The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, will on May 28 arraign in court Karl Toriola, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria Communications Plc.
Toriola, along with the company and other top executives, is set to face charges for failing to produce documents required by the commission in compliance with a lawful summons, in violation of the FCCPC Act.
Joining Toriola in court will be Tobechukwu Okigbo, MTN’s Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, and Ikenna Ikeme, General Manager of Regulatory Affairs. The three suspects, along with MTN Nigeria, are listed as the accused in a two-count charge filed by the commission.
The case, filed in July 2024, will be heard by Justice H.J. Yilwa of the Federal High Court in Abuja. At a recent hearing, FCCPC’s lawyer, Chizenum Nsitem, informed the court that he had just been briefed about the case and needed more time to review the files. Justice Yilwa adjourned the matter until May 28 for the official arraignment.
In a separate legal matter, MTN Nigeria and its executives are also facing charges filed by the Nigerian Copyright Commission.
The commission accuses the telecom giant of using the musical works of artist Maleke Moye as “caller ring back tunes” without his consent between 2010 and 2017. The alleged copyright infringement involves a series of Moye’s works, including “911,” “Minimini-Wana Wana,” and “Stop Racism.”
The NCC has charged MTN and its officers, including Toriola, alongside Fun Mobile Ltd, for unauthorized use and distribution of the artist’s copyrighted material. The case will be heard on May 15.
NAN
