On Tuesday, the Federal High Court in Lagos barred MTN
Nigeria Communications Limited from moving any funds abroad it may have in
Nigerian banks until the hearing of its suit challenging the N1.4 trillion fine
imposed on it by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The Federal Government brought a motion to restrain the 21
commercial banks, in which MTN has funds, from releasing money to the
telecommunications giant.
“The FG seeks an order of Mareva injunction [a court order
which requests assets be frozen] restraining the aforementioned banks from
releasing, making a sale, transferring, or paying any of the monies maintained
by the plaintiff MTN,” the motion read in part.
In October, the telecommunications giant was originally hit
with a massive $5.2 billion fine by the NCC for failing to disconnect
unregistered subscribers. This failure
was in direct violation of regulations put in place by the NCC in order to
combat the uptick in kidnappings and the Boko Haram insurgency, both of which
often involve the usage of cell phones.
The fine was eventually reduced to $3.9 billion in
December. However, MTN is suing the NCC
and the Attorney General of Nigeria, Abubakar Malami, contending that as a
regulatory body the NCC does not have the right to assume all the functions of
the state.
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