ATC Nigeria Wireless Infrastructure Limited has stated that Errol Ambler-Smith, the Nigerian chief executive officer, has been cleared by the Federal High Court of contempt of the court allegations.
The company explained thus:
“On November 21, 2023, HEDA Resource Centre in Nigeria, without putting the parties on notice and in their absence, obtained an interim order from the Federal High Court in Lagos preventing ATC Nigeria Wireless Infrastructure Limited (ATC Nigeria) and MTN Nigeria Communications Plc (MTN Nigeria) from constructing or operating base transceiver stations “within close proximity” to such stations owned by IHS Towers Nigeria Limited.
“Thereafter, HEDA filed a contempt of court case against ATC Nigeria’s CEO, Errol Ambler-Smith, seeking his arrest.
“On March 8, 2024, the Federal High Court vacated its earlier interim order on the basis that HEDA Resource Centre had concealed the critical fact that none of the planned base transceiver stations violated the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) regulations on distance between tower infrastructures”.
ATC Nigeria said that given this ruling, “there are no subsisting orders of injunction preventing ATC Nigeria or MTN Nigeria and ATC Nigeria from constructing base transceiver stations for MTN Nigeria. At the same hearing, the Federal High Court struck out the contempt of court claims against ATC Nigeria’s CEO, Errol Ambler-Smith”.
ATC Nigeria owns, operates, and develops wireless communications sites outdoors, indoors, and in urban and rural locations across Nigeria.
Established in 2015, with a current portfolio of over 8,000 tower sites and investments of over USD 2.1 billion to date, the company’s innovative solutions are the connectivity backbone for 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), and a limitless mobile future.
ATC Nigeria is a subsidiary of America Tower Corporation (ATC), a NYSE listed company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. ATC is a global leader of wireless communications infrastructure with a presence in twenty-five (25) countries on six continents and with over 6,400 employees worldwide.