Court Orders GLO to Pay N2 Million for Unauthorized SIM Swap

Telecommunications company Globacom Nigeria Limited has been ordered to pay ₦2 million in damages to a customer, Hadiza Abdullahi, over an unauthorized SIM swap that compromised her privacy and security.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja upheld a prior decision by the Federal High Court, affirming that GLO violated Hadiza’s rights by allowing a third party to assume control of her SIM card without her consent.

The case began when a man, Mohammed Yusuf, approached GLO requesting a SIM swap, claiming to be Hadiza’s husband. He said she was pregnant and unable to appear in person and presented documents to support his claim. GLO approved the request and reallocated the line.

Hadiza, however, denied authorizing the swap and sued for privacy violation and negligence. The Federal High Court agreed, ruling that GLO acted improperly by relying on a third-party claim without directly verifying from the actual subscriber.

In its appeal, GLO maintained it followed Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) procedures, but the appellate court disagreed.

Delivering the lead judgment, Justice A.M. Mainoma said:

“GLO failed to prove its case. Its actions were arbitrary, unconstitutional, and outrageously reprehensible.”

The court further emphasized that telecom companies have a duty to protect user data, and cannot hand over personal information or access without direct and verified authorization.

With this ruling, GLO is now required to pay ₦2,000,000 in compensation to Hadiza for breach of trust and violation of her fundamental right to privacy.

The case has sparked renewed public concern over SIM swap fraud and the weak safeguards in Nigeria’s telecom sector, especially as such breaches often lead to identity theft, financial loss, and cybercrime.

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