Court adjourns MTN Nigeria hearing to allow settlement

The MTN Group has revealed that the Federal High Court, located in Lagos Nigeria, has adjourned the hearing of the case between MTN Nigeria and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) until 18 March, 2016.
According to a statement issued by MTN, it was revealed that the judge had adjourned the matter in order to enable the parties to try and settle the matter. However, if the parties are unable to reach a settlement, both MTN and the NCC will then proceed with the hearing on the above mentioned date.
Back in October 2015 the NCC had fined the mobile giant for failing to deactivate 5.1 million pre-registered subscriber identification module (SIM) lines discovered on its network.

In mid-January 2016 Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, had urged telecommunications companies – operating within Nigeria – to adhere strictly to rules and guidelines set out by the Nigerian Communications Commission… Especially when it came to new SIM Card registrations within the country.
Buhari said there is a need for the telecommunication companies to place the security needs of the country above their desires for huge profits.
“The registration of all mobile phone users without exception will help the security agencies to pre-empt terrorist attacks, as a result all the telecommunication companies operating in Nigeria must adhere to the rules and guidelines of the Nigerian Communications Commission in this regard,” he said.
He added that the war against terrorism can only be won with collective effort and a commitment by all stakeholders to work in unison to halt the scourge.