The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, a non-profit organization, BudgIT, and 136 concerned Nigerians have sued the Central Bank of Nigeria “over its failure” to rescind the recently announced controversial cybersecurity levy.

In what was described as an “unlawful circular,” the plaintiffs in the suit number FHC/L/CS/822/2024 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Lagos State,  asked the court to determine “whether the CBN circular dated 6th May 2024, directing financial institutions to deduct from customers’ accounts a cybersecurity levy is unlawful and therefore ultra vires the CBN.”

SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, revealed the lawsuit in a statement on Sunday following the apex bank’s circular last Monday, ordering all commercial, merchant, non-interest, and payment service banks in the country to charge a cybersecurity levy on transactions.

“The levy shall be applied at the point of electronic transfer origination, then deducted and remitted by the financial institution. The deducted amount shall be reflected in the customer’s account with the narration, ‘Cybersecurity Levy.” the circular stated.

The announcement of the levy has been greeted with widespread condemnation, leading to President Bola Tinubu asking the CBN to suspend the implementation of the controversial cybersecurity levy policy and order a review; however, the plaintiffs asked the court to determine whether the apex bank’s directive “is not in breach of sections 14(2), 44(1), and 162(1) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], and thus unconstitutional, null, and void.”

They insisted that the “CBN, its office, agents, privies, assigns, or any other persons acting on its instructions from enforcing the circular dated 6th May 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed contemporaneously in this suit,” be restrained.

The plaintiffs’ lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, filed the complaint, which stated, in part, that “the CBN circular is unlawful and an outright violation of the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and the country’s international obligations.”

“Unless the reliefs sought are granted, the CBN will enforce its circular directing banks to deduct from customers’ accounts a cybersecurity levy. Millions of Nigerians with active bank accounts would suffer irreparable damage from the unlawful deduction of cybersecurity levies from their accounts.

“The provisions of the Cybercrimes Act on payment of cybersecurity levy strictly apply only to businesses listed in the Second Schedule to the Act. These provisions do not refer bank customers, contrary to the CBN circular to all banks and other financial institutions.”

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, on Saturday allayed fears of citizens over the tax reforms being implemented by the current administration, stressing that the tax reforms are targeted at revitalizing the country’s economy and not to frustrate and impoverish Nigerians.

The participants of Mali’s national dialogue have proposed a three-year extension of the military-led transition to democracy and suggested that junta head, Assimi Goita, be allowed to run in the upcoming election.

Since a coup in 2020, the West African nation has been governed by the military, and there has been growing unrest due to the junta’s failure to adhere to the agreed-upon schedule for the restoration of constitutional governance.

The nationwide consultations, which lasted for many months, were not attended by many members of the opposition. On Friday, the consultations concluded with a series of proposals, one of which is to extend the transition period from two years to five years. This practically means that the junta’s reign will be extended until 2027.

The significant postponement is expected to exacerbate worries about the decline of democracy in West and Central Africa, where there have been eight instances of coups in the last four years. Regarding security matters, the participants in the consultations recommended that the authorities adopt a receptive attitude towards engaging in dialogue with Islamist armed groups and all Malian armed movements.

Mali has experienced persistent violence since 2012, when Islamist terrorists took advantage of an uprising by Tuareg groups in the southern part of the Sahara Desert. These groups were protesting against government neglect and demanding autonomy for the desert region known as Azawad.

Profound feelings of insecurity, financial difficulties, postponement of elections, and the recent decision by the authorities to restrict political activity have intensified dissatisfaction with the ruling military government in certain circles. In April, a coalition of political parties and civil society organizations was established and chose not to engage in the national dialogue.