Reps Panel Threatens Airtel, MTN, Glo CEOs with Arrest Warrants for ‘Ignoring Invitations’

The house of representatives  ad hoc committee investigating poor telecom services has threatened to issue arrest warrants for chief executive officers (CEOs) of major telecommunications companies operating in Nigeria over their failure to appear before it.

The committee had summoned the heads of MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom (Glo), Mafab Communications Limited, and other service providers to appear before it on October 28.

The panel also directed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to ensure that the CEOs comply with the summons.

During the committee’s sitting on Wednesday, Gbenga Adebayo, chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), attempted to represent the telecom companies’ executives but was rejected by the lawmakers.

Olumide Osoba, the committee’s chairman (APC, Ogun), directed the chief executives to attend the session in person on November 4, warning that failure to honour the summons could lead to the issuance of arrest warrants.

Sunday Umeha (APC, Enugu), a member of the committee, said the federal government individually licensed the telecommunications companies and that they could not rely on their membership of an industry association to avoid appearing before the legislature.

Umeha also faulted a letter reportedly written by ALTON that questioned the committee’s authority to compel operators to attend the hearing.

“They see their appearance as a privilege to this committee and not as a statutory obligation,” he said.

The lawmaker said section 88 of the constitution empowers the national assembly to investigate matters within its legislative purview, such as telecommunications services.

Akin Rotimi, the house spokesperson, raised the alarm over inadequate network coverage in parts of Ekiti, saying that signal blackouts in some communities and along major roads could pose grave security risks.

He alleged that two traditional rulers in his constituency were killed in an ambush along a road where mobile network coverage was unavailable.

The lawmaker said these connectivity gaps could leave residents and commuters unable to alert security agencies or summon emergency help in life-threatening situations.

On October 20, NCC said 75 million subscribers have received airtime compensation for poor telecom service in 2026.

The regulator said the intervention under the consumer compensation framework is expected to translate into better connectivity for consumers.