Because MTN Nigeria Communications Plc and three of its senior officers allegedly failed to provide information that the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) required, the Federal Government has filed a lawsuit against them.
Managing Director and CEO Karl Toriola, Chief Corporate Services Officer Tobechukwu Okigbo, and General Manager, Regulatory Affairs Ikenna Ikeme are among those indicted alongside MTN in the criminal proceedings before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The telecom company and its officials are accused of violating the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA), 2018 by allegedly failing to comply with a legitimate order to submit documents, as stated in the two-count accusation, designated FHC/ABJ/CR/354/2024.
The FCCPC filed the charge on behalf of the Federal Government, stating: “That on or around June 18, 2024, at Plot 2784, Shehu Shagari Way, Maitama, Abuja, you, MTN Nigeria Communications PLC, Mr. Karl Olutokun Toriola (M), Mr. Tobechukwu Okigbo (M), and Mr. Ikenna Ikeme (M) 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 offense against and punishable under Section 33 (3) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018.”
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“That on or around June 18, 2024, at Plot 2784, Shehu Shagari Way, Maitama, Abuja, you, MTN Nigeria Communications PLC, Mr. Karl Olutokun Toriola (M), Mr. Tobechukwu Okigbo (M), and Mr. Ikenna Ikeme (M) 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 was further extended by a letter dated June 5, 2024, and thereby committed an offense against 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.
The defendants were not present when the case was presented to Justice H.J. Yilwa on Monday.
In response, Chizenum Nsitem, the attorney for the FCCPC, told the court that although though the arraignment of the defendants was set, he had just received a briefing and needed some time to go over the case file.
After upon, Justice Yilwa postponed the case to May 28 in order to arraign the defendant.
