Http://www.cellular-news.com/story/27642.php

The Association of Licensed Telecoms Distributors of Nigeria (ALTDON) is planning a N10 billion (US$85 million) lawsuit against the management of Celtel Nigeria - citing unfair business practices by the network operator.

Addressing journalists in Lagos yesterday, the president of ALTDON, Dr. Ayo Ojo, said business is no longer profitable for the trade group members because of "the excessive greed, breach of agreement and unethical ways things are done by Celtel and other providers," He said that the lawsuit was partly to recover losses from the operator but also to act as a deterrent to other companies.

He told the local ThisDay newspaper that "our Lawyers are now about filing a case against Celtel Nigeria Limited in our attempt to seek redress for the various acts of unfair trade practices and breach of agreement which have always been committed against us and now being intensified by the present management."

Amongst the allegations are that Celltel has cut the 2 year sales contracts to a rolling 3-month contract and that it has cut sales commissions almost in half.

Celtel is Nigeria's 3rd largest operator, with a market share of around 21%. According to figures from the Mobile World, the company ended the first half of this year with just under 8 million subscribers.

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[b]More info missing.
You forget to let people know that other networks are involved too.
Is the case in court or about to¿ Or what let us know.
You said as at 1st quarter celtel is under 8million but now where are in 4th quarter pls what is the figure now.Thanks

I think Celtel has the right to review their contracts from time to time in order to remain profitable.

U know that suing story has been on for abt a year now and there is no head. It isnt only celtel though!! and I am sure it will continue till the year 5 thousand.

WOW! Shocking,

Why Celtel? I couldn't go through to the link but I believe I could still participate in this forum, Its very bad on Celtel to be sued at this state! why not MTN?

Celtel are just on their early times with Nigeria, trying hard to make things good. We will be the once to kick them away just like Econect, Vodacomm and Vmobile.

Well, I don't know whether they deserve it or no, But I dont suggest they sue them,

PLEASE CAN SOME 1 TELL THESE[b] ALTDON[/b],THAT THIS IS NIGERIA

surugede:

PLEASE CAN SOME 1 TELL THESE[b] ALTDON[/b],THAT THIS IS NIGERIA

dude naija has changed.
in my state GLOBACOM was sued by an individual for 100 million naira . breach of
contract. actually the whole saga was as a result of a blackberry from glo.
the court ordered glo to pay 60million naira. and it was paid instanta,
so the judiciary is now living up to expectation.

please i want to sue mtn for 10million naira (tryin to be humble)

last weekend, i couldnt make use of my phone. i couldnt check my balance and couldnt load credit as well.

10billion why are nigerians such jokes. . wat are they suing a company 10billion for? watever happened to 6 digits. it seems like nywhere they see free cash they dnt have to work for they will put head the other day it was cigars now this. . . 10billion my foot

If their damages are worth N10 billion, then why should they sue for less? As a general rule, when litigants go to court, you over-estimate the damages you have suffered so as to incline the opposing party to settle (this is a very common tactic and sometimes, just based on the bad press that a case might receive, it might make sense to settle the case due to the nuisance value). If the opposing party tries to negotiate a settlement amount, which in most cases will be lower than the amount demanded by the suing party, and the opposing party is not happy with the price, the opposing party can take its chances in a court of law but the law is a fickle animal, and they can get the case settled for less or they can end up paying the N10 billion. The merits and the validity of the N10 billion suit will be adjudicated in court and that is why people go to court.

its obvious none of the people who replied this post is a celtel distributor.I am and i know what we are going through.When an organization as big as Celtel tells you to go to the bank to get a bank guarantee based on an agreement signed by both the dealer and Celtel and before the expiration of the contract,Celtel changes rule,what do you expect the dealers to do?A lot of dealers went to the banks and collected facilities to meet Celtel demands and suddenly Celtel wakes up to cancel the contracts.It is not fair at all.All the other networks are guilty though.Globacom is worse.

humantoy:

its obvious none of the people who replied this post is a celtel distributor.I am and i know what we are going through.When an organization as big as Celtel tells you to go to the bank to get a bank guarantee based on an agreement signed by both the dealer and Celtel and before the expiration of the contract,Celtel changes rule,what do you expect the dealers to do?A lot of dealers went to the banks and collected facilities to meet Celtel demands and suddenly Celtel wakes up to cancel the contracts.It is not fair at all.All the other networks are guilty though.Globacom is worse.

      @humantoy,
i understand your plight.
but i think if you guys start with CELTEL other networks will learn how to create
a more friendly enviroment for their numerous sales distributors.
      PLS YOU GUYS SHOULDN'T GIVE UP. ( to have the ultimate victory you must be ruthless)

zigbo,
U need to wake up from ur slumber. this is 2007. Any firm or persons who commit a suable offense runs d risk of being sued. In d case of celtel, they deserve to be sued if they go contrary to stipulated standards. no sentiments in law! u do not make ur profits at d xpense of others without following the laid down agreement. me i no fit shout.
MTN, GLO, STARCOMMS, MULTILINKS etc shall be sued soon too.

@zigbo
celtel ng is worth just  a little above 3.4 billion dollars.
so 10 billion naira should not be their problem. should the court find them guity which am SURE they are, then they will have no option than to pay.
  naija has changed the judicairy is now living up to expectation.( common man's last hope)
    Zigbo wake up

@kosovo your 100% right in what you're saying if nigeria will not bring their judiciary standad to western level common man like me and you will not enjoy what is our right. 10bln naira is a big money but it will set example to others to make a geniun business in nigeria. in europe you don't mess with written agreement talkless of contract.

oziomatv:

   @kosovo your 100% right in what you're saying if nigeria will not bring their judiciary standad to western level common man like me and you will not enjoy what is our right. 10bln naira is a big money but it will set example to others to make a geniun business in nigeria. in europe you don't mess with written agreement talkless of contract.

@oziomatv.
  To say that i am delighted at your reply is to say the obvious.
thank GOD you are seeing the whole thing the same way i see it.
  we must enjoy our right even if it makes a company
go bankrupt or liquidates.
  my HOPES ON THE JUDICAIRY IS 100%.

@ kosovo don't post wrong info here!

who told u glo paid the money instanta, when was it paid. the last we heard abt it was that all glo offices be closed down in benin as they did not even honour the hearing with their presence in court. the chase is still on. I don't know where u got ur info 4rm but verify b4 u spill it just to make a story

I think all these companies are not owned by nigerian citizens. they come to take advantage of our weakness, while we wait for govt. to give us our daily bread. Indians are taking advantage in nigeria.

cabali:

@ kosovo don't post wrong info here!

who told u glo paid the money instanta, when was it paid. the last we heard about it was that all glo offices be closed down in benin as they did not even honour the hearing with their presence in court. the chase is still on. I don't know where u got your info from but verify before u spill it just to make a story

yes you can say that again.
but you know i dont say shit. the money was paid
the public were put in the dark in other to save their reputation.
EVERYTHING HAS BEEN PAID.
is the manager still in that office? left for you to find out.

kosovo:

yes you can say that again.
but you know i don't say shit. the money was paid
the public were put in the dark in other to save their reputation.
EVERYTHING HAS BEEN PAID.
is the manager still in that office? left for you to find out.

Credible source pls. Any

@Coleslove ,
i am done here
after this post i not gonna say any damn thing again.
you are looking for credible information right?
then go straight to the centre of the highways, you will definately find
all the credible sources you will ever need
GO to b*a**s
case CLOSED AND DISMISSED.
GOD be with just me.

kosovo U harsh oo! Must U be this foul? U should have politely answered the question, or, maybe ignore it.
Nuttin do U shaa. I feel U. Naija must progress. This is 2007. If U mess up in Naija now, U pay for ur shit. U pay thru ur balls!

simple massage,clean up your ass or get walloped.
MTN got kicked out in benin republic.
in nigeria people carry lot of cell phones like mafias,cos of the poor service of this yeye providers.

@ kosovo where are u running to? come and defend ur rubbish. who told u it was even the public? which public was paid? I didn't get paid so who was? and when? don't know of the manager but I can find out and discredit ur ass.

meanwhile if it is abt service, I think the government planned to use the $285m got from licencing to provide infrastructure but in the end, they shared the loot among all states and did nothing that's why they really can't descend on these operators.

Kosovo come back here and tell me how I can get my share u!!

Is it by force to conduct business with Celtel? if you feel the terms are unprofitable then back out of the deal!!

Back ouT ?? After c0mmiTinG themselves ?

Yes, that is business! Business is dynamic; there's no permanent customer or supplier. it's not marriage.

Yes business is dyNamic . .but if they ch0se to change c0urse midway then there shuld b c0mpensatn .right?

cabali:

@ kosovo where are u running to? come and defend your rubbish. who told u it was even the public? which public was paid? I didn't get paid so who was? and when? don't know of the manager but I can find out and discredit your ass.

meanwhile if it is about service, I think the government planned to use the $285m got from licencing to provide infrastructure but in the end, they shared the loot among all states and did nothing that's why they really can't descend on these operators.

Kosovo come back here and tell me how I can get my share u!!

@cabali
i aren't running nowhere, i m back just me and no one else to put things straight. for once
i never  told you the public were paid.
GET A MEDICATED LENSE SO YOU CAN READ THROUGH.
or go to one of those adult schools.
  i know you just wanted to post some thing. its normal but NEVER TRY TO GO BEYOUND THE LINEs: DONT .quote me WRONG next time, OTHERWISE I will have no option than TO put you on HEAT.
JUST me and you no where to HIDE.

@flakey94 and seun
business is not marraige i completely agree with that. flakey94 dont forget it is not a one man's stuff. it's an association.
but i can recall. the association said there was a breach of contract.
eme.meme. flakey94 have you asked your self this question? if the association back's off who will represent the company? who sell their products? etc. the C.E.O?
nah,  never.
things more be done right in this country at least for ONCE.

its obvious none of the people who replied this post is a celtel distributor.I am and i know what we are going through.When an organization as big as Celtel tells you to go to the bank to get a bank guarantee based on an agreement signed by both the dealer and Celtel and before the expiration of the contract,Celtel changes rule,what do you expect the dealers to do?A lot of dealers went to the banks and collected facilities to meet Celtel demands and suddenly Celtel wakes up to cancel the contracts.It is not fair at all.All the other networks are guilty though.Globacom is worse.

It is true that we will fight for our right, but fighting a good course in a wrong direction will yield little or no benefit.
I am a dealer too and the truth is that 80% of the dealers problems are caused by dealers themselves, though the operators aid those unhealthy business practices by some unscrupulous dealers whoom i personally bealive that they are using communication dealership to cover their evil businesses.
If my opinion will count, I will sugest to our prestigieous association (ALTDON) to petition EFCC, ICPC & NDLEA to probe those group of dealers that are involved in this act while seeking to redress the unlawful & unfavourable business policies from the operators.