TELECOMMS WAR

GLO CLASHES WITH MTN OVER INTERCONNECTIVITY DEAL

The rivalry in the telecommunication industry is taking a new twist. Gone were the days where operators jostle for prominence through consumer based promotions promising whooping amount of cash. The latest in the industry is the clash between the Nigeria second national carrier, Globacom and MTN. The clash, which has now being taken to court, is about the inter-connectivity deal that was signed in 2003 by both operators. The agreement under 6.5 clauses says “no party shall invoice for a call later than 60 days after the actual call date” which simply means that a particular amount of money must be paid by both provider to each other as far as calls are connecting without the two networks.

Meanwhile, penultimate week, Globacom raised an alarm that MTN has deliberately reneged on the agreement of raising an invoice for calls that connect with its network, thereby allegedly claiming over N1billion being unpaid supplementary invoices issued. It was further gathered that Globacom took the case to the communications regulatory body, which is the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) but was disappointed with the NCC reactions towards the issue. The Ernest Ndukwe led Commission instituted a panel to fund solution to the dispute and the panel resolved that Globacom should pay MTN the sum of N856million as supplementary invoices for calls terminated on MTN’s network by Globacom. The panel also directed that Globacom must pay the sum with 30days failure to do will accrue interest until liquidation.

According to industry watchers, what really angered the Globacom’s chairman is the fact that within that period there was standardization going on, with Globacom network and invoice was not raised to MTN to pay for its connection. “The fact that MTN raised an invoice and expected Glo to do the same, as at the time when Glo subscribers found it hard even to make calls to the same network, let alone making it to another network is what really made Dr. Mike Adenuga to go to the NCC” an observer who claimed anonymity reacted.

The case which is now in court, if not urgently addressed might affect connections with the two network providers and ultimately businesses of subscribers on both network. An insider from MTN said the provider is ready for a showdown on the dispute and want the matter to be taken to the chief judge of the federal high court in Abuja. Meanwhile, NCC too has also filed it own preliminary objection against Glo, that the provider did not respect them as the Commission that has the right to dictate in the telecommunication industry knowing that they are the federal government representative.

A source close to Globacom management alleged that Glo is expecting the court among other things to quash the outcome and the submission of NCC panel, claiming that the ruling was a grave miscarriage of injustice and that the panel had failed to make specific findings on controversial issues between both providers. With the inter connection deal going sour with the two network providers, sadly it’s the subscribers who will be at the receiving end and it has start to come evidence with calls from both network to get the other has become cumbersome

MIC MFB’S FEMALE BANKER STOLE OVER N4M CUSTOMER DEPOSIT

Hell was let loose penultimate week at the Agege branch of MIC microfinance bank when a customer stormed the bank location to humiliate his account officer for stealing his money. The female account officers that is simply addressed Kemi, happened to be the account officer to a business woman who operates within the Alade Market in Ikeja. The account officer, Kemi who was harassed by the woman within the banking hall revealed that at several occasions she will call the lady to come and collect money from her shop and the next day she will come with the payment teller which made her to be convinced of all transactions. The woman who her money was stolen confirmed that whenever she ask her of her account balance she usually said it as an SMS to her which tally with what she calculated.

But the truth, according to the woman blew open when she stormed the bank without giving Kemi a prior notice and she asked another cashier of her account balance only to find out that over N4million had been withdrew from her account at different occasions without her notice. The woman confirmed that the withdrawal slip that the money was withdrawn with had her signature but she never signed such. According to an eye witness, at this junction the woman put across a call to the police, using her connections, to come and arrest the bank MD, because of fraud. With the arrival of the police, atop management staff who attended to the police asked who her account officer was and the woman mentioned Kemi who at that point was trying to console the woman that she should take things easy, that she will sort the whole issue out. The top management staff of MIC, according to an eye witness printed out the woman transactions and found out that not all the money the woman had given to Kemi had been saved and she had at several times withdrawn money without the woman’s concert. The bank, top manager how handle Kemi to the police, who are now making frantic effort to recover the stolen money while other accounts handle by the lady are also being investigated.

A source close to the bank, revealed that since the incident other account holder mostly market women have been paying improtu visit to the bank demanding their statement of accounts while others have been withdrawing their money, even closing the accounts totally. When A & B visited the bank, no members of staffs is ready to say anything about the issue but confirmed the incident