Court dismisses suit against NCC, MTN over tariff hike

The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a lawsuit challenging the 50 per cent increase in telecommunications tariffs approved in January 2025, handing a legal victory to the Nigerian Communications Commission and MTN Nigeria.

In a judgment delivered on April 22, Justice M.G. Umar ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case after the plaintiff failed to establish locus standi, the legal right to bring the action.

The suit, filed by lawyer Obioma Ezenwobodo, sought to nullify the NCC’s approval of the tariff hike and compel telecom operators to refund all charges collected under the increase, with interest. He also demanded ₦100 million in damages over what he described as economic hardship and psychological distress.

However, the court held that the applicant did not demonstrate any personal or special injury different from that of other telecom subscribers. Since the tariff hike applied uniformly to all users, the judge ruled that the case amounted to a general complaint, insufficient to trigger judicial intervention.

Having found that the plaintiff lacked standing, the court declined to consider the substance of the claims and struck out the case entirely. It also ordered each party to bear its own legal costs, effectively dismissing all demands for refunds and damages.

The ruling reinforces the NCC’s regulatory authority and allows telecom operators, including MTN Nigeria, to continue implementing the tariff increase without immediate legal disruption.

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If the case had succeeded, it could have forced operators to refund millions of subscribers nationwide, potentially creating a significant financial and operational setback for the telecom industry. Instead, the decision preserves the status quo, at least for now, while leaving the door open for future challenges from parties with a clearer legal standing.