A Nigerian court has approved the request of MTN Nigeria for an out-of-court settlement of its suit against the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) over the fine the regulator slammed on it for breaching regulations.
Lead counsel to MTN Nigeria Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) told the Presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, that MTN is opting for an out-of-court settlement and would like to request for 60 days to settle the matter. Responding, counsel to the NCC, Yusuf Alli, (SAN), said the court’s discretion was limited to the rules of court which allows for just 21 days to file and serve written addresses. He argued that MTN was only asking for 60 days as a way of slowing down the case.
He asked the court to only approve MTN’s application if it is sure it is being made in good faith.
Commenting on MTN’s request, Counsel to the Attorney General of the Federation, Oladipo Opeseyi (SAN), expressed reservations which according to him were based on MTN’s inconsistency regarding matters related to the fine.
He said: “We are craving the indulgence of the court to breach the time stated by the plaintiff, the reason being that this is a matter of national interest and it now within the domain of the world press and so, the institution of the judiciary is now on world press. We are not by any means against settlement; it must be based in good faith.”
“As it is my lord, we can’t see good faith. There was a proposed settlement in which the fine was brought down from N1.04 trillion to N780 billion.”
In his ruling, the judge asked both parties to resolve the matter and to bring their mutually agreed upon decision before the court on March 18.
