Victory for Consumers as Supreme Court Upholds N5 Million Judgement Against MTN

In a landmark judgement that strengthens consumer rights in Nigeria, the Supreme Court has upheld a 2016 ruling against telecommunications giant, MTN, over illegal deductions for unsolicited caller tunes.

The case, which originated at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, saw MTN being ordered to pay N5 million in general damages and N500,000 as cost of action to a subscriber who was repeatedly charged for services he never requested.

After MTN appealed the verdict, the Court of Appeal had reduced the compensation to N400,000 in damages and N100,000 in costs. But in a final decision, the Supreme Court reversed that reduction and fully restored the original awards made by the trial court.

Delivering the lead judgement, Justice Mohammed Baba Idris of the Supreme Court condemned the decision of the Court of Appeal to cut down the compensation, calling it “arbitrary” and lacking legal justification.

Justice Helen Morenikeji Ogunwumiju, in her concurring judgement, criticized the lower court for downplaying the rights of consumers. She stated, “It is obvious that while the learned trial Judge appreciated the rights of consumers to be protected and properly recompensed for damage done to them by service providers, the Court of Appeal did not.”

This ruling sends a strong message to service providers across the country: Nigerian consumers have the right to fair treatment and must not be taken advantage of through unauthorized charges.

For many, this judgement is not just about one subscriber—it’s a win for millions of Nigerians who have long complained about hidden or unsolicited charges on their mobile phones.

The Supreme Court’s decision reinforces the need for corporate accountability and affirms the judiciary’s role in defending consumer rights in the digital age.