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SERAP Drags CBN To Court

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Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has initiated legal action against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for its failure to halt a regulation that requires banks to provide their customers’ social media handles.

 

Kolawole Oluwadare, Deputy Director of SERAP disclosed this in a statement on sunday.

 

Recall that In June, the CBN issued the Customer Due Diligence Regulation 2023, which mandates banks to collect information about customers’ social media accounts for identification purposes.

 

In response to this, SERAP filed a suit (number FHC/L/CS/1410/2023) in the Federal High Court in Lagos last Friday, seeking an order for the CBN to withdraw the regulation.

 

According to SERAP, the CBN already possesses sufficient means to verify customers’ identities, such as the Bank Verification Number, Tax Identification Number, Driver’s license, and Passport.

 

SERAP contends that the implementation of this regulation would infringe upon customers’ rights to freedom of expression and privacy.

 

The statement reads “The CBN Regulations and directive to banks and other financial institutions would impermissibly restrict the constitutional and international rights to freedom of expression, privacy and victims’ right to justice and effective remedies.

 

“Requiring social media handles or addresses of customers as a means of identification would have a disproportionate chilling effect on the effective enjoyment by Nigerians of their rights to freedom of expression and privacy online.”

 

However, no date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

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‘Edo People Are Happy With Tinubu’ — Okpebholo

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Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Works, David Umahi, for their intervention in the rehabilitation of major Federal roads across the state.

Okpebholo made the remarks during an inspection tour of key Federal road projects in Edo State alongside Umahi, where he commended the Federal Government’s attention to the state’s critical road infrastructure.

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The governor said residents of Edo were pleased with the intervention, urging them not to be distracted by criticisms of the Federal Government on social media.

“Edo people are happy with the President. Don’t listen to all these social media opposition. We know the President means well for Edo,” Okpebholo said.

He stressed the strategic importance of Edo State, describing it as a major gateway connecting the South-South, South-West and other parts of the country.

“Whenever there is a problem, the President always listens because Edo State is like a gateway to any part of the South, South-South and South-West. Even though we are in the North, they are the hub centre point. So anything that happens here affects every state in this country,” he said.

According to Okpebholo, President Tinubu understands Edo’s strategic position and has shown a willingness to respond to the state’s infrastructure needs.

“He doesn’t wait for anything to happen to listen to Edo State,” the governor added.
The governor also thanked Umahi for his role in the ongoing road rehabilitation projects and urged him to convey the appreciation of Edo residents to the President.

“So I want to thank you, Mr Minister of Works, and I want you to take our message back to the President that Edo people are saying thank you,” Okpebholo said.

He further pledged that the state would return to appreciate both the President and the minister after the completion of the road projects.
The inspection is part of ongoing efforts by

the Federal Government to assess and accelerate work on critical road infrastructure in Edo State, a key transportation corridor linking several parts of southern Nigeria.

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Shock as Eagle Online Publisher Dotun Oladipo Dies Suddenly at 56

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The Nigerian media industry has been thrown into mourning following the sudden death of Dotun Oladipo, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Premium Eagle Media Limited, publisher of Eagle Online.

Oladipo died on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, in Lagos, at the age of 56.

His death was announced on the Eagle Online website on Wednesday, with the publication stating that the veteran journalist was in his “usual state of health earlier in the day before suddenly taking ill at his office.”

ALSO READ: Ondo Shock: 23-Year-Old Son Allegedly Hacks 60-Year-Old Mother to Death

The publication described his death as a “shock” to his colleagues, friends and associates.

According to report, Oladipo reportedly drove himself to an unnamed hospital hours before his death.

His death was confirmed by the President of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, Danlami Nmodu, who announced the development on the guild’s WhatsApp platform.

“It has just been confirmed that Emeritus President, Mr Dotun Oladipo, died today.

“May his soul rest in peace. Amen,” Nmodu stated.

The General Secretary of the Innovative Media Partners Cooperative Multipurpose Society, Nkanu Egbe, also confirmed the death in a statement on Wednesday.

“It is with profound sorrow that I announce the sudden death of our President, Mr Dotun Oladipo, who passed away on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, in Lagos, at the age of 56,” Egbe said.

Egbe described Oladipo as a dedicated leader whose journalism career spanned nearly three decades.

“Mr Oladipo led our cooperative with dedication, alongside a distinguished journalism career spanning nearly three decades. His passing is a devastating loss not only to IMPCMS but to Nigerian journalism as a whole.”

He said details of the funeral arrangements, condolence visits and interim leadership would be communicated in due course, while urging members to keep Oladipo’s family in their prayers.

Reacting to the development, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, described Oladipo as a

“complete gentleman, accomplished digital journalist and remarkable human being.”

“Dotun Oladipo has passed away. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and the entire community of digital journalists in Nigeria.

“May Dotun Oladipo rest in power!” Sowore wrote.

Oladipo was a former politics editor at PUNCH Newspapers and also worked with the Nigerian Tribune, Nigerian Compass and The Sun before founding Eagle Online.

He was a former president of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers and was regarded as a prominent figure in Nigeria’s digital journalism industry.

Oladipo obtained a Higher National Diploma in Mass Communication from Ogun State Polytechnic, Abeokuta, in 1992.

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‘Beware of Misinformation’ — German Embassy Warns Nigerians Over Visa Agents

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The German Embassy in Nigeria has warned Nigerians against relying on information provided by self-styled visa agents when seeking German visas.

The embassy issued the warning on Wednesday in a post on its official X account, urging prospective visa applicants to obtain accurate information directly from official sources.

“Beware of misinformation. Save yourself the hassle & just ask us directly,” the embassy stated.

SEE MORE: Tinubu Moves to Grant Visa-Free Entry for Rwanda

The mission also asked Nigerians to share claims they had heard from “visa agents” in the comments, saying it would respond to some of the claims in subsequent posts.

“Tell us some of the things you’ve heard from ‘visa agents’ in the comments, and we’ll answer in upcoming posts,” it added.

The embassy further clarified that it has no partnership with visa agents.

“We do not work with any ‘visa Agents’!” the German mission stated.

It added that all relevant information concerning visa applications and procedures is freely available through its official website.

The warning comes amid the circulation of potentially misleading information about German visa requirements and application procedures.

The embassy urged Nigerians to verify visa-related information through official channels to avoid unnecessary expenses, confusion and possible fraud.

Prospective applicants seeking to travel to Germany are therefore advised to rely on information from the German Embassy and other authorised German government platforms rather than unverified claims from third-party agents.

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