Embattled wireless giant MTN facing fresh charges in Nigeria

The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has filed criminal charges against the embattled South Africa wireless carrier, MTN.

MTN was already grappling with payment of a US$5.2 billion fine imposed on it by Nigeria’s communications regulator.

According to documents seen by reporters, the Copyright Commission is suing MTN and its Nigeria Chief Executive Officer, Ferdi Moolman, over alleged copyright infringement.

The two-count charge filed in the Federal High Court, in Abuja, on Friday alleged that the carrier – MTN – and Moolman infringed on copies of the musical work of an Abuja artiste Dovie Omenuwoma-Eniwo (aka Baba 2010).

The Commission’s prosecutor and Copyright Inspector, Marypauline Olere-Luma, specifically said the defendants “distribute, sell or let for hire or for the purposes of trade or business, expose or offer for sale 3,009 infringing copies of the musical work’’ of Baba 2010.
The musical works allegedly infringed upon include Omotena, Gentleman, and Christian & Unity Song.

The offences, according to the charge, were contrary to and punishable under Section 20 (2)(a) and 20 (2)(b) of the Copyright Act.

The South African-based carrier earlier this week went to court to appeal US$5.2 billion fine imposed by the federal regulator. MTN has up to end of December to pay the fine imposed for failing to disconnect more than 5 million unregistered SIM cards from its wireless network.