WATCH THE VIDEO HERE The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, fixed May 26 to hear a suit filed by the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS’) Plc against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and others. By Taiye Agbaje The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, fixed May 26 to hear a suit filed by the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS’) Plc against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and others. NIBSS, in the suit, is seeking an order to prevent any institution from challenging its statutory authority to maintain and manage the Bank Verification Number (BVN) database in Nigeria. Justice James Omotosho fixed the date after dismissing an application for joinder filed by the Incorporated Trustees of Data Privacy Lawyers Association (DPLAN). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NIBSS, through its lawyer, Ademolai Esan, SAN, had sued the Incorporated Trustees of Digital Rights Lawyers Initiative (ITDRLI), the CBN and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively. NIBSS seeks a declaration that it is statutorily empowered to maintain and manage the BVN database. It said this is pursuant to the Central Bank Act 2007, the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act 2020, and the Revised Regulatory Framework for the Bank Verification Number (BVN) Operations and Watchlist for the Nigerian Banking Industry 2021. “Pursuant to the provisions of the framework, NIBSS, as a designated participant in BVN operations, is statutorily authorised to manage and maintain the BVN database and ensure its seamless operation, among other functions,” it added. It, therefore, accused ITDRLI (1st defendant) of filing multiple suits, either directly or through proxies, challenging its authority to manage the BVN database and alleging that such management violates constitutional privacy rights. However, ITDRLI denied the allegations in it court processes, asking the court to dismiss the suit. NAN reports that in the last adjourned date in April, Ayomide Ahmed, who appeared for the Incorporated Trustees of Data Privacy Lawyers Association (DPLAN), urged the court to join his client as defendant in the suit. Ahmed argued that the outcome of the case would impact the rights of his client and its members, especially regarding the BVN, in light of the relief sought by NIBSS to bar any institution from challenging its authority. He stated that DPLAN is an association of experts in privacy and data protection, whose members are directly affected by the subject matter due to their objectives and ownership of bank accounts. But counsel for the CBN, Abdulfatai Oyedele, prayed the court to dismiss DPLAN’s application for joinder. Oyedele argued that any party seeking to join a suit must attach a proposed defence. He argued that DPLAN had failed to do so. On his part, NIBSS’ lawyer, Esan, also urged the court to discountenance DPLAN’s application.
Court hears NIBSS suit seeking exclusive power to manage BVN database
