9mobile says sale not voided, calls for calm

Joseph Inokotong, Abuja

The management of Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Limited (EMTS) – 9mobile – has clarified that the widely reported court judgment centers on the transfer of license, and not the sale of the company.

The media has been flooded by reports which suggest that Binta Nyako, a judge at the Abuja high court, voided all moves taken with respect to the exchange of ownership of Etisalat.

The judge was reported to have ruled that “Any action that has been taken concerning the rest of this litigation from the 25th day of April, which is earlier in time, should revert to the position, as of the res, to its 25th day of April 2018”.

However, 9mobile Secretary and Legal Adviser, Ore Olajide in a statement, said the court did not nullify the sale of EMTS.

According to the statement, “The court on 1st April 2019 made an order for parties to maintain status quo as of April 25, 2018. As at the said date, EMTS (9mobile) was not a party to the suit before the court.

“The action before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court is not about the sale of EMTS (9mobile) but rather, the transfer of the license even without locus standi.

“The sale of 9mobile to Teleology Nigeria Limited has not been nullified. The court made an order to maintain status quo as at April 25, 2018, when EMTS was not a party to the suit and we have appealed the ruling as well as sought an injunction pending appeal at the Court of Appeal.”