Court Dismisses N1 Billion Lawsuit Against MTN Nigeria, Orders N3 Million in Favor of Telecom Giant

In a major win for Nigeria’s biggest telecom company, the Federal High Court in Lagos has thrown out a huge N1 billion lawsuit against MTN Nigeria. The court dismisses a N1 billion lawsuit against MTN Nigeria that came from Walls and Gates Ltd and its Managing Director, Okechukwu Udeichi. They accused MTN of stealing their ideas for a big promotion. Instead of paying the plaintiffs anything, the judge orders N3 million in favor of telecom giant MTN Nigeria to cover its legal costs.

This decision happened on Tuesday during a court session, as reported by PunchNews. Justice Ayokunle Faji led the case and called the whole lawsuit speculative and frivolous. He said the plaintiffs did not bring enough proof to back up their claims. The court dismissed the lawsuit against MTN Nigeria completely, ending years of legal battle over what the plaintiffs called copyright infringement, breach of confidentiality, and trademark problems.

The trouble started back in 2019. Walls and Gates Ltd sent a business proposal called “20 for 20” to MTN Nigeria on September 17. This was a plan for MTN’s 20th anniversary celebration in 2021. The idea was simple: reward customers by giving out 20 sport utility vehicles (SUVs) to lucky subscribers. The company behind the suit, Walls and Gates Ltd, and its boss Okechukwu Udeichi filed the case in 2021 under Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1935/2021.

They claimed MTN Nigeria copied their “20 for 20” proposal for its real anniversary promo. According to them, MTN’s event looked just like their idea, breaking rules on copyright, keeping secrets private, and using trademarks without permission. The plaintiffs wanted either N1 billion in damages or half of all the money MTN made from the promotion. They said their proposal was the exact source of MTN giving away those 20 SUVs.

Court dismisses n1 billion lawsuit against MTN Nigeria

MTN Nigeria fought back strongly. The telecom giant denied everything. They explained that the proposal from Walls and Gates was just an unsolicited business idea – something sent without MTN asking for it. MTN said this created no contract or duty to keep it secret. They pointed out that the plaintiffs had no registered trademark to protect. Plus, MTN insisted their 20th anniversary promo was created on their own, without copying anyone.

MTN also argued that ideas like rewarding customers for an anniversary are common and public. Under Nigerian copyright law, such business concepts get no protection. The court dismissed the N1 billion lawsuit against MTN Nigeria after hearing both sides over time.

During the Tuesday ruling, Justice Faji broke it down clearly. First, the plaintiffs admitted they could not prove trademark violations. So, the court focused on the other claims: breach of confidentiality and copyright infringement. On confidentiality, the judge said no special trust existed between Walls and Gates and MTN.

Why? Before sending the proposal to MTN, the plaintiffs had already submitted it to the Nigerian Copyright Commission for a trademark application. That put the document out in the public domain, where anyone could see it. Even after sending it to MTN, they shared it with other companies. Justice Faji said this killed any claim of secrecy. The plaintiffs could not show a confidential relationship.

Now, on copyright infringement, the judge explained Nigerian law in plain terms. Registering something with the Nigerian Copyright Commission does not automatically give it copyright protection. The law protects specific expressions or writings, not basic ideas or business plans. The “20 for 20” proposal was just a general idea for celebrating an anniversary by giving rewards to customers.

Justice Faji ruled it lacked the originality and creative effort needed for copyright. He added that MTN’s use of “MTN 20th Anniversary” was just a normal way to describe their own event. It had nothing to do with the plaintiffs’ proposal. The judge went further, calling the entire suit a “gold-digging exercise.” He saw it as an attempt to force a business deal on MTN Nigeria without real grounds.

In the end, the Federal High Court dismissed the lawsuit against MTN Nigeria in full. Justice Faji awarded N3 million in costs to MTN, meaning Walls and Gates Ltd must pay this amount to the telecom company for wasting court time. This ruling protects big companies from weak claims based on shared ideas. Court dismisses N1 billion lawsuit against MTN Nigeria, showing judges value solid proof over big demands.

The case highlights key lessons for businesses in Nigeria. Unsolicited proposals sent without contracts or non-disclosure agreements carry risks for the sender. Ideas alone do not get legal protection – only detailed, original expressions do. Telecom promotions like MTN’s 20th anniversary giveaway are popular ways to thank customers, and courts won’t let loose claims stop them.

MTN Nigeria, a leader in mobile services across Africa, continues its growth despite such legal challenges. This victory clears the path for more customer-focused events. For Walls and Gates Ltd, it’s a reminder to protect ideas properly before sharing them widely.

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