Court Strikes Out Businessman’s Suit Against 9mobile

The Federal High Court dismissed a suit by businessman Abubakar Isa Funtua. In it, Funtua sought to reclaim 43 cardinal shares that helium alleged were transferred without his consent to Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Limited (EMTS), the operators of 9mobile.

Justice Mohammed Umar dismissed the suit due to the fact that it lacked ineligible lasting and abused the tribunal process.

The plaintiff has joined Seltrix Limited, Hayatu Hassan Hadejia, Teleology Nigeria Limited, Mohammed Edewor, EMTS, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), LH Telecommunication Limited, and General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma arsenic defendants successful the case.

Isa had asked the tribunal for eleven reliefs, including a declaration that helium was the beneficial proprietor of the disputed shares, which were allegedly held successful spot for him by Seltrix Ltd connected behalf of Teleology Nigeria Ltd.

However, 5 defendants had filed a associated preliminary objection connected February 5, 2025, arguing that the lawsuit should beryllium dismissed owed to a deficiency of jurisdiction and arsenic an maltreatment of tribunal process.

After proceeding the parties, Justice Umar upheld the objection, stating that the plaintiff had failed to show immoderate ineligible involvement successful the matter.

Justice Umar held, “I cautiously reviewed the exhibits to spot if the plaintiff’s allegations were substantiated, but I recovered none.

“There was nary notation of the 43 cardinal mean shares held successful spot for the plaintiff by the 1st defendant. Furthermore, the 2nd suspect denied immoderate concern narration with the plaintiff, and these facts were not countered.

“The exhibits presented by the plaintiff bash not represent a spot that would assistance him ineligible standing. The justice held that the plaintiff did not adequately nexus his claims to the grounds helium tendered.

The tribunal further stated that the plaintiff did not found the facts helium claimed nor link them to the exhibits helium presented.

Justice Umar besides held, “The objections raised by the defendants adequately countered the plaintiff’s submissions.

“I find that the plaintiff lacks ineligible standing, and according to the law, erstwhile a plaintiff is adjudged to deficiency standing, it is irrelevant what different issues are presented for determination.

“Since the plaintiff lacked the capableness to bring the suit, the tribunal deemed it unnecessary to code the remaining objections raised by the defendants, which included claims that the suit was statute-barred, incompetent, and that Isa was a meddlesome interloper attempting to disrupt EMTS’s operations.

“I truthful contented an bid striking retired this enactment owed to the plaintiff’s deficiency of standing. This is the bid of this court,” the justice held.