Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd. and the Registrar of Trademark, Patent; Designs to pay N770 million in damages for infringing on Citilink Accesscorp Limited’s registered trademark “WEBPLUS.”

The court found MTN guilty of unauthorised use of the “WEBPLUS” trademark, which was lawfully registered by Citilink under Class 9 of the Trademark Registry.

Justice Osiagor issued a perpetual injunction prohibiting MTN and the Registrar from registering or issuing any certificates for “WEBPLUS,” “WEB+,” “MTN WEBPLUS,” or any similar variations under Classes 9, 16, and 38.

In suit FHC/L/CS/1124/2014, Citilink Accesscorp, represented by its counsel Azubuike Obiekwe, sought “a declaration that it is the sole legal owner of the WEBPLUS trademark under Registration RTM No. 65162”.

It prayed the court to hold that MTN’s use of “MTN WEBPLUS” or “WEB+” constitutes trademark infringement.

The plaintiff sought a perpetual injunction preventing MTN and the Registrar from issuing or registering any similar marks.

MTN’s legal team, led by Fidelis Adewole, argued that the defence of honest concurrent use applied in this case.

He contended that even if the trademarks were similar, MTN had used the mark without deceptive intent and in good faith, urging the court to dismiss the claims.

Justice Osiagor rejected MTN’s defence and ruled in favour of Citilink, granting general damages of N840 million, calculated at N70 million per year from 2014 to 2025, for loss of business and brand dilution.

“An additional 15 per cent annual interest will be applied until the judgment is fully paid,” the judge held.

He also granted a perpetual injunction restraining MTN from using the ‘WEBPLUS’ trademark.

Justice Osiagor refused a request for special damages, including legal fees, due to insufficient proof.

Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has cautioned its members to be wary of buying high volume of petroleum products.

The warning, according to IPMAN’s spokesman Chinedu Ukadike, became necessary because of the instability of the petrol market.

With the precaution, he said, the marketers could avoid huge losses from the very frequent price adjustments.

According to him, the Dangote Refinery is loading products from the vessels and any moment soon, it would commence lifting from its gantry.

He noted that loading the product from the gantry would crash the price, claimed that tank farm owners were taking advantage of loading from the vessels to inflate the prices.

Udadike said: “Dangote has not started selling from his gantry. So, that is what affects the market. This has given rise to tank farm members who have products to inflate the prices to be able to meet with the demand of the market. And they are also using this opportunity for profiteering.

“We the independent marketers we are very wary of buying high volume of petroleum products so that the prices will not crash against us.

“Once Dangote starts lifting from its gantry, prices will crash and independent petroleum marketers who bought product high during this period of time will lose a whole chunk of money.

“So, we are advising our members not to buy chunk of products but just get some products that they can use in maintaining their filling stations.”

Dangote Refinery’s  Group Chief Branding and Communication Officer Anthony Chiejina, could not be reached last night, when this reporter sent a WhatsApp message to him to confirm whether the refinery has started selling products in dollars.

Last Thursday, the company  announced its stoppage of sale of products in naira temporarily since the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has halted sale of crude oil to the plant in Naira.

A technical sub-committee on crude oil sale in Naira last year announced the commencement of the sale of feedstock in the local currency to the refinery.

The sub- committee is expected to meet with the concerned parties today in Abuja.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) Senator Heineken Lokpobiri said contract of sale of crude oil in Naira between NNPCL and Dangote Refinery was only a six-month pilot scheme.

The refinery said in statement: “We wish to inform you that, Dangote Petroleum Refinery has temporarily halted the sale of petroleum products in Naira.

“This decision is necessary to avoid a mismatch between our sales proceeds and our crude oil purchase obligations, which are currently denominated in U.S. dollars.”

The message also stressed its plan to resume sale in naira as soon as NNPCL recommences sale of feedstock in naira to the refinery.

“As soon as we receive an allocation of Naira-denominated crude cargoes from NNPC, we will promptly resume petroleum product sales in Naira,” Dangote said in a statement.

Following the communal clashes between Ifon and Ilobu communities over land dispute and imposition of 24- hour curfew by Governor Ademola Adeleke, there was uneasy calm in the two local government areas of Osun State yesterday.

The Nation recalls that the communal clash, which later spread to Erin-Osun, claimed three lives. Thirty people sustained gunshot injuries, as over 100,000 people were displaced, while over N2billion worth of property were destroyed.

Findings by The Nation yesterday revealed that Governor Adeleke at the meeting held with the traditional rulers of the two communities, Olufon of Ifon, Oba Peter Akinyooye and Olobu of Ilobu, Oba Ashiru Olaniyan, threatened to hand over dethronement letters to them if the clashes continue.

Adeleke, through his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said: “The governor threatens to suspend the traditional rulers of the affected towns if violence should resurface, while those who sign peace undertakings will face the law if communal confrontation reoccurs.”

The Otun Jagun of Ilobu, High Chief Leke Ogunsola, said: “For now, every where is calm. Security operatives, including the military, DSS and other personnel are on ground. The 24 hours curfew imposed by Governor Adeleke is very effective. In the morning, some people wanted to breach it by start burning houses around Bobamu-Ori-Oke and Ayedaade in Ilobu, but they were dispatched immediately.”

He added: “At the meeting with our king, they talked to our people and threatened them. Our King, Oba Ashiru Olaniyan and that of Ifon were warned. They handed over warning letters to them, cautioning the kings that they will be deposed if there is resurgence of crisis in their domains.”

Olufon of Ifon, Oba Akinyooye, had in a statement called on the Olobu of Ilobu and the Elerin of Erin-Osun, Oba Yusuff Oyagbodun, to cease all forms of conflict and allow stakeholders to restore peace and unity to the land.

He said: “I appeal to all indigenes of Ifon-Osun, Ilobu and Erin-Osun, who have been affected and displaced by this unfortunate incident, to return home with the spirit of community that we once enjoyed.”

The Executive Director, Project Implementation at the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Abuja, Mr Oluremi Omowaiye, called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to come to the aid of those displaced in the two local governments.

Omowaiye, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in a statement to reporters yesterday, lamented that over 72 hours after the crises broke out; there was no response in terms of provision of aid for those displaced by the state government.

He said: “Over 72 hours after, we have not seen anyone set up camp or provide any form of succour for those displaced in the violent clashes at Ifon, Ilobu and Erin Osun by Osun State Government.

“These people should be treated better. I find it hard to believe that authorities directly concerned are not acting yet.”

Omowaiye pleaded with the Vice- President, Kashim Shettima, who supervises NEMA, to direct the agency to come around and provide relief materials for the victims.

“I am also using this medium to call on ex-governor and our political leader, Adegboyega Oyetola, to use his connections and goodwill to get aid for these people.“

The state Chairman of Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Adewale Adebayo, urged well-meaning Nigerians to assist those affected by the crisis.

He said: “I believe the state government ought to provide a temporary camp for the victims of the crisis by now, because their houses have been burnt.