The National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers
(NATCOM) has dragged both the MTN Nigeria Communications Limited (MTN) and the
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to a Federal High Court in
Ikoyi-Lagos, for alleged neglect and “untold injuries” to Nigerian subscribers,
reports ITRealms.
NATCOM also wants the court
to declare the N1.4trn fine imposed on the MTN as illegal, unconstitutional,
null and void.
Reacting to the fine slammed on MTN by NCC, NATCOMS
national president, Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo made this disclosure to ITRealms,
saying that they have instituted a case at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos
on Friday, November 6, 2015 on suit number FHC / L / CS / 1663 / 2015 on the estimated
N1 trillion fine against MTN.
NATCOMS, ITRealms gathered wants the Court to stop NCC
from implementing the recent fine on MTN, arguing that they failed in the
statutory duties to establish, maintain and conduct monthly updates of the
Central Database from 2011 till 2015.
NCC, NATCOMS president said, failed to efficiently
maintain the Central Database inspite of different exercises conducted in that
regard and huge sums of monies deployed thereto.
According to NATCOMS, NCC cannot unilaterally impose and or
exert any fine on MTN without securing a conviction of the latter before a competent
court of jurisdiction, hence NCC cannot be a Judge in its own case for the
establishment, maintenance and conducting updates on Central Database as
relating to registration of telephone subscribers.
They also want the court to declare that NCC acted ultra
vires to the provisions of the registration of telephone subscribers regulations,
2011 by failing to establish, maintain and conduct updates on same, yet imposing
fines on MTN.
NATCOMS, therefore demand an order of perpetual
injunction restraining NCC from further imposing or exerting any fine in
respect of registration of telephone subscribers on MTN.
Just as they group wanted court to stop MTN from paying
any fine (s) to NCC at all on the registration of telephone subscribers.
They insisted that NCC should be ordered to commission,
establish and conduct monthly updates on the Central database; stressing that by
mandating NCC to conduct rigorous campaign for applicants and other telephone
subscribers to update their particulars with the respondents;
Further, NATCOMS said NCC be mandated to publish
newspaper apologies to the applicants and other telephone subscribers for the
lack of establishment, maintenance and conducting updates on the Central
Database.
In addition for NCC to give account of all the fines it
had imposed on telecoms operators and pay applicants as well as other telephone
subscribers as compensation.
+Remmy Nweke (ITRealms)
ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!
Pix: Deolu Ogunbanjo, courtesy: ChannelsTV
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