Pillar One — Technology, Regulatory & Digital Law
Technology, Regulatory and Digital Law
Marturion Legal advises businesses, startups, fintech operators, investors and regulated entities on the legal risks, compliance obligations and commercial opportunities arising from technology-driven business models in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s regulatory environment for technology is moving fast. From the SEC’s digital assets framework to NITDA’s data protection regulations, from CBN fintech licensing to the emerging legislative debate on artificial intelligence governance, the legal exposure for technology businesses is substantial and often underestimated. Marturion Legal exists to close that gap.
What We Advise On
Digital Assets and Cryptocurrency Regulation
Nigeria has one of the highest rates of cryptocurrency adoption in the world, yet the regulatory picture remains complex and contested. We advise on SEC virtual asset service provider (VASP) licensing, CBN digital currency frameworks, AML/CFT compliance for crypto businesses, token classification and exchange structuring.
- VASP licensing and SEC compliance
- Token and asset classification opinions
- Exchange and custody structuring
- Regulatory risk assessment for DeFi and Web3 businesses
- Cross-border digital asset transaction structuring
Data Protection and Privacy Compliance
The Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 (NDPA) and its implementing regulations impose serious obligations on data controllers and processors. We help businesses understand what data they hold, how they process it, and how to build compliance programmes that survive regulatory scrutiny.
- NDPA compliance audits and gap analysis
- Privacy policy and cookie policy drafting
- Data processing agreements and DPA reviews
- NDPC registration and filing obligations
- Cross-border data transfer frameworks
- Data breach response and notification advice
Fintech Advisory and Licensing
Fintech in Nigeria operates across multiple regulatory regimes simultaneously: CBN, SEC, FCCPC, NITDA, NCC, and in some cases NAICOM. We advise fintech founders, operators, and investors on licensing strategy, regulatory engagement, product structuring and ongoing compliance management.
- CBN payment service licensing (PSB, PSSP, switching, MMO)
- SEC capital market operator registration
- Buy Now Pay Later and lending product structuring
- AgriTech and InsurTech regulatory positioning
- Investor due diligence and regulatory risk opinions
AI Governance and Emerging Technology Risk
AI is moving faster than legislation. But the legal risks around algorithmic decision-making, automated employment processes, AI-generated content and liability for autonomous systems are already present in Nigerian law, even before specific AI regulation arrives. We help businesses identify and manage that exposure now.
- AI risk assessment and governance frameworks
- Automated decision-making and NDPA compliance
- AI product terms of use and liability structuring
- IP ownership in AI-generated works
- Employment law implications of AI in the workplace
Technology Contracts and Commercial Agreements
Technology businesses live and die by their contracts. We draft and negotiate the commercial agreements that govern how technology is built, licensed, sold and supported, with particular attention to intellectual property ownership, liability exposure, SLA obligations and exit rights.
- SaaS and software licensing agreements
- Technology services and outsourcing contracts
- API and platform partnership terms
- Escrow and source code protection arrangements
- White-labelling and reseller agreements
Intellectual Property for Technology Businesses
For technology companies, intellectual property is often the most valuable asset on the balance sheet. We advise on IP ownership structuring from the earliest stage, ensuring that founders, employers and investors each hold what they should hold, and that the business is protected against infringement and misappropriation.
- IP ownership and assignment structuring for tech startups
- Trade mark registration and brand protection in Nigeria
- Copyright in software, databases and digital content
- Domain name disputes and cybersquatting actions
- Open source licence compliance
Who We Work With
Our technology and digital law practice serves a focused range of clients whose legal needs cut across regulation, commercial risk and intellectual property.
- Fintech founders and operators navigating CBN, SEC and FCCPC requirements
- Digital asset businesses seeking regulatory clarity and licensing advice
- Technology startups structuring their IP, employment and commercial agreements correctly from the outset
- Established businesses undergoing digital transformation and managing the data protection and technology contract risk that comes with it
- Investors and VCs conducting due diligence on Nigerian technology companies
- International technology businesses entering the Nigerian market and requiring a regulatory entry assessment
Our Approach
Technology law in Nigeria is an emerging field and most practitioners have not kept pace with how quickly the regulatory environment is moving. Marturion Legal publishes regularly on digital assets regulation, data protection enforcement, and the legal implications of new technology for Nigerian businesses. That publishing record reflects how we work internally: by staying close to the regulatory horizon, reading the developments before they become crises, and advising clients with specificity rather than caution.
We do not treat technology matters as a side offering attached to a general practice. It is a primary practice area for this firm, and we invest in it accordingly.