Legal Battle Brewing: Lagos Activist Pursues N10bn Claim Against Telecoms Over NIN
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and telecommunication companies operating in Nigeria have been challenged in court by Lagos-based activist and lawyer Olukoya Ogungbeje.
Ogungbeje joined Dr. Aminu Mada, the Chief Executive Officer of NCC, as well as MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, Airtel Networks Nigeria Ltd., Globacom Ltd., and Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Ltd. (EMTS 9 Mobile).
To compensate Nigerians for their unlawful restrictions on phone lines, he asked the court for N10 billion in exemplary damages.
The applicant alleges in his affidavit that the respondents threatened to deactivate or bar the phone lines of Nigerians without National Identification Numbers (NINs).
As a result of this threat, Ogungbeje went to court on Feb. 22, obtaining a court order restraining the respondents from barring or deactivating Nigerian phone lines, pending the outcome of the lawsuit.
In defiance of the court order, the respondents blocked the applicant’s mobile phone lines and those of many Nigerians on Feb. 28.
Consequently, the applicant now seeks a declaration that the respondents’ action in barring and deactivating Nigerian lines, despite an existing court order, is wrongful and illegal.
As a creation of law, the respondents are subject to the court of law’s judicial powers and are obligated to obey them.
As a result, he seeks an order setting aside all directives restricting Nigerians’ phone lines.
Additionally, the applicant wants the respondents to immediately unlock and unrestrict the phone lines of Nigerians affected by the ban.
As exemplary damages, he seeks N10 billion from the telecom companies for restricting Nigerians’ phone lines.
Furthermore, the applicant seeks a perpetual injunction restraining the responders from taking any further action against such affected citizens.
A date has not been set for the hearing of the new suit. (NAN)
