FG, MTN in court over illegal mast installation in Niger

A Federal High Court sitting in Minna, Niger state is currently hearing a case of illegal installation of mast instituted by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation against the telecom giant MTN Nigeria.

The case was sequel to a petition by one Mohammed Nasir Usman of No.1 Ibrahim Kariya Avenue, Suleja alleging noise pollution from the mast installed by the MTN in the area.

The petitioner averred in the compliant to the state field office of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) alleging that the erection of the said mast constitutes health hazards to the residents and urged appropriate authority to intervene.

NESREA field office subsequently forwarded the petition to its headquarters which directed the state office to investigate the matter.

Testifying at the resumed hearing of the case in Minna, the then state coordinator, now a deputy director at the headquarters, Abuja, who led the investigation said that independent findings from the residents indicate that in the day time MTN uses inverter to power the mast but resorts to generator at night with consequent noise.

He said MTN officials also failed to furnish the investigators with a letter of approval.

The case was adjourned to June 18 for further hearing by the presiding judge, Justice Yalim Suleiman Bogoro.