By ….Rights Campaigner Sues Telecoms Over Phone Line Barring
A rights campaigner, Mr. Olukoya Ogungbeje, has filed a suit before the Federal High Court in Lagos against telecommunications companies over the recent barring of mobile phone lines. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), its CEO Dr. Aminu Mada, and MTN Nigeria Communications Plc have been named as respondents in the suit, along with Airtel Networks Nigeria Ltd, Globacom Ltd, and Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Ltd. (EMTS 9Mobile).
In his affidavit, Ogungbeje stated that the respondents had threatened to deactivate or bar the phone lines of Nigerians whose mobile lines were not linked to their National Identification Number (NIN). In response to this, he had sought and obtained a court order on February 22, restraining the respondents from barring or deactivating any mobile lines pending the determination of the suit.
However, Ogungbeje claims that on February 28, his own phone lines, along with those of many other Nigerians, were deactivated by the respondents, in violation of the existing court order.
Ogungbeje is seeking a declaration that the actions of the respondents in barring and deactivating the phone lines, despite the court order, are wrongful and illegal. He also seeks a declaration that the respondents, as entities created by law, are obligated to comply with judicial rulings.
The applicant is requesting that the court set aside the directives that restricted phone lines and that the respondents be ordered to immediately unlock and unrestrict the affected lines.
Additionally, Ogungbeje is seeking N10 billion in exemplary damages from the telecom companies for the unlawful restrictions imposed on Nigerian citizens’ phone lines. He is also requesting a perpetual injunction to prevent the respondents from taking further action against the affected citizens regarding the case.
No date has been set for the hearing of the suit.
