Nigerian court dismisses lawsuit against ATC and MTN

ATC Nigeria, a subsidiary of American Tower Corporation, and MTN Nigeria secured a significant legal victory last week regarding the construction and operation of base transceiver stations near those owned by IHS Towers Nigeria. The lawsuit, initiated by the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) Resource Centre in November 2023, alleged improper proximity of these stations.

HEDA had also filed a contempt of court case against ATC Nigeria’s CEO, Errol Ambler-Smith, seeking his arrest, but later withdrew this action. On Friday, June 21, 2024, the court dismissed HEDA’s suit against ATC Nigeria and MTN Nigeria, deeming it speculative and lacking a reasonable cause of action.

American Tower Corporation emphasized its commitment to legal compliance and operational integrity. “We are pleased that the court recognized the speculative nature of HEDA’s lawsuit. This outcome should deter similar speculative lawsuits. We appreciate the support and understanding of our stakeholders as we continue to invest in and provide critical infrastructure for Nigeria’s telecommunications industry,” ATC Nigeria stated.