ZAIN IN N25MILLION CONTRACT MESS
One of Nigeria’s telecommunication providers, Zain Nigeria, which has changed its name many times, is in the news again. The latest crisis borders on breach of contract with one of Nigeria’s on-air personality, Femi Sowoolu.
Femi Sowoolu, who is also notable as a voice- over artiste is seeking a legal action against the Oba Otudeko-led company for refusing to pay the sum of N25 million against an agreement reached on a service rendered for the production of the radio and television commercials of the company’s products.
Reliable sources revealed that the contract was awarded to Femi Sowoolu when the telecommunication provider just arrived in the country as ‘Econet Wireless’ few years ago. And after the deal was signed and sealed, the now Continental 102.3 FM’s Director of Radio Programmes was learnt to have produced enough commercial jingles that worth N25million, which lasted Econet for a year.
The jingles, according to the contract agreement, would be aired for five years, but the contract was still on when the company was acquired then by Vmobile, which used the jingle till it metamorphosed into Zain.
An impeccable source added that, while Femi thought he had landed a juicy deal, Econet pulled a fast one on him by having the contract cancelled and offered paltry sum of amount against the N25m agreed on. The cancellation was attached to the change in name of the telecomm company from Econet to Vmobile, later to Vodacom, then Celtel and recently Zain.
Those who should know alleged that when Femi approached Zain about the said debt, he was turned down and told that the company that owed him had liquidated.
Femi was however, said to have turned the table turned around for the telecomm provider when he headed for the courts to seek redress.
Zain was alleged by sources to have stalled the case in order to frustrate Femi, hoping that he would reach a compromise with the company. Though, Zain, which may have spent triple of what should have been paid Femi on the case, is also being alleged of trying to sweep the case under the carpet.
Femi was said to have adopted the slogan of ‘no retreat no surrender’ and has allegedly vowed to see to the end of the case that keeps getting adjournments.
None of the staffers of the company was willing to speak to the press on the matter to avoid being charged for court contempt, while Femi also declined to comment on the matter.