LAGOS, NIGERIA – September 26, 2026 – The League of Online Publishers and Editors (LOPE) has elected a new five-member executive, with Mrs. Favour Benson emerging as Chairman to lead the association into a new phase.

The election was held on September 4, 2026, at the LOPE General Meeting, where all five candidates emerged unopposed and were subsequently endorsed by members of the association.

Other members of the new executive include the General-Secretary, Maureen Obire; Financial Secretary, Lillian Azuh; Treasurer, Angela Davies; and Welfare Officer/Provost, Shammah Ogbodo.

The newly elected officers were subsequently sworn into office by the association’s lawyer, Barrister Olakunle Afolabi, who also signed and sealed the relevant documents.

In her inaugural address, Benson thanked LOPE members for the confidence reposed in the new leadership and pledged to build on the experience and lessons of LOPE’s first tenure.

The new LOPE Chairman identified transparency, accountability, active participation and stronger commitment among members as priorities of the new administration.

In her words, “This is a responsibility we accept with humility and strong commitment to the growth of Nigeria’s digital media industry.

“We will work with our members and stakeholders to promote professionalism, collaboration, innovation and sustainable development across the sector,” Benson said.

The Favour Benson-led administration is also expected to review relevant provisions of LOPE constitution and introduce professional media training and other capacity-building initiatives for members of the association.

Members at the meeting described the new administration as “LOPE’s second lap” and called for greater unity, effective communication, tolerance and collective support in advancing the objectives of the association.

While reaffirming her commitment to integrity and democratic leadership, Benson urged members to take greater responsibility for the growth and success of the association.

ABOUT LOPE:

The League of Online Publishers and Editors(LOPE) is a national association of digital media professionals, publishers and editors in Nigeria, providing a platform for collaboration, advocacy, professional development, networking and the promotion of responsible digital journalism.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has cleared Fidelity Bank Plc of liability in a fundamental rights case involving Michael Kundera, overturning an earlier judgment of the Federal Capital Territory High Court.

A three-member panel led by Justice Adebukola Banjoko delivered the judgment on 14 September 2026, allowing Fidelity Bank’s appeal and overturning the lower court’s finding of liability against the bank.

The case originated from suit number CV/6258/23, filed by Michael Kundera to enforce his fundamental rights following his arrest and detention between 15 and 16 May 2023. He alleged that he was detained without being charged before a court or granted administrative bail.

The respondents in the case included the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, former EFCC Chairman Abdulrasheed Bawa, an EFCC officer identified as Calistus, and Fidelity Bank Plc.

In its judgment delivered in April 2024, the FCT High Court, presided over by Justice Peter Kekemeke, declared Michael Kundera’s arrest and detention unlawful and a violation of his fundamental rights. The court ordered the respondents, jointly or severally, to pay him ₦10 million for the violation and an additional ₦2 million as costs of the action.

The trial judge also observed that Michael Kundera, who was reported to be 75 years old at the time, should not have been subjected to such treatment. The court further held that continued invitations and threats against him in relation to a matter that had already been decided exceeded the lawful bounds of the respondents.

Through his counsel, O. Orji, Michael Kundera had linked the dispute to a parcel of land at the Foreign Affairs Quarters, which he claimed lawfully belonged to him. He also maintained that the matter was already pending before the Court of Appeal in suit number CA/ABJ/CV/533/2021. Among other reliefs, he sought declarations that his arrest and detention violated rights guaranteed under Sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution, an order restraining further invitations or threats of arrest, and ₦500 million in exemplary or aggravated damages.

READ ALSO: HerFidelity: Why the Right Community Could Be a Woman’s Greatest Advantage

Fidelity Bank challenged the High Court’s decision, arguing that there was no credible evidence connecting the bank to Michael Kundera’s arrest, detention or the alleged infringement of his constitutional rights.

The bank explained that its involvement was limited to a petition submitted to the EFCC concerning allegations of criminal conduct by legal entities that had obtained a ₦100 million loan procurement order for a specific project but allegedly diverted the funds for personal use. It maintained that Michael Kundera was not the subject of the petition and that there was therefore no basis for holding the bank responsible for the alleged violation of his rights.

Fidelity Bank consequently asked the appellate court to determine whether the trial judge had properly exercised his discretion in granting reliefs against the bank without sufficient material evidence establishing its involvement or liability.

The Court of Appeal upheld the bank’s position. The panel found that there was no credible evidence before the trial court establishing that Fidelity Bank had infringed Michael Kundera’s fundamental rights. It also held that he had failed to discharge the burden of proof required to establish wrongdoing by the bank and justify the reliefs granted against it.

The appellate court’s decision consequently reversed the finding of liability against Fidelity Bank and cleared the bank of responsibility for the alleged infringement.

For generations, women have been encouraged to work harder, save more and persevere. Yet personal determination, while essential, cannot overcome every barrier. Progress happens faster when ambition is supported by access to finance, practical knowledge, trusted networks and opportunities for growth.

Across Nigeria, women are building businesses, advancing careers, supporting families and creating employment. Their contributions are visible in boardrooms, markets, offices, factories and communities. However, many still face limited access to capital, business guidance and professional networks that could help them move from potential to sustained success.

This reality explains the growing appeal of communities designed specifically to help women thrive. Women increasingly want financial relationships that understand their ambitions, respond to their realities and support their development beyond traditional banking transactions.

HerFidelity, the women focused proposition from Fidelity Bank, reflects this changing expectation. It brings together financial services, business education, enterprise support, networking and lifestyle engagement within a community created for women at different stages of their personal, professional and entrepreneurial journeys.

More Than Access to Finance

Money matters, but access to finance is only one part of the journey. Sustainable progress also requires knowledge, confidence, meaningful relationships and personal wellbeing.

HerFidelity addresses these interconnected needs through four focus areas, financial support, business education and capacity building, entrepreneurship support, and health and wellness.

Through FundHer, eligible women led businesses can access financing for working capital, asset acquisition and business expansion, subject to the applicable terms and requirements. This support can help entrepreneurs strengthen their operations, pursue new opportunities and position their businesses for sustainable growth.

However, capital achieves greater impact when women also have the knowledge to deploy it effectively. HerFidelity therefore connects women to training, mentorship and networking opportunities that can strengthen their financial and business decisions.

These opportunities can be just as valuable as funding. The right mentor can provide clarity during a difficult business decision. A trusted network can create access to customers, partners and new markets. Practical knowledge can help an entrepreneur avoid costly mistakes and build with greater confidence.

The inclusion of health and wellness also reflects a more complete understanding of success. Women frequently balance demanding professional, business and family responsibilities. Supporting their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing is therefore important to building sustainable achievement.

The Power of Community

The most compelling idea behind HerFidelity is simple. Women make greater progress when they have the right support around them.

A business owner may need financing today and mentorship tomorrow. A young professional may begin by learning how to manage money and later require a network to support her entrepreneurial ambitions. An experienced executive may need a platform through which she can share knowledge, mentor others and create opportunities for the next generation.

A strong community connects these women and their experiences. It allows knowledge to circulate, relationships to grow and opportunities to reach more people. One womans progress can inspire another woman, strengthen a family and create wider economic value.

This is how a banking proposition can become something more meaningful. It can become a platform through which women access opportunities, develop confidence and support one another.

A Smarter Choice for Women

For Nigerian women, joining HerFidelity is about more than choosing a financial product. It is about entering a community designed to recognise their goals and provide relevant support throughout their journey.

Whether the objective is to expand a business, improve financial confidence, develop new capabilities or form meaningful professional relationships, HerFidelity offers a platform for taking the next step.

The financial institutions that will matter most in the future are those that help customers translate money into meaningful progress. For women, that means access to finance supported by knowledge, networks, wellbeing and a community that understands their aspirations.

HerFidelity represents that broader vision. It recognises women as entrepreneurs, professionals, leaders and contributors to national development. It also acknowledges that when women receive the right support, the benefits extend to businesses, families and communities.

For women ready to build, learn, connect and grow, HerFidelity offers more than banking. It offers a community where ambition can find opportunity and where individual progress can become shared prosperity.