The Federal Government has taken mobile telecommunications giant MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, alongside two of its senior officials, to court over an alleged failure to provide requested documents to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
MTN’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO), Karl Toriola; Chief Corporate Services Officer, Tobechukwu Okigbo; and General Manager of Regulatory Affairs, Ikenna Ikeme, are facing criminal charges before the Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja.
The telecom company and its three senior executives have been accused in a two-count charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/354/2024, of withholding documents requested by the FCCPC. This alleged act is said to violate provisions under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act.
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The charge, filed in the name of the Federal Government by the FCCPC, reads:
That you, MTN Nigeria Communications PLC, Mr. Karl Olutokun Toriola (M), Mr. Tobechukwu Okigbo (M) and Mr. Ikenna ikeme (M) on or about the 18th day of June, 2024 at Plot 2784, Shehu Shagari Way, Maitama, Abuja, without sufficient cause, failed to produce documents and or information which you were required to produce, in compliance with a lawful summons and request to produce, dated May 17, 2024, which compliance with same was further extended by a letter dated June 5, 2024 and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 33 (3) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018.
That you, MTN Nigeria Communications PLC, Mr. Karl Olutokun Toriola (M). Mr. Tobechukwu Okigbo (M) and Mr. ikenna ikeme (M) on or about the 18 day of June. 2024 at Plot 2784, Shehu Shagari Way, Maitama, Abuja, in furtherance, and continuation of extant refusal to produce documents and supply information required by the commission (FCCPC) under statutory notice and demand did impede and obstruct the FCCPC’s ongoing limited initial inquiry and possible prospective investigation by refusing to produce and supply documents and or information in compliance with a lawful summons and request to produce, dated May 17, 2024, which compliance with same was further extended by a letter dated June 5, 2024 and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 111 (1) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018, and punishable under Section 111 (2) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018.
When the case was mentioned before Justice H.J. Yilwa on Monday, the defendant Wer absent in court.
This development promoted Justice Yilwa to ask FCCPC’s lawyer, Chizenum Nsitem, about the defendants’s whereabouts.
Responding, Nsitem told the court that, although the case was scheduled for the arraignment of the defendants, he was just briefed about the case.
He requested for time to study the case file and take the necessary steps.
Justice Yilwa adjourned till May 28 for arraignment.
