Telecom
Cheers as Microsoft Mobile Delivers Prizes to Lumia Promo Winners
Winners under Microsoft Mobile Devices and Services (MMD) ’12 Days of Christmas ‘Make It Happen’ Lumia Promotion’ took turn Tuesday to express their delight over the promo.
The presentation which took place at MMD office in Lagos under the watchful eyes of officials of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), witnessed the winners took home new Ford Figo cars.
The MMD ‘Lumia Christmas’ promotion lasted from November 24th to December 31st and aimed at making the holiday season special for 12 lucky Lumia smartphone and tablet buyers, Mr. Joseph Umunakwe, general manager, Microsoft Mobile Devices and Services, West Africa said on Tuesday.
The winners present at the presentation are Anayo Chukwude (Onitsha), Dada Charles (FESTAC), Tommy Sunday (Akwa Ibom), Mrs. Lilian Meribe (Onitsha), Alli Oluwaseun (Ibadan) and Attoh Zeron (Onitsha).
Others are, Praise Joseph (Port Harcourt), Chukwuma Vincent (Lagos), Mrs. Musa Josephine (Abuja), Felicity Omuji (Abuja) and Ifeanyi Agilebu (Port Harcourt).
Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Joseph Umunakwe, said MMDS was very proud of its Lumia smartphones and tablets and how they continue to connect more people to Microsoft suite of productivity services, “whilst providing them a rich smartphone experience at amazing price points”.
He described the promo as the brands way of rewarding her consumers, “ensuring they begin the New Year on a high note.”
The GM explained that at the beginning, “Everyone had a chance of winning one of the 12 brand new Ford Figo cars on offer. All they need to do is buy any Lumia smartphone or tablet and SMS keyword LUMIA your NAME and IMEI number to 38680”.
Also speaking, Mr. Olumide Balogun, senior product marketing manager, Microsoft Mobile Devices and Services, West Africa, said “we are very pleased to be redeeming our pledge just as we promised our loyal customers that we would do”.
Balogun further said, “We are very happy to be empowering our consumers to do more, both with our Lumia range of devices at the same time, offering unrivalled experience that will afford them an opportunity to own brand new cars which you will agree improves their mobility and increases their ability to be more productive likewise work and play effectively.
He said the funniest part of the promo was the time MMDS put calls across to the winners, with many doubting the credibility of the process, “but today they are all smiling, sharing the stories and experiences. To us in Microsoft Mobile it is a mission achieved”.
One of the winners, Mr. Chukwudi Anayo, from Onitsha who was evidently overjoyed and could not hold back his excitement shared his story of disbelief when he was first called on the phone and told he emerged one of the winners in the Microsoft Lumia Christmas Promo.
According to Anayo, like any other person, “I initially thought I was dreaming before the whole thing finally dawned on me today, that indeed I am now a proud winner of this brand new car and at no other better time than this yuletide season.”
“No doubt, great things happen to those who believe and I happen to be one of those presently, now more than anything my new year has started on a bright note courtesy Microsoft Mobile Devices and Services.
Also, speaking to Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, Mr. Emem Sunday said that the process has reawakened his interest to embrace such promos in future.
He said, “The promo has really opened my eyes. I never believed that things like this are really. I never thought of it that you can buy a phone of N15,000 and become a proud car owner! When I received the call I thought it was the normal scams. Not until Saturday, because they kept calling sending me text. In fact, they didn’t give up on me.
“From the onset, I didn’t take it to heart, but when I went to Microsoft Facebook page, I saw that I was the third person that won a brand new car. Then I believed that the promo is real. In fact, I am now a crusader for Lumia brand; advising people to buy the phone. With less than N20,000 I have become a car owner”.
Mr Dada Charles was also full of praise to Microsoft for fulfilling her promise.
Charles said, “Brother, I just won a car! Actually, I have been using Nokia Lumia, but recently my phone got bad and I decided to buy another one, Lumia 630. The first time I sent a text to enter the promo. It didn’t go, but on third trial the message got delivered and today the result is that I now own Ford Figo car!
“In fact, I just gathered the change on me to buy almost the cheapest of the Lumia phone. I never believe it is real. In fact, my perception about promos has changed. And I am happy to see that officials of the lottery Commission are here too to witness the occasion”.
Other winners took their time to testify, expressing appreciation to Microsoft Mobile Devices and Services for organising the promo.
Meanwhile, MMDS said it will not relent on such gestures as they go back to the drawing board, expecting more promos and programmes to be rolled out to the delight of the customers.
Telecommunications operators have called on the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to establish a clear regulatory framework for airtime and data credit services, warning that millions of Nigerians could face fresh disruptions if the agencies fail to coordinate their responsibilities.
Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, ALTON
This is coming on the heels of the Federal High Court judgment affirming the FCCPC’s authority to regulate consumer protection in the airtime and data credit market while preserving the NCC’s exclusive mandate over telecommunications licensing and technical regulation.
The ruling effectively clarified that both regulators have complementary roles rather than overlapping powers.
Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), said the judgment should serve as the basis for stronger collaboration between the two regulators to avoid the regulatory uncertainty that earlier forced operators to suspend airtime and data credit services.
Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, ALTON, said the industry was not disputing the authority of either regulator but was seeking a clearly defined operational framework before any further regulatory actions are taken.
“The court has done something important. It has confirmed the FCCPC’s authority and, in the same breath, affirmed that the NCC’s role is preserved. Concurrency means coexistence. The industry now expects both regulators to establish the coordination framework that the court’s reasoning requires,” Adebayo said.
He stressed that regulatory certainty had become critical because millions of Nigerians depend on airtime and data credit services for daily communication.
“Forty million Nigerians depend on these services. The court has made clear that both regulators have a role. The industry is asking them to define how that works before any action that could disrupt access again,” he stated.
Adebayo also urged both agencies to engage industry stakeholders before introducing measures capable of affecting consumer access to the services.
According to him, the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) directive requiring Regulatory Impact Assessments before major policy changes should be observed to minimise unintended consequences on businesses and consumers.
The renewed call comes months after major mobile network operators temporarily suspended airtime and data borrowing services following the implementation of the FCCPC’s Digital, Electronic, Online and Non-Traditional Consumer Lending (DEON) Regulations, a development that affected millions of subscribers nationwide.
In its judgment, the Federal High Court held that while the FCCPC has powers over competition and consumer protection issues in the digital lending ecosystem, it cannot assume the NCC’s statutory responsibility for licensing telecommunications operators.
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa ruled that the two agencies must operate within their respective mandates, describing their relationship as one of “coexistence, not displacement.”
MTN Nigeria has warned customers to disregard fraudulent online posts claiming the telecom operator is offering “1 Month Free Data for Old Subscribers,” describing the promotion as fake and unauthorised.
In a statement shared on its X handle, the telco said the circulating promotion is not from MTN and is not affiliated with the company.
MTN urged customers not to click on the accompanying link in the online post or provide their phone numbers or personal information on any third-party website.
Customers are advised not to click on the link or provide their phone numbers or personal information on any third-party website.
“We will never require customers to submit their details on external platforms to claim data or any other reward,” MTN said.
The company added that all genuine promotions, products and services are announced only through its official communication channels.
“All authentic MTN promotions, products and services are communicated exclusively through our official channels, including www.mtn.ng, our verified social media pages and *180#,” the company said.
MTN also urged customers to remain vigilant against online scams designed to steal personal information, warning that fraudulent offers often impersonate trusted brands to deceive unsuspecting users.
“Don’t be the next victim!” the company said, reiterating that the purported “1 Month Free Data for Old Subscribers” offer is fake and not associated with MTN Nigeria.
National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has dismissed a Notice of Preliminary Objection filed by Pan African Towers Ltd. (PAT) in an employment dispute instituted by its former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Azeez Amida.
The court also awarded ₦500,000 in costs against the company after holding that the application lacked merit.
Justice Essien, who delivered the ruling on July 21 in Suit No. NICN/LA/143/2025: Mr. Azeez Amida v. Pan African Towers Limited, held that the substantive case concerning Amida’s alleged outstanding contractual entitlements under a Mutual Separation Agreement should proceed to hearing.
The ruling effectively rejected the company’s attempt to terminate the proceedings on jurisdictional grounds.
Jurisdictional Challenge Rejected
Pan African Towers had argued that the National Industrial Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter because the Mutual Separation Agreement executed between the parties required disputes to first pass through negotiation, mediation and arbitration before litigation could be initiated.
The company maintained that Mr. Amida failed to exhaust those contractual dispute resolution mechanisms before approaching the court.
However, Justice Essien rejected the argument after examining evidence presented by the claimant showing that several attempts had been made to activate the agreed dispute resolution process before legal proceedings commenced.
According to the court, documentary evidence showed that Mr. Amida, through his solicitors, issued correspondence and formal demand letters aimed at resolving the dispute amicably in line with the terms of the agreement.
The court found that rather than engaging with those efforts, Pan African Towers failed to meaningfully participate in the process and later sought to rely on the same contractual provisions to challenge the court’s jurisdiction.
Evidence Considered by the Court
According to evidence presented by Mr. Amida’s legal team, the court considered correspondence involving senior officials of Pan African Towers and its investors.
Among the documents relied upon was a letter allegedly written by the Chairman of the Board of Pan African Towers and Partner at Development Partners International (DPI), Mr. Adefolarin Ogunsanya, rejecting the demand made by Mr. Amida’s legal representatives for an amicable resolution before litigation.
The claimant’s legal team also tendered multiple email communications allegedly sent from January 2025 to Verod Capital Management’s in-house legal counsel, Mr. Dipo Okuribido.
According to the claimant, those emails did not receive any response before the commencement of the suit.
Based on the evidence before it, the court held that the conduct of Pan African Towers was inconsistent with reliance on the contractual dispute resolution provisions.
Justice Essien ruled that the company had effectively waived its right to insist on arbitration after frustrating the preliminary dispute resolution process contemplated by the parties’ agreement.
The court consequently held that Pan African Towers could not rely on the arbitration clause to prevent the court from hearing the substantive claims.
Court Awards Costs
Having dismissed the Preliminary Objection, the National Industrial Court awarded costs of ₦500,000 against Pan African Towers.
The court described the objection as lacking merit.
Substantive Defence Yet to Be Filed
The ruling represents the first judicial determination in the employment dispute.
The claimant’s legal team noted that since the suit commenced, the principal response filed by Pan African Towers had been the Preliminary Objection challenging the jurisdiction of the National Industrial Court.
According to the claimant, the company has yet to file a substantive defence addressing the merits of the claims relating to the alleged outstanding contractual entitlements.
With the dismissal of the jurisdictional challenge, the matter will now proceed to hearing on its merits.
The court adjourned the substantive suit until Jan. 12, 2027.
Background to the Dispute
The dispute arose following Mr. Amida’s departure from Pan African Towers after both parties executed a Mutual Separation Agreement.
According to the claimant, while the agreement governed the terms of his exit from the company, certain contractual entitlements remained unpaid.
His legal representatives said they initially sought to resolve the dispute through the mechanisms provided under the agreement by engaging the company through correspondence and formal demand letters.
When those efforts failed to produce a resolution, they commenced proceedings before the National Industrial Court seeking payment of the outstanding contractual entitlements.
Rather than filing a substantive defence to the claims, Pan African Towers challenged the jurisdiction of the court, arguing that arbitration and other dispute resolution mechanisms had not been exhausted.
The National Industrial Court has now rejected that position.
Related Commercial Litigation
The employment proceedings are separate from ongoing commercial cases before the Federal High Court involving Mr. Amida, Development Partners International (DPI), Verod Capital Management and other parties.
Those proceedings relate to issues concerning the ownership of Pan African Towers and remain pending before the courts.
The National Industrial Court noted that those matters would be determined independently based on their respective facts, evidence and applicable legal principles.
Legal Team Reacts
Reacting to the ruling, representatives of Mr. Amida’s legal team welcomed the decision.
“The Court has affirmed an important principle of contractual dispute resolution.
“A party cannot frustrate the agreed process and later seek to rely on that same process to prevent a claim from being heard.
“We now look forward to presenting the substantive case before the Court,” the legal team said.
The lawyers acknowledged that Pan African Towers retained the right under Nigerian law to pursue any available appellate remedies but stated that they were fully prepared for the substantive hearing scheduled for January 2027.
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