Justice Hauwa Yilwa of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, dismissed the criminal charge filed by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) against MTN Nigeria Communications Plc and its top officials.
The judge struck out the case following an application for its withdrawal by FCCPC’s lawyer, I. O. Aiaba.
At the resumed hearing on Thursday, Aiaba told the court that a notice of withdrawal was filed on September 8.
The lawyer told the judge that the application was brought under Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
He said the prosecution adopted the notice and prayed that the court strike out the charge.
However, no lawyer appeared for the defendants, and the defendants were also not in court for the trial.
Justice Yilwa consequently struck out the suit after the lawyer’s application.
MTN Nigeria, its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO), Mr. Karl Toriola, and others were arraigned by FCCPC for alleged breach of the commission’s Act.
Other defendants were MTN’s Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, Tobechukwu Okigbo, and General Manager, Regulatory Affairs of MTN, Ikenna Ikeme.
The defendants were charged with failing to produce documents and information required by the commission in compliance with a lawful summons contrary to the FCCPC Act.
