Just In: New Twist as NCC Files Lawsuit Against MTN, Others in Court, Gives Reason
- The federal government, through its agency, NCC, has filed criminal charges against the telecom giant MTN
- In suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/111/2024 at the federal high court in Abuja, the NCC filed criminal charges against MTN, Fun Mobile Ltd., and Yahaya Maibe
- The NCC's allegation bothers alleged copyright infringement of using Maleke Idowu Moye's musical works without permission
FCT, Abuja - MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd. and four others face criminal accusations from the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) over an alleged copyright infringement.
The telecom giant was dragged before the Federal High Court in Abuja in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/111/2024, which journalists obtained on Monday, March 25.
Source: Twitter
FG vs MTN: List of companies in court
Karl Toriola, the CEO of MTN Nigeria, Nkeakam Abhulimen, Fun Mobile Ltd., and Yahaya Maibe are the other four defendants in the case, Daily Nigerian reported.
The NCC filed a three-count accusation alleging that the defendants violated Maleke Idowu Moye's musical works without his permission or agreement between 2010 and 2017 by "offering for sale, selling, and trading for business."
The Commission claimed that the defendants had utilized Maleke's sound recordings and musical compositions with surviving copyright as Caller Ring Back Tunes without the artist's consent.
The artist was accused of infringing on the rights to certain sound recordings and musical works, including 911, Minimini-Wana Wana, Stop Racism, Ewole, 911 instrumental, Radio, Low Waist, and No Bother.
Why FG took MTN to court
Additionally, it was claimed that the defendants violated the artist's rights by distributing the musical pieces to their subscribers without permission.
The defendants were accused in the third count of possessing the artist's sound recordings and musical compositions save for personal or household use.
The NCC claims that the claimed offences violate and are subject to penalties under the Copyright Act, Cap. C28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, sections 20 (2) (a) (b) and (c).
No judge has been assigned to the case, and no mentioned date has been set.
Insecurity: Shehu Sani blasts MTN, Glo, and others
Legit.ng earlier reported that former Kaduna senator and human rights activist Shehu Sani criticized the NCC and the telecom companies in Nigeria, including MTN, Glo and Airtel.
The former lawmaker berated the telecom giants and their regular to support the security agencies in arresting kidnappers since phone numbers are linked to the NIN.
Former president Muhammadu Buhari's administration compelled Nigerians to link their phone numbers with the NIN to fish out terrorists and kidnappers, but insecurity did not see an improvement.
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Source: Legit.ng
