NCC Schedules Hearing With MTN Despite Out-Of-Court Settlement, Lawyer to Stop the Hearing

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, in Case No. FHC/ABJ/CR/379/2015, has issued a Hearing Notice filed by the National Copyright Commission (NCC) against MTN Communications Ltd and Felix, Igelige and Associates, lawyers of musician Baba 2010.

The Hearing Notice issued on 14th January, 2016, states that the criminal case against Nigeria's largest telecommunications provider, is scheduled to be heard 9am on Wednesday, January 20, 2016, at the
Federal High Court in Abuja.

Photo credit: NLIPW

It should be recalled that the parties had settled out of court few months after NCC commenced criminal charges against MTN following MTN's alleged infringement of copyright in songs belonging to Musician Baba 2010. The musician had filed a civil suit against MTN in a letter dated August 6 and signed by Barr. Rockson. A Igelige of Felix, Igelige & Associates, lawyers of Baba 2010.

L-R: Dr. Ogaga Ifowodo, Baba 2010 and Barr. R. A. Igelige leaving the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Following the commencement of the out of court settlement, the musician through his lawyers had sent a formal letter dated December 17, 2015, and addressed to the Director-General of the NCC, where the lawyers pleaded with the NCC to withdraw the criminal charges filed against MTN for Copyright Infringement and asking the commission to drop the charges.

In a brief interview with Baba 2010' s lawyer, Barrister Rockson Igelige, on his views about this latest development, he told Jovoflavour, " I am actually shocked that NCC still went ahead to issue a Hearing Notice to MTN after we officially notified them of the out-of-court settlement. I have no choice than to go to Abuja to stop the Hearing and this I plan to do on Monday, January 18th, 2015."

Now, my thoughts: If NCC is this huge on ensuring ethical corporate practices even after parties have amicably settled out of court, how come the N6.5bn (reduced from N1.4 trillion) sim registration fine issue is still unresolved months after? 

They gave MTN a deadline, the deadline elapsed, why not enforce? Na another man fight dey sweet to fight, abi?