The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out the criminal case filed by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) against MTN Nigeria Communications Plc and some of its top executives.
Justice Hauwa Yilwa made the ruling on Thursday after the FCCPC, through its counsel, I. O. Aiaba, applied to withdraw the charges. Aiaba informed the court that a notice of withdrawal had been filed on September 8, 2025, pursuant to Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.
The lawyer adopted the notice and urged the court to strike out the case. No legal representative appeared for MTN or its executives, and the defendants were also absent from court. Consequently, Justice Yilwa granted the prosecution’s request and struck out the matter.
The defendants in the case included MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Karl Toriola, the company’s Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, Mr. Tobechukwu Okigbo, and General Manager of Regulatory Affairs, Mr. Ikenna Ikeme. They were accused of failing to provide documents and information requested by the FCCPC, allegedly in violation of lawful summons issued by the commission.
According to court records, the defendants were charged with failing, without sufficient cause, to produce required documents and information in compliance with a lawful summons dated May 17, 2024. The FCCPC said the deadline for compliance had been extended by a letter dated June 5, 2024, yet the documents were not produced.
The charges were filed under Sections 33(3) and 111(1) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018, which make it an offence to disobey lawful directives from the commission.
At an earlier hearing, the FCCPC’s lawyer, Nsitem Chizenum, had accused MTN’s top executives of evading service of court documents, prompting the commission to involve the Nigeria Police Force to ensure compliance. Despite several adjournments, the defendants failed to appear in court.
With the commission’s decision to withdraw the case, the proceedings have now been formally terminated.
