Etisalat Nigeria has said it didn’t illegally swap and block the SIM of Julius Agwu, as being widely reported on several blogs and news website.
In an exclusive chat, Chineze Amanfo, Manager, Public Relations, Etisalat Nigeria said the networked performed a SIM swap on the line after the requester provided the customer care executives with necessary SIM replacement information, in accordance with laid down NCC regulations and process for SIM swap.
“Subsequently, upon a report made at our office by Mr. Agwu that he is the owner of the line and did not authorize anyone to swap it, our customer care executives promptly restored the line as well as the airtime lost during the swap process,” he said.
He added that the network is currently carrying out an internal investigation into the incidence and will refer the matter to the appropriate agencies for further investigation as may be necessary
He said: “We wish to assure the general public that Etisalat Nigeria is committed to the protection of the rights of its subscribers and to continue to provide value adding services to its customers. We will spare no effort to unravel the circumstances surrounding the alleged unauthorized SIM swap while encouraging our customers and the general public to protect their personal information at all times.”
Comedian Julius Agwu dragged the network to court for blocking his business line and is demanding for N100 million as compensation for jobs lost, contact lost and all the inconveniences he went through.
According to his legal counsel, his client suffered losses as a result of the blockage.
“It cannot be over emphasized that your actions of unlawfully blocking and/or swapping our client’s line occasioned loss of business opportunities to him. As you are aware, our client as one of the most sought after Nigerian entertainers needs his phone line to be easily accessible to keep his business going. It therefore goes without saying that our client has lost some business opportunities as a result of your actions,” Keyamo said.