecting weaker inflows into the market. Despite the overall decline, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) continued to dominate the inflow segment, accounting for 63.1% ($694.9 million) of total inflows. This was followed by exporters, who contributed 15.3%, non-bank corporates with 12.2%, the CBN with 1.3%, and other minor sources at 8.1%.

However, foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows fell sharply to just $0.20 million, representing a mere 0.01% of total inflows compared to $122.2 million (7.5%) in the prior week. The steep decline in FDI underscores the lingering caution among long-term investors, who remain wary of Nigeria’s macroeconomic environment despite recent policy adjustments aimed at improving transparency and stability in the FX market.

The naira showed a mixed performance across various market segments last week. At the official window, the local currency depreciated by 1.37% week-on-week, equivalent to N20.18, to close at N1,475.35 per dollar, reflecting relatively low FX liquidity conditions and rising demand for dollars.

In contrast, the parallel market recorded a mild appreciation of 0.34%, or N5.00, closing at N1,490 per dollar. This movement narrowed the parallel-to-official exchange rate premium to 0.99% from 2.74% the previous week, an indication of improving convergence between both markets.

On the reserves front, Nigeria’s gross external reserves rose marginally by 0.22% week-on-week, equivalent to an increase of $92.5 million, to reach $42.68 billion. This modest gain was attributed to moderate inflows and limited outflows during the week. Analysts at Coronation Merchant Bank noted that, barring any significant external shocks or large capital outflows, the official exchange rate is expected to remain within its current bands, maintaining a broadly stable trajectory across all FX market segments in the coming days.

The Borno State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has urged the state government to enact a Residency Training Fund Act to enhance human capital development in the health sector.

El-Yakub Mohammed, chairman of the NMA, Borno Branch, made the appeal during a press briefing on Wednesday in Maiduguri to commemorate the 2025 Physicians’ Week.

Mohammed commended Governor Babagana Zulum’s administration for its efforts in rebuilding the health sector but urged the governor to ensure the speedy passage of the bill to strengthen the capacity of health workers.

‘Now, he has done a lot in terms of welfare. Like I said, we are calling on him to prioritise training. People stay because of opportunities for training; let that be intensified. Of course, the issue of the Medical Residency Training Fund – we want to push for legislation, an act of government, where it will be gazetted that Borno State has a Medical Residency Training Fund Act,’ he said.

He added, ‘Several departments in the State Specialist Hospital have already obtained accreditation for residency training in surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, and other fields. This will significantly improve human resources for health in the state.

‘So, if Governor Zulum can address training issues, it will greatly enhance healthcare service delivery across the state.’

The NMA chairman also urged the government to address the ‘push factors’ and introduce ‘pull factors’ to discourage the ‘Japa’ (migration) syndrome. He noted that many skilled professionals were leaving the country in search of better welfare abroad, thereby putting additional pressure on those who chose to remain despite poor working conditions.

Mohammed further called on both federal and state governments to provide adequate security for medical doctors and other health workers across the country. He expressed concern that many health workers operate under fear and uncertainty due to the rising cases of kidnapping, banditry, and other security challenges.

He stressed the need for the federal government to provide sufficient resources to better equip security agencies for effective operations.

Mohammed also commended Governor Zulum for prioritising the welfare of medical doctors and nurses. ‘This is a landmark achievement. He made a pronouncement and followed it up by upgrading the salaries of doctors and nurses, who are our co-workers. I think it is commendable,’ he said.

Fast Credit Finance Company Limited has announced the successful payout to investors for its Series 5 and 6 Commercial Paper Issuance, amounting to N5 billion under its ongoing Commercial Paper Programme.

The redemption marks another key achievement for the company, reflecting its financial strength, transparency, and commitment to investor confidence within Nigeria’s financial services sector.

The two tranches, issued with tenors of 180 and 270 days respectively, had a combined face value of N5 billion, N3.48 billion for Series 5 and N1.52 billion for Series 6. Both papers have now matured and been fully redeemed, with investors receiving their principal and accrued returns in full.

Fast Credit described the completion as a testament to its strong governance structure and efficient operational model. The company noted that investor trust and participation continue to underpin its growth strategy as it expands its footprint in Nigeria’s fast-evolving fintech and credit market. Yetunde Faulkner, acting chief executive officer, said the successful redemption reinforces Fast Credit’s reputation as a reliable investment partner.

‘The successful redemption of our ?5 billion Commercial Paper reinforces our credibility and commitment to investors. It reflects our dedication to building a strong, transparent, and sustainable financial institution that creates value for both investors and customers alike,’ she said.

Faulkner added that the company remains focused on advancing inclusive, technology-driven financial solutions designed to empower Nigerians and promote broader access to finance.

When Optasia, formerly known as Channel VAS, began operating in Nigeria in 2014, it was celebrated as a fintech innovator bringing digital convenience to Africa’s largest mobile market. Its idea was deceptively simple: provide airtime and small credit advances to MTN subscribers who ran out of balance, then recover repayment on their next recharge. For millions of Nigerians, it felt like progress – instant microcredit available through a handset. But a decade later, the picture looks very different. The real wealth created by this model does not stay in Nigeria.

Optasia is not a Nigerian company. It is a foreign fintech platform offering AI-based lending and scoring services to telecom operators across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Its biggest and most profitable market is Nigeria, where MTN, the continent’s largest mobile operator, serves as both partner and distribution channel. Since entering the country, Optasia’s transaction volumes have grown exponentially, generating vast sums from Nigerian users. Industry estimates suggest that between 2019 and 2023 alone, Nigerian subscribers received over ?4.7 trillion in airtime and nano-loans through the Optasia-MTN system, producing an estimated ?560 billion in interest income. In 2023, the platform processed about 46 billion micro-advances worth ?1.4 trillion, yielding roughly ?210 billion in interest. These figures, while staggering, tell only half the story – because most of that income was earned offshore.

Despite processing trillions of naira in transactions through Nigerian telecom networks, Optasia does not hold a Nigerian financial licence. It operates through MTN’s infrastructure, using the network as a distribution layer while conducting its data analytics, revenue booking, and risk modelling abroad. The firm’s local footprint is minimal, often limited to a small compliance or liaison office. The algorithms, servers, and banking relationships that underpin the entire enterprise remain outside Nigeria’s jurisdiction. What looks like innovation on the surface is, in practice, a sophisticated form of digital extraction – a system where foreign platforms monetise local data and demand while leaving the host country with little more than operational residue.

Even more troubling is the fact that, despite processing trillions of naira in loans, *none of this credit activity is reported to Nigeria’s licensed credit bureaus* such as CRC Credit Bureau or FirstCentral. This means that millions of Nigerians who consistently borrow and repay these airtime loans *build no formal credit history* – they remain invisible to banks, mortgage providers, and legitimate financial institutions. The very citizens whose repayment patterns sustain these foreign platforms are denied the opportunity to convert that discipline into real creditworthiness. What could have been an on-ramp to financial inclusion has become a closed circuit of extraction.

Regulatory oversight has not caught up with this reality. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) regulates the telecom sector, while the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) oversees lending and payment services. Yet Optasia sits between both domains, in a grey zone where neither regulator exercises direct authority. The result is a multi-billion-naira industry operating beyond the reach of financial supervision and beyond the scope of domestic taxation.

The implications are profound. Nigerian subscriber data fuels Optasia’s predictive algorithms, but those models are built, owned, and refined abroad. The loan fees and commissions earned from each transaction are often booked as ‘technology service’ or ‘licence’ payments to offshore entities, allowing profits to escape local taxation through intra-group transfer pricing. Without a Nigerian licence, the company’s lending practices are not bound by domestic consumer-protection laws, and its use of sensitive personal data is subject only to indirect oversight. At the same time, the absence of local research or development means no Nigerian coders, no domestic IP, and no local shareholding benefit from the billions generated on Nigerian soil.

If Nigeria had captured even ten percent of the estimated interest income generated by these operations – about ?56 billion over five years – that amount could have financed a nationwide fintech accelerator programme, supported rural broadband expansion, or strengthened regulatory capacity in the digital economy. Instead, it flows outward, enriching global investors and reinforcing Nigeria’s role as a supplier of data and demand rather than a builder of digital wealth.

Other nations have faced similar challenges and responded with assertive policy. India, for example, mandates that digital-lending firms host their data locally, partner with licensed domestic financial institutions, and comply fully with onshore capital and tax requirements. Indonesia imposes strict local-incorporation rules, caps foreign ownership in peer-to-peer lending, and requires public disclosure of revenue-sharing agreements between telecom operators and their digital partners. These measures are not protectionist; they are pragmatic. They recognise that innovation without value retention merely transfers prosperity abroad.

Nigeria’s policymakers can take a similar approach. The time for permissive digital laissez-faire has passed. The country must establish clear rules for telco-embedded credit and AI-based financial services, requiring that any entity serving Nigerian subscribers be locally licensed, partly Nigerian-owned, and subject to the same tax and data-protection standards as domestic players. Data processing for Nigerian consumers must occur within Nigerian jurisdiction under the Nigeria Data Protection Act, and telecom agreements should be publicly disclosed to ensure fair revenue sharing and consumer benefit. Without such reforms, Nigeria’s digital economy will remain a pipeline for exporting value, not building it.

Optasia’s rise is both a testament to Nigeria’s economic scale and a warning about its vulnerabilities. With more than 200 million mobile subscribers, the country represents one of the world’s richest laboratories for digital finance. Yet Nigerians remain spectators in their own success. Their data trains foreign algorithms, their consumption drives foreign valuations, and their economy receives only the thinnest fraction of the gains.

To change this trajectory, Nigeria must move beyond celebrating foreign participation as an end in itself. Investment is valuable only when it deepens domestic capacity and retains local wealth. The choice is not between openness and protectionism, but between dependency and partnership. The principle should be simple: if global firms wish to profit from Nigeria’s digital scale, they must build with Nigeria, not merely on Nigeria. Otherwise, we risk exporting opportunity and importing dependency – one airtime loan at a time.

The federal government has finalised plans to invest $220 million in a new initiative designed to create employment opportunities for young Nigerians.

The programme, supported by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), marks the launch of the second phase of the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP 2.0). It aims to connect high-potential graduates with practical work experience, training, and mentorship opportunities.

Vice President Kashim Shettima announced this on Wednesday while formally launching the NJFP 2.0 at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Shettima disclosed that the goal is ‘to bridge the transition gap between learning and earning for thousands of young Nigerians; graduates who have the education, but not always the opportunity.’

According to him, this will translate the nation’s demographic strength ‘into productive economic power, proving that when government provides structure, partnership, and purpose, young Nigerians rise to the occasion.’ The Vice President noted that while the NJFP is a Nigerian programme shaped by national priorities and guided by the nation’s sense of purpose, the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is determined to deepen the ownership by embedding the programme into government’s national planning and budgeting frameworks.

He stated: ‘This government will do its part – by ensuring that our financial commitment to the programme reflects our belief in its transformative potential. But national ownership must also mean national participation.

‘As we launch NJFP 2.0 today, I call on our partners – from the private sector, the development community, and the donor ecosystem – to join us in building the NJFP Basket Fund, a sustainable financing mechanism to secure the programme’s future.

‘Our immediate goal is to raise $220 million, not as charity, but as an investment in the nation’s most valuable asset: our young people.’

Shettima implored the EU, the UNDP and other partners to consider the flag-off of the programme as an opportunity to prove that ‘youth employment is not just a policy priority but a shared responsibility.’

He observed that when resources are pooled and intentions are aligned in the course of building together, a multiplier effect is created that benefits the nation’s economy.

He also acknowledged the contributions of the EU and the UNDP, noting that their belief in Nigeria’s youth has demonstrated what could be achieved through collaboration.

He said it was now time for Nigeria, through its public institutions, private sector champions, and philanthropic community to lead from the front, even as he maintained that inclusivity is key to driving the process. ‘As we scale NJFP 2.0, inclusivity remains at the heart of our design. We recognise that our young people are not a single story. They live in different realities, across regions, genders, and social backgrounds.

‘Therefore, this next phase will intentionally reach every corner of the country, aligning placements with the sectors that will define our economic future: agriculture, renewable energy, digital technology, manufacturing, and the creative industries.’

Shettima expressed hope that the second phase of the NJFP would turn out to be a success story ‘of how Nigeria turned its demographic advantage into a generation of productive citizens – creating jobs, building enterprises, and shaping the future of our great nation.

‘The task before us is both serious and inspiring. The young Nigerians we seek to serve are not asking for handouts – only for a fair system that recognises effort, rewards merit, and provides opportunity. They are ready to build if we are ready to back them,’ he added.

Ayodele Olawande, minister of youth development, described the NJFP 2.0 as a continuation of the federal government’s success in youth empowerment.

He noted that since the programme began in 2021, it has helped over 13,000 youths to gain skills, assuring that the initiative will build on its progress and achieve its long-term goal of placing 100,000 youths in jobs within five years.

Elsie Attafuah, the resident representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Nigeria, said the generous funding from the European Union and implementation support from the UNDP, over the years, are aimed at connecting potential to opportunity.

She noted that the vision behind the NJFP has come to light, resulting in over 40,000 Nigerians being placed in various economic sectors.

She stressed that millions of Nigerians need the NJFP platform to thrive in today’s economy.

Gauthier Mignot, European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, said the EU was looking forward to seeing the NJFP 2.0 programme integrated into Nigeria’s governance agenda to ensure its sustainability.

Abubakar Suleiman, while presenting the keynote address titled ‘Building a National Workforce for the Future,’ the CEO of Sterling Bank, emphasised that millions of Nigerians can perform the jobs currently being outsourced to foreign companies if they are given the right opportunities, such as those provided under the NJFP programme.

He urged relevant authorities and stakeholders not to ignore the millions of Nigerians who, without support, may never transition from graduates to gainful employment.

A recent announcement by entertainment company Livespot360 has sparked debate over the trademarking of ‘Detty December,’ a phrase central to West African festive culture. Legal professionals argue that the registration risks privatizing a communal expression, calling on Nigeria’s Trademarks Registry to reconsider it.

‘Detty December’ describes the lively end-of-year celebrations in Nigeria and Ghana, marked by parties, travel, and family gatherings. The term gained traction around 2017, credited to musician Mr Eazi, who used it in social media posts and a 2022 podcast episode where he discussed its origins. It now drives economic activity, with estimates of $70 million to $180 million annually for Lagos alone through tourism and events.

Livespot360, founded by singer Darey Art Alade and his wife Deola, registered the phrase in 2019 under Class 41 for entertainment services, including festivals and events. The company had planned a ‘Detty December Fest’ launch in 2020, which was delayed by COVID-19, and revived the idea with a song featuring producer Pheelz in 2021.

This year, on October 18, 2025, Livespot360 launched the 2025 edition of the ‘Detty December Fest’ and revealed the trademark in promoting the festival, a multi-venue event taking place from December 6 to 31 across Lagos. Deola Art Alade stated on LinkedIn that the registration protected their early efforts to formalize the concept when it was ‘grassroots’ but not yet dominant.

The disclosure prompted backlash on social media, with users questioning the ethics of claiming a cultural staple. Nigerian entertainment lawyer Ibukun Ahisu, known as @OptimistIBK, led the criticism in an Instagram post on October 20, 2025. Ahisu, who specializes in music and intellectual property law, urged the Trademarks Registry-under the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment-to revoke the mark in the public interest. ‘The fact that the name ‘Detty December’ has been registered does not mean it cannot be reviewed or revoked,’ he wrote, attaching sections of the of Trademark law from section 9, section 11, and including certain names that cannot be trademarked such as Detty December, Eyo Festival, Ofada Rice, Aba Made, and Zobo for their culturally decriptiveness, public cultural heritage or geographical origins.

Ahisu emphasized lawyers’ duty to safeguard heritage. ‘Our role goes beyond applying the law; we must be custodians of our cultural heritage,’ he said, crediting IP consultant Oyinkansola Fawehinmi (@fozadoza) for highlighting the journal entry. Under Nigeria’s Trademarks Act, marks can be challenged post-registration if they are descriptive, generic, or contrary to public policy. Ahisu noted the opposition window-60 days after publication-has closed, but invalidation proceedings remain possible if evidence shows the term lacks distinctiveness.

Fellow lawyer @BlehisBack echoed the concern on X (formerly Twitter). ‘I’m actually surprised that the trademark registry approved it,’ she posted on October 19, 2025, in response to the announcement. Other X users pointed to the phrase’s organic evolution from slang to national identifier, arguing that approving such marks sets a precedent for enclosing public language, potentially limiting free use in media, merchandise, and events. IP lawyer Adesola Adeniran (@sollydiran) offered a balanced view on X, noting the 2019 filing predated peak popularity. ‘They got it in 2019 when the word was not really in common use, so their right is enforceable. IP is an investment; the value of the Trademark asset Detty December grew over the years,’ he explained, but added that proving descriptiveness could undo it. Akinola Adedamola (@adedxmola) detailed the process: post-publication oppositions lapsed years ago, leaving court-based challenges as the path forward, but a lingering question of who will be best suited to sue Livespot360.

Livespot360 has not commented on the criticism. Supporters, including marketing specialist Gbenjo Abimbola (@Gbenjo_Abimbola), defend the move as standard protection for investments. ‘Who else has done more for ‘Detty December’ than Livespot?’ he asked. The company has hosted related events since 2018, contributing to the phrase’s visibility.

An example of Livespot360’s contributions to Detty December is the Entertainment Week Lagos event, which is one of Africa’s largest multi-sector creative summits, bringing together visionaries across film, music, tech, fashion, and culture for 5 days of immersive programming, live performances, and transformative dialogue. Past editions drew 53,000+ attendees, 240+ speakers, and N313M in digital reach.

The debate highlights tensions in Nigeria’s growing creative economy, valued at $5 billion in 2024. Experts like Ahisu warn that unchecked trademarks could commodify slang, echoing global cases like ‘Afrochella,’ rebranded to AfroFuture after a 2023 dispute. Foza, the consultant cited by Ogunbiyi, stressed public vigilance: ‘Timely objection is key,’ though late challenges rely on proving cultural dilution.

As Detty December approaches, organizers of independent events express caution. One promoter, speaking anonymously, said they now review phrasing to avoid infringement notices. The Trademarks Registry which is the Nigeria

Industrial Property Office has not given any comment as of the time of this article.

This case underscores the need for clearer guidelines on cultural terms in IP law. If revoked, it could free ‘Detty December’ for communal use; if upheld, it may reshape how Nigerians approach festive branding. For now, the phrase endures in posts and plans, a reminder of its roots beyond any registry.