A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has scheduled March 19, 2025, to hear the ongoing legal dispute over the ownership and control of Emerging Markets Telecommunication Service (EMTS), the holder and operator of the 9Mobile Telecommunication license. The case, filed by Abubakar Isa Funtua, involves high-profile defendants, including General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (Rtd) and his company, LH Telecommunication Limited.
The Parties Involved
The Plaintiff, Abubakar Isa Funtua, has dragged the following defendants to court:
- Seltrix Limited (1st Defendant)
- General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (Rtd) and LH Telecommunication Limited
- Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC)
- Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)
- Hayatu Hassan Hadeija
- Teleology Nigeria Limited
- Mohammed Edewor, a Director in Teleology Nigeria Limited
Plaintiff’s Claims
In his Statement of Claim, Funtua seeks several declarations and reliefs, including:
A declaration that the acquisition of the 43,000,000 ordinary shares purportedly transferred or surrendered to Teleology Nigeria Limited is null, void, and of no effect, as it breaches the trust agreement and contravenes Clause 48 of Seltrix Limited’s Memorandum and Articles of Association.
An order setting aside the purported registration by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) of the increase in share capital and the allotment of 1,910,000,000 (One Billion, Nine Hundred Ten Million) ordinary shares of Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services Limited, in violation of Section 127 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020.
Monetary Damages
Funtua is also seeking N100 billion in general damages from the defendants, jointly and severally, for the alleged breaches and unlawful actions.
Background of the Dispute
The case revolves around the ownership and control of 9Mobile, one of Nigeria’s leading telecommunications companies. The plaintiff alleges that the defendants unlawfully transferred or surrendered shares held in trust for him, thereby undermining his ownership rights. The dispute also touches on regulatory compliance, particularly with the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020, and the roles of the Corporate Affairs Commission and the Nigerian Communications Commission.
The hearing on March 19, 2025, is expected to provide clarity on the ownership structure of 9Mobile and address the plaintiff’s claims. The outcome of the case could have significant implications for the telecommunications sector and corporate governance in Nigeria.