A Federal High Court in Lagos has ruled against MTN Nigeria in a trademark infringement case, ordering the telecom company to pay ₦840 million in damages. The court found MTN guilty of unlawfully using the “WEBPLUS” trademark, which belongs to Citilink Accesscorp Limited.
The case, filed under suit number FHC/L/CS/1124/2014, was brought by Citilink Accesscorp Limited, which accused MTN of using the “WEBPLUS” brand without authorization. According to Citilink, the company had legally registered the trademark under Class 9 of the Trademark Registry, making MTN’s use of it a violation.
The court dismissed MTN’s argument of “honest concurrent use” and ruled in favor of Citilink. As a result, MTN was ordered to pay ₦70 million annually in damages from 2014 to 2025, amounting to ₦770 million. Additionally, a 15% annual interest will be charged on the total sum until full payment is made.
Apart from the financial penalty, the court also issued a perpetual injunction preventing MTN from using or registering any variation of the “WEBPLUS” trademark, including “WEB+” and “MTN WEBPLUS,” under Classes 9, 16, and 38.
MTN’s legal team, led by Fidelis Adewole, argued that the telecom provider had not intended to deceive or infringe on Citilink’s brand. However, the court rejected this argument, reinforcing that Citilink held the legal rights to the trademark.
This ruling is a significant legal blow to MTN, which remains Nigeria’s leading telecommunications provider. Beyond the financial penalty, the restriction on using the disputed brand name may force MTN to revise its branding and marketing strategies.
