The Federal Government of Nigeria has filed a lawsuit against MTN Nigeria Communications Plc and three of its senior executives over allegations of withholding information requested by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
The case, filed before the Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja, names MTN’s Managing Director and CEO, Karl Toriola; Chief Corporate Services Officer, Tobechukwu Okigbo; and General Manager of Regulatory Affairs, Ikenna Ikeme as co-defendants.
According to court documents, the FCCPC accused MTN and its executives of failing to provide documents requested in a lawful summons issued on May 17, 2024. The request, later extended on June 5, 2024, sought critical information for an ongoing inquiry. The refusal to comply allegedly violated Sections 33(3) and 111(1) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA), 2018.
When the case was mentioned before Justice H.J. Yilwa on Monday, the defendants were absent in court. This prompted the judge to question FCCPC’s lawyer, Chizenum Nsitem, about their whereabouts.
Nsitem informed the court that while the case had been scheduled for arraignment, he had only recently been briefed and needed time to review the case file.
Justice Yilwa subsequently adjourned the case until May 28, 2025, for arraignment.
