A Federal High Court in Lagos has issued an injunction banning Nigerian telecommunication companies from deactivating or terminating any phone line or SIM card that is not linked to the user’s National Identification Number (NIN).
According to media reports, Justice Lewis-Allagoa gave the judgment while ruling on a suit filed by a legal practitioner, Olukoya Ogungbeje, seeking to stop the move that violated his fundamental human rights.
The lawyers in the suit, FHC/L/CS/667/23, joined the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice, with MTN Nigeria and Airtel Nigeria as respondents.
Ogungbeje had asked the Court for an injunction pending an appeal, retraining the respondents from carrying out the directive by themselves or their agents. Justice Lewis-Allagoa also ruled that his order subsists till the hearing and determination of the appeal filed by the lawyer.
Ogungbeje had informed the Court that his motion on notice is based on Order 26, Rule 1 of the Federal High Court Rules 2019, Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), Section 6(6)(B) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and under the court’s inherent jurisdiction.
According to the NCC, unlinked lines SIM cards still need to be linked with the National Identity Number (NIN). The former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, had directed telcos to integrate SIM cards into the NIN database.
