A SIM card is small but it could land you in jail if you dont procure it in accordance to the process stipulated by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
Seven Nigerians discovered this in a bitter way last month when they were each sentenced to prison for periods ranging from two months to six months.
According to the NCC, they were charged for offences on the violation of SIM registration laws in the country. The seven persons are: Bako Joseph Boy, Umar Kabiru Abdullahi, Lawal Sani, Shamsuddin Aliyu, George Eze, Ayuba Ishak, and Kabiru Ali.
They were sentenced to two months imprisonment with an option to pay a fine of N15,000 and six months imprisonment or the option of fine in the sum of N20,000, at the Grade 1 Area Court Nyanya, Abuja and the Senior Magistrate Court, Kano (depending on the location they were caught).
Their conviction is a warning to other Nigerians to beware of when and how they procure SIM cards. To avoid the fate that befell these Nigerians, you must beware of the following which are violations of the SIM card registration law of the NCC.
1. The sale and purchase of SIM cards that are outside controlled environment.
2. The use of fake or wrong identity during SIM card registration or Impersonation.
3. The sale and purchase of fraudulently registered SIM cards because the use of pre-registered SIM cards gives cover for unwholesome activities like kidnapping, armed robbery, identity of theft crimes, among others.
The SIM card registration law requires that you purchase SIM cards from registered outlets under NCC and thereby encouraged to stop the sale, purchase and use of pre-registered SIM cards as it constitutes a punishable offence under the law.
