NCC intervenes in MTN star prize squabble

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has intervened in the MTN star prize squabble reportedly between two subscribers on the network in its recent 7th Yello Season promotion.

The intervention facilitated through its Consumer Affairs Bureau (CAB) according to the Head, Public Affairs at the commission, Mr. Dave Imoke was to ensure that the rightful winner was presented with the right prize.

The Consumer Affairs Bureau of NCC was established in September 2001, to inform, educate and protect all the consumers of telecommunications services in the country.

This intervention se to the complaint received by NCC from Mrs Martha Ugi that her son Mr. Isaac Dike, was the rightful winner of the star prize which hitherto was presented to one Chinenye Onyema,who GSM operator, MTN, claimed had the same winning number as Dike’s, the genuine winner, at the 7th draw of the promo earlier held in Port Harcourt.

Mrs Ugi brought her complain to NCC after several visits to MTN in order to get the claim rectified.

Hence, NCC through CAB took up the complaint after due investigations to ensure that the right prize winner got the appropriate prize.

NCC intervention saw the redemption of the prize on Tuesday, February 14, as the new Kia Optima car was presented to Mr. Dike.

Highlighting NCC input in settling the squabble, Mr. Imoke, explained that the Commission promptly instituted an inquiry into the matter which established that the complainant was the owner of the winning number 08065434897.

The complainant also produced a newspaper report with his number as the wining number and another newspaper report of the presentation of the star prize to someone else in Port Harcourt.

NCC, he also said, came to the conclusion that the error of handing over the star prize to someone else other than the genuine winner was made by MTN and therefore directed the teleco to give the complainant, the appropriate star prize won by him.

In consideration of NCC’s directive, MTN’s General Manager, Northern Region, Mr. Mike Ikpoki, on Tuesday, presented Dike with a new Kia Optima car on behalf of the company at its Abuja office in the presence of a delegation of the commission led by an Executive Commissioner, Licensing and Consumer Affairs, Dr. Bahir Gwandu.

Reacting after receiving the prize, Mr. Dike expressed gratitude to NCC for the intervention, which made it possible for him to get his due as the star prize winner.