MTN and other multinational corporations use their power and influence to sway government officials and bureaucracy against Nigerian citizens.

Nigerians have kindly welcomed South African businesses like MTN, providing them with an environment that enables them to thrive and enjoy unprecedented prosperity, in contrast to Nigerian businesses that frequently face xenophobia and other indignities when setting up shop in South Africa. However, despite Nigerians’ generous nature, emerging evidence suggests that this kindness is not returned, as MTN continues to exert an oppressive,

Business ruthlessness characterised by deceit and extortion can never be accepted by the South African people or government. It is quite likely that MTN will face severe repercussions if they continue with these actions in their native nation. The copyright theft/infringement case No.FHC/ABJ/CR111/2024 between the Nigeria Copyright Commission and MTN, its Chief Official, Mr. Karl Olutokun Toriola, regarding the artist Maleke Moye’s complaint, is a terrifying example. Surprisingly, a lawyer from the Ministry of Justice announced his arrival and informed the court that the federation’s Attorney General’s office was interested in the issue and had requested the case file on the day that MTN and its MD were scheduled to present their case.

Punch published a story on this extraordinary action taken by the AG on behalf of MTN on July 8, 2024. Will the South African government’s attorney general take action in a criminal case involving a Nigerian corporation operating there against the will of the country’s citizens? Who will represent a Nigerian person whose creative work was unlawfully utilised by MTN for its company if the office of the AG of the federation will not support said citizen?

One would expect that a reputable telecommunication organization like MTN will respectfully defend its conduct against the three count charges filed by the NCC on March 20th 2024 for using the works of the artists as caller ring back tunes without his consent and authorization between 2010 and 2017. But after using several chicaneries to defer the case, but seeing that the NCC and the artist  were determined to seek justice, MTN deployed officers of institutions within Nigeria to defeat the ends of justice.  The deployment of pliant officers of the state that directed the NCC and the Police to send them a brief for a judicial review while fomenting an interminable adjournment, amounted to “state capture” by MTN.

MTN and other multinational corporations work against Nigerian citizens by influencing and manipulating government officials and bureaucracy. In a piece for the London School of Economics, Abby Ines argues that “state capture” is a phenomena that shows “the degree to which the machinery of state is porous to private business interests.” This is what MTN does in Nigeria with regard to the artist whose artwork was utilised for a number of years, as well as another significant issue where MTN has been delinquent in its rent payments for more than fifteen years on a sizable property that it leases from a certain company called Blindex Company LTD.

State capture by private companies, like those owned by the Guptas, is strongly discouraged in South Africa. In fact, charges of state capture played a major role in the downfall of the Jacob Zuma administration. Given that state capture is seen negatively by South Africans and can have severe enough repercussions to topple elected state authorities, what justifies MTN’s use of this tactic in its operations in Nigeria?

Similar to the unresolved case of Mr. Maleke Moye, the ongoing case of Blindex Nigeria Limited, a property owner, wherein MTN continued to earn substantial profits from conducting business in Nigeria at their leased properties, demonstrates how multinational corporations mistreat and exploit the people of Nigeria. Using the leased industrial property of the realtors, MTN made profits that it hardly ever makes, even in its own home head offices, while refusing to pay these Nigerians their pitiful but rightfully earned rent and benefits.

Although these two Nigerians stand out for their refusal to be oppressed and intimidated, many other Nigerians who were forced into the weeds by MTN and other foreign companies continue to live in hopelessness, forgetfulness, and unfair denial because they lack the strength or resources to resist the repressive telecom behemoth.

Just as concerning as the copyright infringement issue is MTN’s alleged failure to pay rent to Blindex Nigeria Limited, from which it leased a sizable industrial property for more than fifteen (15) years without remitting any form of rent. This is because MTN is said to have been confronted about its failure to pay rent.

Despite the fact that there is a legitimate and ongoing lease agreement, MTN says it doesn’t know who is responsible for paying the rent, in violation of the dignified behaviour required of a company that values its reputation and goodwill.

Numerous company owners and entrepreneurs in Nigeria have claimed instances of such coercive business tactics, when the telecom behemoth uses terrifying, unconventional, and oppressive methods—even going so far as to utilise state capture—instead of fulfilling its commercial obligations. Thus, it is imperative that Nigerians unite in demanding accountability from MTN before it causes irreversible harm to the country’s moral and lawful business environment.