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The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, has scheduled the arraignment of Karl Toriola, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, for May 28.
Toriola, alongside MTN Nigeria Communications Plc and other senior executives, is facing charges over alleged failure to provide documents and information requested by the FCCPC in compliance with a lawful summons. This is said to be in violation of the FCCPC Act.
The arraignment, set to take place before Justice H.J. Yilwa of the Federal High Court in Abuja, will also include MTN’s Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, Tobechukwu Okigbo, and General Manager for Regulatory Affairs, Ikenna Ikeme.
According to court records, the case, marked as FHC/ABJ/CR/354/2024, lists MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, Toriola, Okigbo, and Ikeme as the first to fourth defendants. The charges, comprising two counts, were filed on July 22, 2024, by a legal team led by Akoji Achimugu.
During the last court session, the accused were absent. When asked about their whereabouts, FCCPC’s lawyer, Chizenum Nsitem, informed the court that he had recently been assigned the case and required additional time to review the details. Consequently, Justice Yilwa adjourned the case to May 28 for the arraignment.
In a related development, the Nigerian Copyright Commission, NCC, has also filed charges against MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd, CEO Karl Toriola, and other executives over alleged copyright violations. The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/111/2024, is currently before Justice Inyang Ekwo.
The NCC alleges that between 2010 and 2017, MTN and its executives, along with telecommunications service provider Fun Mobile Ltd and its CEO, Yahaya Maibe, infringed on the copyrighted musical works of Nigerian artist Maleke Moye.
The commission claims that MTN and Fun Mobile sold and distributed Maleke’s songs as caller ringback tunes without his consent or authorization. The musical works allegedly infringed upon include tracks such as 911, Minimini-Wana Wana, Stop Racism, Ewole, 911 instrumental, Radio, Low Waist, and No Bother.
The accused are also alleged to have illegally possessed and distributed Maleke’s copyrighted works to MTN subscribers, violating his intellectual property rights. The charges are based on provisions of Section 20 (2) (a), (b), and (c) of the Copyright Act, Cap. C28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Justice Ekwo had previously adjourned the case to May 15, following an intervention by the Attorney-General of the Federation, who expressed interest in taking over the matter.
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