Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria (WASPAN) has dragged Tunji Bello, executive vice chairman, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), before the Federal High Court in Lagos over alleged disobedience of a subsisting court order in a legal dispute involving telecom-based lending services.

Tunji Bello, EVC, FCCPC

Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria initiated  this in Suit No: FHC/L/CS/760/2026 pending before the court.

According to court documents, Bello was issued a Form 49 Notice to Show Cause, directing him to appear before the court on 22 May 2026 to explain why an order of committal should not be made against him for allegedly failing to comply with interim orders issued by Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa on 15 April 2026.

The court had earlier granted interim injunctions restraining the FCCPC, its officers, agents and privies from enforcing provisions of the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations 2025 against members of WASPAN, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The restraining orders specifically barred the commission from interfering with services rendered by WASPAN members, including airtime lending, data advances and other mobile value-added services.

The orders also restrained the FCCPC from imposing sanctions, penalties or directives connected to the disputed regulations.

In the Form 49 notice dated 18 May 2026, WASPAN alleged that despite being aware of the court orders and having been served with Form 48 — the statutory notice warning against disobedience of court orders — the FCCPC and its Executive Vice Chairman allegedly continued actions contrary to the directives of the court.

The notice stated that the alleged contemnor refused to comply with the orders and had continued to deliberately defy the orders of the court.

An affidavit of service filed before the court disclosed that Form 48 was served on Bello at the FCCPC headquarters located at 23 Jimmy Carter Street, Asokoro, Abuja, on 6 May 2026.

The latest development followed earlier proceedings in which Justice Lewis-Allagoa declined an application by the FCCPC seeking to vacate the interim injunction.

The court instead directed that the substantive suit and the commission’s preliminary objection be heard together.

WASPAN is challenging the FCCPC’s authority to regulate telecom-based lending services, arguing that certain provisions of the DEON Regulations encroach on the statutory powers of the Nigerian Communications Commission to regulate telecommunications services in the country.

Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria, is the primary self-regulatory body and trade association for licensed Value-Added Service (VAS) providers and aggregators in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector

Google and ‌Blackstone (BX.N), said they will form an artificial intelligence cloud business venture aimed at capitalising on an insatiable demand for AI computing services.

Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative asset manager, will ​invest an initial $5 billion in equity to help bring 500 megawatts of ​data centre capacity online in 2027, with further expansion planned over ⁠time.

The U.S.-based venture will provide data centre capacity along with Google’s custom AI ​chips, known as Tensor Processing Units, or TPUs, through a compute-as-a-service model.

The total ​investment value could reach $25 billion, including leverage, according to Bloomberg News.

Both companies did not immediately respond to a request for comments on the Bloomberg report. Blackstone has appointed Benjamin Sloss, a long-time ​Google executive, as CEO of the new venture.

Thomas Kurian, chief executive of Google ​Cloud, said the venture would help address growing demand for TPUs by offering organisations additional ways ‌to ⁠access computing capacity.

Analysts and investors have said Google is taking a sizeable share of new AI-driven computing demand, supported by its business tools and custom chips that have attracted customers such as Anthropic.

“This isn’t the biggest headline number we’ve seen. ​But it’s a high-quality ​bet on sustainable ⁠growth in AI infrastructure,” said Brittain Ladd, AI and supply chain consultant at Florida-based Chang Robotics.

Blackstone ​has stepped up investments in AI-related infrastructure, including data centres, power ​generation and ⁠transmission assets.

Those investments are valuable as the AI boom pushes operators to secure long-term energy supply deals.

The new partnership reflects rising demand for AI infrastructure and the need ⁠for ​large-scale capital deployment, Blackstone President Jon Gray said.

MTN Nigeria on Sunday, May 17, 2026, celebrated outstanding alumni of its Media Innovation Programme (MIP) at the MIP Alumni Award Night held at the MTN Event Centre, Falomo, Ikoyi, Lagos.

MTN-MIP Alumni Awards

The event brought together fellows, media professionals, innovators, and industry stakeholders to recognise impactful storytelling, innovation, and contributions to media development across Africa.

The Social Impact Story of the Year award with a ₦1 million prize, was presented to Johnstone Kpilaakaa, Sub-Editor and Head of Standards at HumAngle Media, for his report, “What’s Left of Benue State’s Deserted Communities?”

The story was recognised for spotlighting the realities of displacement and abandoned communities in Benue State, drawing attention to pressing humanitarian and social issues.

For her report, “360 Tbps at the Shore, Buffering Inland: Why Nigeria’s Broadband Promise Remains Unfulfilled,” Royal Ibeh, Head of Tech Desk at BusinessDay, received the Digital Storyteller of the Year award with ₦1 million prize and one-year MTN internet subscription.

The report stood out for its examination of the disconnect between Nigeria’s broadband infrastructure ambitions and the internet realities experienced by millions of Nigerians.

Recognition for MIP Fellow of the Year went to Victory Wilson, Broadcast Journalist and News Anchor at Silverbird Television, for her contributions to mental health advocacy, youth engagement, and purpose-driven storytelling.

Through broadcasting and public conversations centred on emotional wellbeing, Wilson has continued to use media as a tool for social impact and awareness. She was awarded ₦1.5 million prize.

The Media Innovator of the Year award, regarded as the night’s top honour, was presented to Chioma Chinyere Chukwuemeka, News Lead at Radio Sapientia 95.3FM Onitsha, who also received a ₦3 million prize for Universal Multimedia Impact Resources (UMIR), an AI-powered social impact platform focused on digital safety, ethical technology education, and youth empowerment.

The initiative was recognised for combining media, technology, and education to support women, girls, and young people.

Welcoming the fifth cohort and reflecting on the growth of the programme, Tobe Okigbo, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, MTN Nigeria represented by Chineze Gbenga-Oluwatoye, described the Media Innovation Programme as a platform built on collaboration, growth, and shared impact.

“You have joined something truly special. MIP is more than a fellowship; it is a community of people committed to learning, growth, and shaping the future of media together.

“For those just joining, this is your opportunity to write your own story, build meaningful connections, and maximise the experiences ahead of you.

“We are proud of what this programme has become, proud of the alumni who continue to make impact across the industry, and excited about the journey ahead for the new cohort.”

Launched in 2022 in partnership with the School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, the Media Innovation Programme has become one of Nigeria’s leading media capacity development initiatives.

Through training, mentorship, and international exposure, the programme continues to equip journalists, broadcasters, digital creators, and media professionals with the tools needed to succeed in an increasingly digital media landscape.