Lawyer Backs Malema Proposed Move against Data Expiry, Eyes Legal Action Over USSD Charges

ABUJA — Human-rights lawyer Ikechukwu Obasi has signalled plans to take legal steps to protect telecommunication consumers, aligning himself with the South African opposition figure Julius Malema’s campaign against data expiry.

“I align myself with the agitation of Julius Malema of South Africa. Data expiration must end. One should be allowed to exhaust his data,” Obasi wrote on his official X handle.

He further stated that he and colleague Cosmas Okwumuo are “considering some legal actions to take to protect the consumers,” stressing that “protection of consumers of network services now paramount.”

Obasi also faulted failed USSD transactions that still attract charges. “I’m also putting into consideration service providers nonchalantly charging the USSD user for a transaction that failed as a result of network glitches which is their faults,” he added.

The position wades into long-running popular complaints in Nigeria’s telecoms market—expiring data bundles and deductions for aborted USSD sessions—and hints at a possible consumer-rights case aimed at regulators and service providers.