FCCPC to Arraign MTN CEO & Others on May 28 – What’s Going Down?
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) is set to drag MTN Nigeria’s CEO, Karl Toriola, and some top execs to court on May 28. What’s the deal? Allegedly, they failed to hand over some important documents and info as required by the commission. That’s a big no-no under the FCCPC Act.
Besides Toriola, MTN’s Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, Tobechukwu Okigbo, and General Manager of Regulatory Affairs, Ikenna Ikeme, are also caught up in this. They’ll be appearing before Justice H.J. Yilwa at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The charge, tagged FHC/ABJ/CR/354/2024, was filed by a legal team led by Akoji Achimugu. But guess what? When the case was called, none of the suspects showed up! That led to a rescheduling, with the judge setting May 28 as the new date for their arraignment.
This isn’t the only storm brewing for the telecom giant. In another courtroom, the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has also charged MTN Nigeria and its CEO with copyright infringement. The case, filed on March 20 under FHC/ABJ/CR/111/2024, is currently in Justice Inyang Ekwo’s court.
The charges? Between 2010 and 2017, MTN allegedly sold and distributed popular Nigerian artist Maleke Moye’s music as caller ringback tunes without his permission! We’re talking about hits like 911, Minimini-Wana Wana, Stop Racism, Ewole, and more. If this turns out to be true, it would be a major violation of the Copyright Act.
Justice Ekwo had earlier adjourned the copyright case to May 15, while the FCCPC case will be back in court on May 28. Meanwhile, the Attorney-General of the Federation has shown interest in taking over the copyright battle.
