Mast default: Court summons on MTN for Dec 6
A Magistrate Court, Wuse Zone 2, Abuja has directed the service of processes on MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd to appear on December 6 over the default in the renting of a space for its transmission mast. Magistrate Olubunmi Achegbulu had earlier summoned the firm managing the site on behalf of MTN, INT Towers Ltd but […]
A Magistrate Court, Wuse Zone 2, Abuja has directed the service of processes on MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd to appear on December 6 over the default in the renting of a space for its transmission mast.
Magistrate Olubunmi Achegbulu had earlier summoned the firm managing the site on behalf of MTN, INT Towers Ltd but it failed to appear.
The order followed an application by Edward Shehu Buba, the owner of Plot 1038 Cassava Street, Wuye District, Abuja, seeking to recover his property from MTN or negotiate fresh rent agreement.
According to the application for plaint before the court, Buba averred that the land was leased to MTN Communications Ltd through Future Telecoms Nigeria Ltd in 2007 for its transmission mast at an annual rent of N1m for N10m in 10 years.
In the suit filed by his counsel, Maiyaki Theodore Bala, Buba stated that the tenancy lapsed on February 28, 2017 and the MTN mast marked ABJ 876A TI263 is still hoisted in the compound without vacating or agreeing to new lease agreement.
Buba also stated that he suffered ‘tremendous damages’ in the 10 years of the lease as the four-bedroom flats in the 15m by 15m, which was being rented at between N2.5m and N3m in Wuye District per annum, remained unrented due to scare of purported “health hazards associated with radiation emissions from the masts.”
But in a preliminary objection through its counsel, A.U. Gaji, MTN informed the court that it is no longer the owner of the mast but INT Towers Ltd, adding that its transfer of interest in the lease agreement to Futures Communications and INT Ltd was to the consent of Buba.
He is demanded the sum of N30m for 10 years at N3m per annum, which was rejected by INT Ltd.
Consequently, he is demanding the court to order the company to pay it the sum of N1.5m pro rated rent for the property from the period of March 1, 2017 to August 31, 2018, and the sum of N500, 000 cost of filing the suit.