The Nigerian Communications Commission has warned Nigerians against buying pre-registered SIM cards, citing the illegal nature of the practice, and could attract severe consequences.

In an advisory note sighted on its X platform on Friday, the telecom regulator emphasized that the use of pre-registered SIM cards compromises the accuracy of consumer information.

“Buying pre-registered SIM cards is criminal and may lead to imprisonment, implication in identity theft, financial fraud, kidnapping and armed robbery,” part of the advisory noted.

The NCC explained that using a pre-registered SIM card undermined the reliability of data collected on consumers, making it challenging for authorities to identify and apprehend the actual perpetrators of crimes.

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The warning aims to educate the public on the risks associated with pre-registered SIM cards and encourage compliance with legal guidelines to enhance national security.

The commission urged to follow the proper procedures for registering SIM cards to avoid any legal consequence.

The NCC made the linkage compulsory, directing all telecommunications operators to enforce complete network barring on all phone lines for which subscribers fail to link their SIM cards to their NINs.

There have been two phases of barring SIM cards not linked to NIN by the telcos – the first occurred on February 28 and the second one occurred on March 29.

The regulator, however, has extended the deadline for linking SIM cards to NIN (last phase) to July 31, 2024, from April 15. This extension applies to subscribers with more than four SIMs.

A Magistrate Court sitting in Port Harcourt has sentenced a man, Charles Ogagbe to 16 years in prison for raping a 15-year-old girl.

Ogagbe, originally from Delta State was convicted of the crime, which occurred in 2022 in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Chief Magistrate Rita Oguguo, in her judgment, cited the Child Rights Act, stating that the prosecution successfully proved the case of defilement against Ogagbe.

Chief Magistrate Oguguo sentenced him to 16 years imprisonment without the option of a fine.

Convicted billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, and his co-defendant, Joseph Emeka, have chosen to pursue a plea bargain in their ongoing trial for murder and attempted kidnapping.

This development was revealed on Thursday when the case came up for re-arraignment before Justice Adenike Coker of an Ikeja High Court.

The state lead counsel, Yusuf Sule, informed the court that the defendants had applied for a plea bargain, and the terms were being considered by the Attorney-General of Lagos State, Lawal Pedro.

The defendants were initially scheduled to be re-arraigned on an amended five-count charge bordering on murder, attempt to murder, conspiracy to commit felony, kidnapping, and attempt to murder.