Judge Orders NCC, MTN to Maintain Status quo

Justice Mohammed Idris of a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has ordered the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and MTN to maintain status quo, sequel to an application of Mareva injunction, initiated by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), which sought to stop MTN Nigeria, from emptying its accounts in 21 commercial banks in Nigeria. The ourt directed the parties to maintain status quo ante bellum, pending the determination of the suit and adjourned till January 22, 2016 for hearing. Justice Idris said, “An order is hereby made directing the parties cited herein to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending further hearing.” Spefically, the AGF wants, “An order of mareva injunction, restraining the aforementioned banks from releasing, further releasing any funds, making sale, transfer or payment of any monies or dealing in any manner whatsoever with any and all monies maintained by the plaintiff/respondent (MTN) or its agents, privies, subsidiaries, sister companies or the like in the aforestated banks that will alter, decline or reduce the amount of the first defendant’s/applicant’s fine against the plaintiff/respondent in the sum of N1,040,000,000,000 which has remained wholly unsatisfied, pending the determination of the motion on notice.”