RismadarVoice Reporters
November 6, 2026
Major telecommunications operators in Nigeria have approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging the constitutional authority of the House of Representatives to investigate persistent poor network services.
The suit, filed on November 4, 2026, by the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), MTN Nigeria, Airtel Networks, Globacom and Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Limited, seeks to restrain the lawmakers from enforcing summonses issued to company executives.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2713/2026, lists the House of Representatives, its Speaker, Clerk and the Inspector-General of Police as defendants.
The operators argue that responsibility for regulating telecommunications service quality rests primarily with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) under the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.
They are asking the court to interpret Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, which govern the investigative powers of the National Assembly.
According to the plaintiffs, legislative investigations must serve constitutionally permitted purposes, including lawmaking and examining corruption, inefficiency or waste in the administration of laws and public funds.
They contend that the House committee’s investigation exceeds those limits and interferes with the NCC’s statutory responsibilities.
The operators also want the court to nullify the summonses issued on October 29 and prevent lawmakers from using arrest warrants to compel their executives to appear.
The legal action follows repeated demands by the House Ad Hoc Committee on Telecommunications Service Quality for the chief executives of major network operators to explain widespread complaints about dropped calls, unreliable internet connections and failed transactions.
During a committee hearing on November 4, lawmakers rejected representatives sent by ALTON in place of the invited company executives.
The committee maintained that each telecommunications operator holds an individual licence and must account separately for its services.
Committee Chairman Olumide Osoba insisted that the National Assembly possesses constitutional oversight powers and that the NCC’s regulatory responsibilities do not automatically prevent legislative scrutiny.
Lawmakers subsequently directed ALTON representatives to leave the hearing and warned that continued failure by company executives to honour invitations could attract sanctions.
The committee has maintained that its investigation is intended to protect subscribers and improve accountability in the telecommunications sector.
Meanwhile, the operators argue that service-quality challenges require regulatory intervention and investment in telecommunications infrastructure.
The Federal High Court is expected to determine the scope of the legislature’s investigative powers and whether the disputed summonses are legally enforceable.
No final judicial determination has been reported, and the filing of the suit does not automatically suspend the House committee’s proceedings.
