A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has dismissed a N1 billion lawsuit filed against MTN Nigeria Communications Plc by Walls and Gates Ltd and its Managing Director, Mr. Okechukwu Udeichi, over alleged copyright infringement, breach of confidentiality and trademark violations linked to MTN’s 20th anniversary promotional campaign.
Delivering judgment on January 6, 2026, Justice Ayokunle Olayinka Faji agreed with the submissions of MTN’s legal team, led by Obafemi Agaba, that the plaintiffs failed to establish any legally protectable right in their proposal titled “20 for 20.”
The court described the suit as frivolous, speculative and vexatious, dismissing it in its entirety and awarding N3 million in costs against the plaintiffs.
Walls and Gates Ltd had claimed that MTN unlawfully exploited their “20 for 20” proposal, allegedly submitted to the telecoms giant on September 17, 2019, ahead of MTN’s 20th anniversary celebrations in 2021. They argued that MTN’s promotion—under which 20 Sport Utility Vehicles were given to subscribers—was derived from their idea and amounted to copyright infringement, breach of confidentiality and trademark violation.
On that basis, the plaintiffs sought N1 billion in damages or, alternatively, an order compelling MTN to account for revenue generated from the promotion and remit 50 per cent of it to them.
In resolving the dispute, Justice Faji noted that the plaintiffs conceded during oral arguments that their trademark infringement claim was not proved, leaving only allegations of breach of confidentiality and copyright infringement.
On the confidentiality claim, the court held that no confidential relationship existed between the parties. Justice Faji observed that before sending the proposal to MTN, the plaintiffs had already submitted the document to the Nigerian Copyright Commission and relied on it for a trademark application, effectively placing it in the public domain.
He further noted that after forwarding the proposal to MTN, the plaintiffs admitted circulating it to other organisations, thereby destroying any claim to confidentiality.
According to the court, MTN was under no obligation to respond to an unsolicited proposal in the absence of any contractual, fiduciary or business relationship, or a non-disclosure agreement.
On the allegation of copyright infringement, Justice Faji held that registration with the Nigerian Copyright Commission does not confer copyright protection, stressing that Nigerian law protects the expression of ideas—not ideas or business concepts themselves.
He ruled that the plaintiffs’ “20 for 20 Millennium Promotion” was merely an idea of rewarding customers during an anniversary celebration and lacked the originality and intellectual effort required for copyright protection.
Describing the proposal as a bare business concept, the judge said it possessed no original qualities capable of attracting copyright. He also held that MTN’s use of the phrase “MTN 20th Anniversary” was a natural description of an anniversary event and did not derive from any protectable work of the plaintiffs.
Justice Faji further characterised the suit as a “gold-digging exercise” aimed at forcing a commercial relationship on MTN.
Consequently, the court awarded N3 million in costs in favour of MTN, holding that costs must follow the event, and ordered the plaintiffs to pay the sum to the defendant.
Court Throws Out N1bn ‘20 for 20’ Suit Against MTN, Awards N3m Costs
