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How Two Fraudsters Hacked Into MTN Nigeria Network And Stole N1.9bn

Two fraudsters have been arraigned in court for allegedly hacking into MTN Nigeria Communication Plc system and stealing airtime and data valued at N1.9 billion.
The police in Lagos arraigned the hackers identified as Timothy Oluwabukola and Anthony Odemerho, before a Federal High Court in Lagos.
The Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police docked the two men before Justice Akintayo Aluko on a four-count conspiracy charge, unauthorised access into the company’s web-based Application Programming Interface (API) and unlawful conversion.
Oluwabukola, a student of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) Abeokuta, Ogun State, and Odemerho, the proprietor of Resign Regal Academy in Benin City, Edo State, allegedly committed the offences between January and April this year in Lagos and Edo States.
The prosecutor, Justine Enang, told the court that the defendants and others at large conspired among themselves and accessed the telecom’s Application Programming Interface (API) of MTN and obtained data from the said application, which they used to defraud the company to the tune of N1.9 billion.
Enang also claimed that the offences contravened sections 27(1)(b), 6(2), and 28(1)(b) of the Cybercrime (prohibition, prevention, etc) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024, but were punishable under Section 8(2) of the same Act.
He also informed the court that the offences violated section 18(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, but punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Based on their plea, the prosecutor urged the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendants in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) until the charge was determined.
But, the defence lawyer informed the court that he had filed bail applications for his clients, and that same had been served on the prosecutor.
In response, the prosecutor confirmed being served with the applications but told the court that he was served while the proceedings were on.
Enang then asked the court for a short date to enable him to study the applications and respond accordingly.
After listening to the lawyers, Justice Aluko adjourned the matter to August 5 for a hearing of the defendants’ bail applications.
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MTN Gives Major Update After Shutting DownOffices Nationwide

MTN Nigeria has announced it has resumed nationwide operations.
MTN, Nigeria’s leading telecommunications provider had on Tuesday shutdown all its offices in response to widespread customer outrage and vandalism, sparked by the disconnection of subscribers who failed to link their SIM cards to their National Identification Numbers.

On Wednesday, MTN announced its return to operations via X (formerly Twitter), confirming that its physical shops would be open to customers from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm.

“Y’ello customer, please note that our shops nationwide will be open today, 31 July. Operating hours: 8.00 am-3:00 pm. We are also available 24/7 to support you via digital channels,” the operator said.
Over the weekend, many subscribers found themselves unable to access their phone lines after failing to verify their NINs with SIMs, leading to their numbers being blocked in compliance with NIN-SIM linkage regulations.
This blockage prompted thousands of subscribers to storm telecom offices on Monday, leading the Nigerian Communications Commission to direct telecommunications operators to immediately restore all affected lines.
The NCC, in a statement signed on Monday by the Director of Media and Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, explained that the directive was in response to the widespread disruption and subscriber outrage caused by the blockages.
The mandatory linkage of NINs with SIMs, initiated in December 2020, was geared towards enhancing the country’s security and ensuring an accurate SIM ownership database. Despite several deadline extensions, including the latest to July 31, 2024, many lines remain unverified.
Since December 2023, the Commission has reviewed the deadline multiple times. Initially, April 15, 2024, was set as the deadline for the full network, barring subscribers with four or fewer SIMs that had unverified NIN details.
This deadline was then extended to July 31, 2024, to give consumers more time to ensure their submitted NIN details are properly verified. Despite these extensions, many phone lines are yet to be linked with verified NINs.
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MTN Shuts Down Offices Nationwide Over SIM Blocking Outrage

Telecoms giant, MTN has announced it is shutting down all its stores and service centres across Nigeria.
The announcement comes after a mob was seen on Monday destroying a barricade fence just outside the MTN office.

The clip showed a large crowd of angry subscribers vandalising the telecommunications company’s office in the FESTAC Town area of Lagos State in response to the network blocking subscribers due to a mismatch in their National Identification Number and SIM registration.
However, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, in a response to the circulated video on X.com stated that the DPO of FESTAC and his men had successfully restored normalcy and peace at the scene.
“This should not be the way to go!
Reacting on Tuesday, MTN said it would be shutting its shops nationwide today.
“Yello customer, please be informed that our shops nationwide will be closed today, 30th July 2024,” the statement sighted on X read.
Details later…
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How to Unblock Your MTN, Airtel, Others Using Shortcode

After many subscribers were blocked by Nigerian telecommunication companies, a guide on how to unblock the SIM cards has been made available.
Recall that the disconnections were due to the ongoing National Identification Number (NIN)-SIM harmonisation exercise.

To assist affected customers, telecom companies outlined in a statement on Monday step-by-step to restore connectivity.

1. Airtel: Dial *121# and enter your eleven-digit NIN. A confirmation message will indicate that your Airtel SIM card has been successfully unbarred.
2. 9mobile (EMTS): Dial *200*8#.
3. Glo: Dial 109 followed by your NIN number (e.g., *109*12345678901#) and follow the prompts to submit your NIN.
4. MTN: Visit [nin.mtn.ng] (http://nin.mtn.ng) to check NIN status. If not linked, proceed to link it. An OTP and NIN will be required. Once linked, your line will be automatically unbarred.
5. Smile: Send your NIN to customercare@smile.com.ng or call 07020444444. After providing consent and verifying your NIN, your line will be unbarred.
6. Spectranet: Call 8002345678 or email care@spectranet.com.ng to submit your NIN. KYC verification at a Spectranet store is required. You can also submit your NIN online but must complete KYC at a Spectranet store.
7. Ntel: Visit any Ntel store with your NIN. Your fingerprint will be used to verify your existing KYC profile. Upon verification and consent, your line will be updated and unbarred.
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MTN Bows To Pressure, Promises To Unblock Every Sim In 24 hours

Mobile Telecommunications Network, MTN, has promised to unblock every sim of subscribers they blocked in the next 24 hours.

MTN Nigeria, over the past 24 hours, acted upon directives by the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) to disconnect telephone lines connected to Subscriber Identity Modules (SIMs) that were not associated with National Identification Numbers (NINs), which were supposed to go into effect on July 31, 2024.

Some of the subscribers vented their resentment and aggravation about the problem as they arrived at the MTN offices early on Monday, July 29, 2024, with long queues forming at the entrances.

Many vowed to kick off their protest to end bad governance in the country from the MTN offices in their various states.

In a recent development, a viral video captured the moment an MTN head staff announced that all barred sims would be unblocked in the next 24 hours.

While the announcement brought relief to many Nigerians, others speculated that it was a calculated attempt by the government to stop the nationwide protest scheduled for today, July 29th.

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NCC Suspends Barring Of Glo Subscribers From Calling MTN Lines

The Nigerian Communications Commission has decided to suspend its intended action of blocking Glo subscribers from making calls to MTN lines for a period of 21 days.

The commission disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, signed by its Director, Public Affairs, Reuben Mouka, as a follow-up to its Pre-Disconnection Notice issued on January 8, 2024.

In the first notice, the commission stated that it has approved MTN Nigerian Communications Plc. to commence the phased disconnection of Globacom Limited with effect from January 18, 2024, due to a long-standing interconnection debt dispute between the parties.

Announcing its extension, the NCC said, “The commission is pleased to announce that the parties have now reached an agreement to resolve all outstanding issues between them. For this reason, and in the exercise of its regulatory powers in that regard, the commission has put the phased disconnection on hold for 21 days from today, January 17, 2024.

Whilst the commission expects MTN and Glo to resolve all outstanding issues within the 21 days, the commission insists that interconnect debts must be settled by all operating companies as a necessary component towards compliance with regulatory obligations of all licensees.”

It noted that its approval for disconnection would have potential impacts on consumers.

In its extension notice, the NCC stressed that mobile network operators and other licensees in the telecom industry must adhere to the terms and conditions of their licences, especially as contained in their interconnection agreements.

Earlier on Thursday, the commission said it was set to advise Globacom subscribers on the next steps following the expiration of a 10-day grace period for the barring of their lines from making calls to MTN lines.

Muoka said on Wednesday, “We will come out with some information about that. Most likely today, in the next few hours.”

The interconnect charge is the price telecom operators pay one another for calls terminating on their networks.

MTN and Glo have been at loggerheads over this fee for a period of time.

In 2019, MTN briefly disconnected Glo subscribers over a N4bn debt.

A source close to Glo has since said the telco has paid.

The source told PUNCH Online, “We paid within the window allowed. So, it is surprising that this is happening. We made outstanding payments already.”

Another industry source confirmed the payment to PUNCH Online but noted that there are still issues with interest payments.

The source also stated that the National Assembly has waded in.

The source said, “It has not been resolved. The NCC has waded in, and they are waiting for the resolution. They (MTN) are still waiting for the NCC to tell them what to do. Even, the National Assembly has called the two firms.

“The owing party has paid a substantial part of what they owe. But they are still owing for the interest accrued and VAT remittance.”