TELECOMS COMPANY, MTN SEEKS OUT OF COURT SETTLEMENT FOR N1.O4 TRILLION FINE

Telecommunications company, MTN has said it is considering out of court settlement with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) over the fine of 1.04 trillion naira imposed on it for not disconnecting unregistered subscribers after a given deadline.
At the resumed hearing of the suit filed by MTN challenging the fine, MTN's lawyer, Wole Olanipekun (SAN) pleaded with the Presiding Judge, Justice Mohammed Idris to give the parties 60 days to explore out of court settlement.

However, the lawyer for the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Dipo Okpeseyi (SAN) informed the Judge that the parties are finding it difficult to settle out of court. The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice was joined in the suit filed by MTN as 2nd defendant.

Okpeseyi argued that concessions have been made in the past and MTN didnot pay up. The court he said should see it that all court papers in the matter had been properly filed and served and that the case is still ongoing.

The counsel for NCC, Mr. Yusuf Alli (SAN) argued that the maximum period allowed by the court rules was 21 days for parties to file and serve written addresses.

After hearing from counsels for MTN and the defendants, Justice Mohammed  Idris adjourned the case till March 18th for hearing of the case or report of settlement out of court.