Widow sues Airtel, ATC for N232m over noise pollution

Detailed summary

A widow, Sarah Akinya, has sued Airtel and ATC for N232m in damages over alleged noise pollution and nuisance from a telecom mast near her Lagos home. Read More:…

A widow, Mrs Sarah Akinya, has filed suit against Airtel Networks Limited and ATC Nigeria Wireless Infrastructure Limited before the Lagos State High Court, demanding N232m in damages over alleged noise pollution, structural damage and environmental nuisance caused by a telecommunications mast near her residence in Okota, Lagos.

Akinya, who instituted the suit for herself and members of her household, is also seeking an order compelling the companies to dismantle and relocate the installation or restraining them from continuing operations allegedly affecting her property.

The suit, marked LD/970/2007, is before the Lagos Judicial Division of the High Court and presided over by Justice Bashua.

In her amended statement of claim, the widow alleged that the defendants’ telecommunications facility, identified as LAG 101 Base Station, had subjected her household to persistent noise, vibrations, smoke and fumes since its installation in 2004.

She said she had lived in her four-bedroom bungalow at 2, Alhaji Adeniran Street, off Moshobolaje Street, off Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos since December 1995.

According to her, the problem began in April 2004, when Airtel started construction on the adjoining property at 4, Alhaji Adeniran Street, Lagos.

She alleged that the installation, comprising a telecommunications mast, heavy-duty generators, an energy reservoir and fuel storage facilities, was situated about four metres from her property’s perimeter wall.

The claimant, through her lawyer, Ajibola Ajiboye of Fadeson Legal Practice, alleged that the generators’ continuous operation produced noise and vibrations that caused cracks in the walls of her building and boundary fence.

She further claimed that smoke and fumes from the facility spread into her home, settling on furniture and floors and raising serious health concerns for members of her household.

Opening of the article, excerpted from Punch. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.