By 
A group of Nigerian telecoms consumers has filed a class action lawsuit against MTN Nigeria Communications Plc. They are accusing the country’s largest mobile network operator of unexplained data depletion, excessive billing, and unauthorized data charges.
RELATED: MTN Group launches streaming service across Africa in partnership with Synamedia
The lawsuit comes amid widespread complaints that MTN data consumption rates do not align with users’ mobile device usage records. All of these are sparking concerns of irregular billing practices.
The controversy erupted after a viral post on X (formerly Twitter) from a disgruntled user who shared their plan to sue MTN Nigeria over alleged unusual data consumption patterns. The post struck a chord with many others who reported experiencing similar issues. They ranged from sudden data exhaustion to invisible charges on their MTN subscriptions.
In response, a Google Form was circulated online to gather names and experiences from affected subscribers, quickly garnering support across Nigeria’s digital ecosystem. Users claimed they were billed for phantom top-ups, charged for inactive apps, and left with rapidly vanishing data—sparking public outrage and comparisons to telecom standards in other countries.
As social media buzz grew, so did public calls for transparency and accountability from MTN Nigeria. Despite the growing uproar, the telecom giant has yet to issue an official response to the allegations.
MTN Nigeria Faces Additional Legal Troubles
This lawsuit adds to MTN Nigeria’s mounting legal challenges. In March 2025, the Federal High Court in Lagos ordered the telecoms operator to pay ₦840 million in damages for trademark infringement. The court found MTN guilty of unlawfully using the name “MTN WEBPLUS”, which closely mimicked the registered trademark “WEBPLUS” owned by Citilink Accesscorp Limited.
Justice Akintayo Aluko ruled that MTN’s unauthorized use of the WEBPLUS name diluted Citilink’s brand, awarding ₦70 million in annual damages from 2014 to 2025.
Additionally, in 2024, MTN Nigeria’s fintech arm, MoMo Payment Service Bank (PSB), came under scrutiny following a probe by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) over suspected data privacy violations.
Telecom Industry Under the Spotlight
As public pressure intensifies, this case could mark a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s telecom industry, potentially redefining consumer rights, digital transparency, and fair data billing practices. Many consumers now await MTN’s official response and the outcome of this case, hoping for reforms that protect subscriber interests and restore trust.
