By Tony Obiechina, Obiechina

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has commenced Cohort 2 of the Apex Bank Regulatory Sandbox Programme, inviting eligible innovators, financial institutions, Virtual Asset.

In a statement by the CBN Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Hakama Sidi-Ali on Tuesday, Service Providers (VASPs), financial technology companies, and technology companies applied to participate.

Building on the CBN’s commitment to responsible innovation, Cohort 2 introduces two dedicated testing tracks to support emerging technologies with the potential to strengthen Nigeria’s financial system while upholding high standards of consumer protection, financial stability, and market integrity.

The two tracks are: Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) Track, supporting innovative virtual asset, stablecoin, payment, settlement, custody, wallet, and related financial infrastructure solutions that require supervised live testing; and Data-Enabled Financial Services (Non-VASP) Track, supporting innovations that leverage secure digital infrastructure and permission-based data sharing to improve financial inclusion, payments, credit, risk management, operational efficiency, and consumer outcomes.

The CBN Regulatory Sandbox provides a controlled environment in which eligible participants may test innovative financial products, services, business models, and enabling technologies under the supervision of the Central Bank.

The programme enables the CBN and innovators to engage constructively throughout the testing process, supporting regulatory learning while encouraging responsible innovation that benefits consumers and the wider financial system.

The launch of Cohort 2 reflects the CBN’s continued commitment to developing a transparent, proportionate, and risk-based regulatory environment that fosters innovation while preserving monetary and financial stability. Insights from supervised testing will help deepen regulatory understanding of emerging technologies and inform the ongoing development of regulatory and supervisory frameworks for Nigeria’s evolving digital financial ecosystem.

Eligible organisations whose proposed innovations fall within the programme’s scope are encouraged to apply.

 Applications will be assessed based on the level of innovation, readiness for controlled live testing, potential consumer or market benefit, governance arrangements, risk management capability, and the suitability of the proposed testing plan.

Successful participants will undertake supervised testing within clearly defined parameters agreed with the CBN, including appropriate safeguards for consumer protection, operational resilience, cybersecurity, and regulatory report

Participation in the Regulatory Sandbox does not constitute a licence, authorisation, or approval to operate outside the approved testing parameters. The Sandbox is intended to facilitate responsible experimentation, strengthen regulatory engagement, and support evidence-based policy development in line with the CBN’s statutory mandate.

Applications for Cohort 2 open on August 12, 2026, and close on August 31, 2026.

To apply, visit the CBN Regulatory Sandbox Portal at https://sandbox.cbn.gov.ng and submit your application before the application deadline.

The Central Bank of Nigeria remains committed to fostering an innovative, resilient, and inclusive financial ecosystem that supports sustainable economic growth while maintaining the safety, soundness, and integrity of Nigeria’s financial system.

From Ayinde Akintade, Osogbo

Tension heightened across Osun State yesterday as Governor Ademola Adeleke and Senator Francis Fadahunsi traded accusations over an alleged incitement video, while Afrobeat star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, appealed to United States President Donald Trump and the international community to monitor the August 15 governorship election.

The latest development came amid intensified political campaigns and growing concerns over security ahead of Saturday’s poll, with Adeleke declaring that he was not intimidated by what he described as the “federal might” backing the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate.

Speaking at the Arise Townhall Meeting on Tuesday, the governor, who is seeking re-election, described himself as a “bulldozer” and dismissed the influence of serving governors campaigning for his opponent.

“I am a bulldozer. I am not afraid of Federal might and governors backing the APC candidate. If they like, they should bring all the governors,” Adeleke said.

He added that the governors supporting the APC candidate were his friends but would not be able to vote in the election.

“They won’t vote; they can only come and dance, and after the election, we will meet,” he said.

The governor also rejected allegations that his administration had militarised the state, saying he lacked the constitutional authority to deploy the armed forces.

But the political confrontation took a sharper turn at an emergency press briefing in Osogbo, where Adeleke demanded the immediate investigation, arrest and prosecution of Fadahunsi over a viral video in which the senator was allegedly heard calling for the killing of Accord Party members and their families.

Adeleke said the matter had gone beyond partisan politics and constituted a national security concern. He also alleged that a police directive had been issued for the arrest of Accord Party leaders, with some allegedly being held without charges.

The governor said he had raised the matter with the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, and called for an end to what he described as “illegal operations” by security operatives against members of his party.

Adeleke further urged the police and the Department of State Services to investigate Fadahunsi’s alleged comments and ensure that security agencies remained neutral before, during and after the election.

Fadahunsi, however, rejected the interpretation placed on his remarks, saying his reference to “killing Accord” was political language and meant defeating the party through votes rather than violence.

In a statement issued by his media office and titled “Kill Osun Accord with Votes, Not Violence,” the senator said his comments were “purely political and metaphorical”.

He maintained that he had never advocated violence or physical attacks against Accord Party members and urged APC supporters and other political actors to maintain peace and allow voters to exercise their constitutional rights freely.

The controversy also drew the intervention of Davido, who is Adeleke’s nephew. In a message addressed to President Trump, the singer expressed concern over alleged threats of violence, intimidation and disruption of the electoral process.

Davido urged the US President and the international community to pay attention to the election and encourage Nigerian authorities to protect voters and ensure that their votes were respected.

“We do not want bloodshed. We do not want intimidation. We want peace, transparency, and a free and fair election,” he said.

The escalating political tension comes against the backdrop of wider security operations across the country, with the Nigerian Army reporting fresh successes against kidnappers, bandits and terrorists in Kogi, Plateau and Kebbi states.

In Kogi, troops rescued nine commuters abducted along the Ajaokuta–Itobe Road after engaging suspected kidnappers and forcing them to abandon their captives. The victims included two elderly men, two elderly women, four other adult males and an infant.

In Plateau, troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE foiled an alleged bandit ambush in Nwur Village, Langtang North Local Government Area, killing one attacker and recovering an AK-47 rifle, a magazine and two rounds of ammunition.

Troops in Kebbi also ambushed members of the Lakurawa terrorist group who were reportedly heading towards Dandi Local Government Area. Two motorcycles, mobile phones, communication radios and a Nigerien identity card were recovered following the operation.

The Army said the operations formed part of ongoing efforts to protect communities and disrupt the activities of criminal groups, while urging citizens to provide security agencies with timely information.

With the Osun governorship election only days away, political parties are intensifying mobilisation across the state, even as competing claims over security, alleged intimidation and the conduct of political actors continue to dominate the campaign.

The immediate challenge for the authorities, stakeholders and security agencies is to ensure that the heightened political contest does not translate into violence and that voters are allowed to determine the outcome of Saturday’s election freely and peacefully.

By David Torough, Abuja

The Adegoroye Royal Family of Itun Onise Quarters, Ise Town, in Lekki Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State, has petitioned the Lagos State House of Assembly over the proposed installation of Mr Ibrahim Adebowale Saliu, also known as Sangodeyi, as the Oba Onise of Ise Kingdom.

The petition, dated August 10, 2026, was filed through the family’s solicitors, Law Pharm LP, and addressed to the Speaker of the House, Rt.

The petitioners alleged that administrative steps were being taken by relevant government authorities towards the approval and installation of Saliu despite pending court cases challenging aspects of the succession process.

They urged the House to exercise its oversight powers to investigate the process and prevail on relevant authorities to suspend further administrative action pending the determination of the cases before the High Court of Lagos State.

The petitioners said their request was not for the House to determine who should occupy the traditional stool, stressing that the competing claims and other substantive issues were matters for the courts.

“Our clients are not asking the Honourable House to determine the competing claims to the traditional stool,” the solicitors clarified, adding that the request was for the Assembly to ensure that government agencies did not “undermine, pre-empt, frustrate or render nugatory” the judicial process.

The petition identified two pending suits relating to the succession dispute, including Suit No. EPD/15252GCMW/2026, pending before Court 2 of the High Court of Lagos State, Epe Judicial Division, and Suit No. ID/107169CM/2026 before the High Court in the Ikeja Judicial Division.

According to the petition, the Epe case was scheduled for mention on June 29 but was adjourned to October 29, 2026, after the court did not sit.

The royal family alleged that the Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Chieftaincy Committee had acted in relation to the Onise stool despite Ise being under the administrative jurisdiction of Lekki LCDA.

The petition further alleged that Ibeju-Lekki Local Government had, in a letter dated April 16, 2026, acknowledged that it had no administrative or jurisdictional authority over Ise Kingdom and that Lekki LCDA was responsible for the community.

It therefore asked the Assembly to investigate the alleged contradiction between the earlier position and the subsequent purported approval of the installation of Saliu.

The petitioners also raised concerns over the legitimacy of the selection process, alleging that some recognised and gazetted Part II Chiefs had dissociated themselves from the process.

They specifically alleged that Chief Balogun Olamide Arashi, identified as the Aro of Ise Land and a recognised Part II kingmaker, had dissociated himself from the process.

The petition also questioned the alleged participation of Chief Aliru Tiamiyu Ogunkoya, formerly the Ojon of Ise, whose appointment, according to the petitioners, was terminated in October 2023.

On the customary basis of the stool, the Adegoroye Royal Family claimed that the Onise throne was historically traceable to their lineage and disputed the validity and applicability of a 1999 Chieftaincy Declaration governing the selection process.

The petitioners maintained that the historical and customary questions surrounding the stool were among the issues already before the courts and should not be conclusively determined through administrative action.

They also cited previous Supreme Court decisions, including Military Governor of Lagos State & Ors. v. Ojukwu & Anor., arguing that government authorities should not take steps capable of pre-empting judicial determination once a matter is before a competent court.

“Our clients approach the Honourable House not merely as contestants for a traditional stool but as citizens seeking the protection of the rule of law,” the petition stated.

The royal family asked the Assembly to summon relevant officials, including the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, officials of the two local government areas and members of the Ibeju-Lekki Chieftaincy Committee.

It also requested that the House obtain and scrutinise nomination documents, minutes of kingmakers’ meetings, attendance records, relevant government correspondence, the disputed Chieftaincy Declaration, legal advice and documents relating to the proposed installation.

The petitioners further urged the Assembly to investigate the alleged jurisdictional role played by the Ibeju-Lekki Chieftaincy Committee and the status of those who participated as kingmakers.

They warned that proceeding with the installation while the legal dispute remained pending could create tension in Ise Kingdom and potentially make any subsequent court judgment difficult to implement.

“The time to prevent a crisis is before the installation, not after it,” the petitioners stated, urging the Assembly to act before the proposed installation becomes an irreversible action.

They appealed to the House to refer the matter to the appropriate committee for urgent investigation and take measures necessary to protect the judicial process and prevent a possible breach of peace in the community.