NEWS
Ogun palliatives: CAN, Muslim community, CDC, others debunk viral video
Stakeholders in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State on Monday debunked claims in a viral online video that a 10kg bag of rice was given to be shared as palliative in Sokeye Community.
At a meeting called by the leadership of the council to explain how the palliatives meant to alleviate the pains occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy were distributed, stakeholders said the formula used to share the bags of rice is the best they’ve ever seen in the state.
Speaking at the event, Bishop Ezekiel Olukunle, who represented CAN on the committee that shared and monitored the palliatives, described the video as a hatchet job and urged the public to disregard it.
“CAN was given 1000 bags of rice for our members who are vulnerable. We shared these diligently and Sokeye, like every communities, got its own share. How then can he say only one bag was to be shared by all households in the estate? He is definitely up to something bad and we plead that he should be ignored,” he said.
Corroborating the Bishop, Dr. Saheed Adeleye, who represented the Muslim Community on the sharing committee, said the formula used to share the palliatives is the best he has seen in his almost 40 years of living in the council area.
The community leader who said the man who did the video lives in the same area with him, describe him as a known opposition agent.
“There is no truth in the claims of the man. He is being used. We know him. He has never contributed to the development of our area but he is good at ganging up against every government.
“I can tell you that we in the Muslim Community got 1000 bags of rice which we distributed to the vulnerable amongst us. I live in Sokeye and I can confirm that not less than 165 bags of rice were given to the needy in the community. This is the same community the man was lying about.
“And we are not the only one who got rice to share. CAN, youths, market women, traditionalists, Baales, the Obas, Hausa, Igbo, Igede communities the Isese, artisans and many other stakeholders also shared rice for people in Sokeye. We have never had it so good in the last 40 years that I have been there,” he affirmed.
Mr. Babalola Samuel Olakunle, who is the Chairman of the Community Development Council (CDC) covering Sokeye Estate, said not less than 2000 bags of rice were given to the CDC to be shared to the vulnerables in the various communities.
He added that the CDA chairman who did the video refused to be part of the efforts to distribute the palliative when contacted.
“The one bag of rice he displayed was specifically given to him for onward transmission to an identified vulnerable widow in his estate, not for the whole estate and he knew that.
He is being used by opposition politicians to tarnish the government. We know him very well and we can tell you his antecedents.
“Aside from the thousand of bags shared by the CDC part of which we got in Sokeye and other communities, the Muslim community, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), market association, youth groups, etc also collected bags of rice and shared for their needy members in the estate and other communities.
“How then can he claim only one bag was given to the whole estate? We find his online video mischievous and embarrassing. That is why we are here to profusely debunk it and apologise to the state government.
“We also think he should be made to explain his actions so as to prevent other people with the same motive from going the same way,” Babalola added.
Also, Chief Mrs. Kemi Ogunleye, the Iyaloja of the LGA, explained how market women were given 1000 bags of rice as palliatives.
“We shared it among out people and more than 60 bags were given to market women in Sokeye where that man lives. Just because the state government did not hand over all the rice to him to share as it used to be in the past, he is now spreading falsehood.
“He is angry because it is no longer business as usual,” she said.
In his own testimony, Chief Kasumu Jamiu Sonola, the Baale of Asese community and Chairman, Council of Baales in the local government, said he took delivery of 1000 bags of rice on behalf of the Council.
“We didn’t keep it for ourselves. We shared it for the needy in our various communities. All the Baales collected and took it to the poor people in their domains.
“Sokeye got its own share. So the man cannot be saying the truth. I personally ensured that it was given to the targeted beneficiaries,” he said.
Speaking on the development, Oba Taofeek Owolabi, the Olu of Obafe and Chairman of the Council of Obas in the LGA, lauded Governor Dapo Abiodun for ensuring the diligent distribution of the palliatives.
“This time around, the sharing of the palliatives was done in a manner that it got to the people who should benefit from it.
“I am surprised to hear about the video. It is unfortunate that some people wanted to rubbish a fantastic innovation. This is the best way to share the palliatives and I appreciate the governor and everybody involved.
“Even we Kabyesis got 500 bags of rice which we shared to our people. With the way the palliatives were shared, no well meaning person should complain. Governor Abiodun’s style is the best we have seen in Ogun State,” he explained.
Urging the public to disregard the content of the video, Chairman of Obafemi Owode LGA, Hon. Lanre Ogunsola Adesina said the committee put in place to oversee the sharing of the palliatives did a good job.
“We started the process with the composition of pallative distribution committee that was inaugurated at the local government secretariat on 26th September 2023.
“The members of the committee were drawn from the three zones made up the council area namely, Obafe, Owode and Oba zones with Kabiyesis, Baales, religious associations, youths, women, market associations, Community Development Associations, people with disabilities, security agencies and others ably represented.
“It is now unfortunate to see a viral video being presented by the CDA chairman to the public that a bag of rice was meant for the entire household in his estate. It is pertinent to say that the bag of rice shown in the viral video was meant to be sent to a vulnerable within the community through the CDA chairman.
“Several other members of the CDA in the area have gotten their own through Baales, market men/women, community development associations, christian association, Muslim association, youth council, people with disability and security agencies.
“A similar viral video earlier thrown to the public was later debunked by the CDA chairman who released it after he sought further clarification.
“This is why we suspected very strongly that the Sokeye CDA chairman may be out to intentionally work against the state government’s bid to reach out to the targeted vulnerables.
“After a careful look at the video, we wish to state that the action and statement of the CDA chairman is politically sponsored by the opposition.
“Please disregard the viral video as it is aimed as tarnishing the image of the performing governor, Prince (Dr)Dapo Abiodun (CON).
NEWS
Customers of United Bank of Africa, Zenith bank, Fidelity bank, Sterling bank,Polaris Bank, Other Disconnected Banks May Not Get Alert, Others From January 27 Over Debt
Barring any changes, customers of nine banks in Nigeria may not be able to receive alerts and perform banking transactions using their mobile phones from January 27, 2025, as telecommunications operators have been authorised to disconnect the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) codes assigned to the financial institutions due to N200 billion debt.This directive was given by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in a public notice yesterday, signed by the Commission’s Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, reports Daily Independent.The NCC said affected banks must settle their outstanding obligations by January 27, 2025, or risk losing access to their USSD codes.These codes, essential for enabling mobile banking services, could be reassigned to other applicants if the debts remain unresolved.Originally designed by telecom operators for services like airtime purchases and subscriptions, USSD has become a key tool in the banking sector, offering financial services to users without requiring an Internet connection.The commission revealed that, as of Tuesday’s (January 14, 2025) close of business, nine out of 18 financial institutions had not complied with regulatory directives.While other banks have cleared their debts, the total amount initially owed by the financial institutions was reported to exceed N200 billion.However, the regulator did not disclose the precise debt currently owed by the affected banks.According to the NCC, some of the unpaid invoices have remained unpaid since 2020, indicating a prolonged financial dispute between the banks and telecom operators.Part of the notice reads, “By the information made available to the commission as at close of business on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, of a total of 18 financial institutions, the nine institutions listed below have failed to comply significantly with the directives in the second joint circular of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the commission dated December 20, 2024, for the settlement of outstanding invoices due to MNOS, some since 2020.”The regulator noted that banks’ failure to comply with the CBN-NCC joint circular also means that they are unable to meet the good standing requirements for the renewal of the USSD codes assigned to them by the commission.It added, “In fulfilment of its consumer protection mandate, the commission wishes to inform consumers that they may be unable to access the USSD platform of the affected financial institutions from January 27, 2025.”The affected financial institutions include United Bank for Africa Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, First City Monument Bank, Jaiz Bank Plc, Polaris Bank Limited, Sterling Bank Limited, Wema Bank Plc, Zenith bank and other one financial institution. The affected USSD codes include 770, 919, 822, 329, 773, 833, 7799, 945 and 966.The NCC emphasised that the financial institutions had been duly notified of the need for immediate compliance and warned that consumers may face service disruptions if the issues remain unresolved.This development highlighted ongoing tensions between telecommunications companies and financial institutions over unpaid USSD-related debts, a challenge that has persisted for years.Earlier in the week, NCC had promised to issue a notice with the names of the erring banks, preparing bank customers to seek alternatives during the suspension period.USSD is a crucial payment gateway for many Nigerians.During the 20th anniversary of the telecoms sector in 2021, the then Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, said, “The introduction of USSD changed everything. Without telecoms infrastructure, there is no USSD code.”The value of USSD transactions between January and June 2024 was N2.19 trillion.However, this is a 54.75 percent decline from N4.84 trillion in the same period of 2023, with more Nigerians increasingly favouring internet transfers.In a December 20 memo, the CBN and NCC gave banks a December 31, 2024, deadline to pay 85 percent of all outstanding invoices (from February 2022)- a mandate that has been ignored by many of the banks.
Seplat Petroleum Development Company Limited (also known as Seplat Energy Plc) and 12 senior officials of the company have been dragged to court by the Federal Government of Nigeria for alleged tax evasion amounting to the sum of $37.5 million, The Witness reports.The 12 officials of the oil firm listed in the suit are: Roger Brown (CEO), Samson Ezugworie (COO/ED0; Eleanor Adaralegbe (CFO/ED); Effiong Okon (MD, ANOH Gas); Ayodele Olatunde (MD, Seplat West); Obi Ada Itotoi (MD, Seplat East); Pius Ozoemenah Udeh (MD, Elcrest); Edith Owuchekwa (Company Secretary); Chioma Yvonne Afe (Dir. External Affairs); Okechukwu Mba (Dir. New Energy); Alasdair Mackenzie (Dir. Strategy & Planning) and Steve Ojeh (Dir. Corporate Services).In the Suit No: FHC/L/ 982C/24, filed before the Federal High Court, Lagos division by the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, on behalf of the federal government, it was alleged that Seplat Petroleum and 12 of its officials, sometime in 2010, in Nigeria did purchase a participating interest in the producing assets of OML 4, OML 38 and OML 41 and failed or evaded to pay the statutory stamp duty imposed on the Purchase Agreement and the accruing interest in the sum of $37,581,083.40 to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.The FIRS alleged that by evading the said tax, the company and its officials committed an offence, contrary to S. 23 of the Stamp Duties Act and punishable under S.111 and 112 of the Stamp Duties Act (as amended).The defendants were also alleged to have counterfeited the seal of the Commissioner of Stamp Duties by inserting same on the purchase agreement of OML 4, OML 38, and OML 41.The five count charge filed before the court by the FIRS against Seplat Petroleum and its officials are:COUNT 1: That you SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD, ROGER BROWN, SAMSON EZUGWORIE, ELEANOR ADARALEGBE,EFFIONG OKON, AYODELE OLATUNDE, IBI ADA ITOTOI, PIUS OZOEMENAM UDEH, EDITH ONWUCHEKWA, CHIOMA YVONNE AFE.OKECHUKWU MBA, ALASDAIR MACKENZIE and STEVE OJEH, sometime in 2010, in Nigeria and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did purchase a participating interest in the producing assets of OML 4, OML 38 and OML 4I and failed or evaded to pay the statutory stamp duty imposed on the executed Purchase Agreement and the accruing interest in the sum of $37,581,083.40 (Thirty seven million, live hundred and eighty one thousand, eighty three dollars and forty cents only) a sum due and payable to the Federal Republic of Nigeria in so doing, committed an offence, contrary to S. 23 of the Stamp Duties Act and punishable under S.111 and 112 of the Stamp Duties Act (as amended).COUNT 2: That you SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED, ROGER BROWN, SAMSON EZUGWORIE, ELEANOR ADARALEGBE,EFFIONG OKON, AYODELE OLATUNDE, IBI ADA ITOTOI, PIUS OZOEMENAM UDEH, EDITH ONWUCHEKWA, CHIOMA YVONNE AFE.OKECHUKWU MBA, ALASDAIR MACKENZIE and STEVE OJEH, sometime in 2010, in Nigeria and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did purchase a participating interest in the producing assets of OML 4, OML 38 and OML 41 and did unlawfully and willfully evade the payment and remittance of duties, fines, penalties and debts due to the Government of the Federation imposed on the executed Purchase Agreement to acquire Oil Mining Lease 4, 38 and 41, in the sum of $37,581,083.40 (Thirty seven million, five hundred and eighty one thousand and forty cents only) and in so doing, committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under S. 111 and 112 of the Stamp Duties Act (as amended).COUNT 3: That you SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED, ROGER BROWN, SAMSON EZUGWORIE, ELEANOR ADARALEGBE, EFFIONG OKON, AYODELE OLATUNDE, IBI ADA ITOTOI, PIUS OZOEMENAM UDEH, EDITH ONWUCHEKWA, CHIOMA YVONNE AFE, OKECHUKWU MBA, ALASDAIR MACKENZIE and STEVE OJEH, sometime in 2010, in Nigeria and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did purchase a participating interest in the producing assets of OML 4, OML 38 the executed Purchase Agreements and the accruing interest in the sum of S eighty three dollars and forty cents only), a sum due and payable to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and in so doing, committed an offence contrary to and punishable under S. 32 of the Federal Inland Revenue Service Establishment Act 2007 (as amended).COUNT 4: That you SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED, ROGER BROWN, SAMSON EZUGWORIE, ELEANOR ADARALEGBE, EFFIONG OKON, AYODELE OLATUNDE, IBI ADA ITOTOI, PIUS OZOEMENAM UDEH, EDITH ONWUCHEKWA, CHIOMA YVONNE AFE, OKECHUKWU MBA, ALASDAIR MACKENZIE and STEVE OJEH, sometime in 2010, in Nigeria and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did purchase a participating interest in the producing assets of OML 4, OML 38and OML 41 and failed or evaded to pay the statutory stamp duty imposed on the executed Purchase Agreement and the accruing interest in the sum of $37,581,083.40 (thirty seven million1, five hundred and eighty one thousand, eighty three dollars and forty cents only a sum due and payable to the Federal Republic of Nigeria in so doing, committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under S.40 of the Federal Inland Revenue Service Establishment Act 2007 (as amended).COUNT 5: That you SEPLATPETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED, ROGER BROWN, SAMSON EZUGWORIE, ELEANOR ADARALEGBE, EFFIONG OKON, AYODELE OLATUNDE, IBI ADA ITOTOI, PIUS OZOEMENAM UDEH, EDITH ONWUCHEKWA, CHIOMA YVONNE AFE, OKECHUKWU MBA and STEVE OJEH on or about 2010 in Nigeria and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did counterfeit the seal of the Commissioner of Stamp Duties by inserting same on the purchase agreement of OML 4, OML 38 and OML 41, for the purposes of verification relating to the taxes thereat and thereby committed an offence, contrary to S.43 (c) and punishable under S.43 ( c) of the Federal Inland Revenue Establishment Act 2007 (as amended).When contacted, Chioma Afe, Director, External Affairs and Sustainability, Seplat Energy, told The Witness via a text message that “The matter is in court and as such we cannot comment on it. Further information will be shared at an appropriate time as needed,”Meanwhile, the matter has been fixed for February 28, 2025 for trial.egramShareSeplat Petroleum Development Company Limited (also known as Seplat Energy Plc) and 12 senior officials of the company have been dragged to court by the Federal Government of Nigeria for alleged tax evasion amounting to the sum of $37.5 million, The Witness reports.The 12 officials of the oil firm listed in the suit are: Roger Brown (CEO), Samson Ezugworie (COO/ED0; Eleanor Adaralegbe (CFO/ED); Effiong Okon (MD, ANOH Gas); Ayodele Olatunde (MD, Seplat West); Obi Ada Itotoi (MD, Seplat East); Pius Ozoemenah Udeh (MD, Elcrest); Edith Owuchekwa (Company Secretary); Chioma Yvonne Afe (Dir. External Affairs); Okechukwu Mba (Dir. New Energy); Alasdair Mackenzie (Dir. Strategy & Planning) and Steve Ojeh (Dir. Corporate Services).In the Suit No: FHC/L/ 982C/24, filed before the Federal High Court, Lagos division by the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, on behalf of the federal government, it was alleged that Seplat Petroleum and 12 of its officials, sometime in 2010, in Nigeria did purchase a participating interest in the producing assets of OML 4, OML 38 and OML 41 and failed or evaded to pay the statutory stamp duty imposed on the Purchase Agreement and the accruing interest in the sum of $37,581,083.40 to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.The FIRS alleged that by evading the said tax, the company and its officials committed an offence, contrary to S. 23 of the Stamp Duties Act and punishable under S.111 and 112 of the Stamp Duties Act (as amended).The defendants were also alleged to have counterfeited the seal of the Commissioner of Stamp Duties by inserting same on the purchase agreement of OML 4, OML 38, and OML 41.The five count charge filed before the court by the FIRS against Seplat Petroleum and its officials are:COUNT 1: That you SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD, ROGER BROWN, SAMSON EZUGWORIE, ELEANOR ADARALEGBE,EFFIONG OKON, AYODELE OLATUNDE, IBI ADA ITOTOI, PIUS OZOEMENAM UDEH, EDITH ONWUCHEKWA, CHIOMA YVONNE AFE.OKECHUKWU MBA, ALASDAIR MACKENZIE and STEVE OJEH, sometime in 2010, in Nigeria and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did purchase a participating interest in the producing assets of OML 4, OML 38 and OML 4I and failed or evaded to pay the statutory stamp duty imposed on the executed Purchase Agreement and the accruing interest in the sum of $37,581,083.40 (Thirty seven million, live hundred and eighty one thousand, eighty three dollars and forty cents only) a sum due and payable to the Federal Republic of Nigeria in so doing, committed an offence, contrary to S. 23 of the Stamp Duties Act and punishable under S.111 and 112 of the Stamp Duties Act (as amended).COUNT 2: That you SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED, ROGER BROWN, SAMSON EZUGWORIE, ELEANOR ADARALEGBE,EFFIONG OKON, AYODELE OLATUNDE, IBI ADA ITOTOI, PIUS OZOEMENAM UDEH, EDITH ONWUCHEKWA, CHIOMA YVONNE AFE.OKECHUKWU MBA, ALASDAIR MACKENZIE and STEVE OJEH, sometime in 2010, in Nigeria and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did purchase a participating interest in the producing assets of OML 4, OML 38 and OML 41 and did unlawfully and willfully evade the payment and remittance of duties, fines, penalties and debts due to the Government of the Federation imposed on the executed Purchase Agreement to acquire Oil Mining Lease 4, 38 and 41, in the sum of $37,581,083.40 (Thirty seven million, five hundred and eighty one thousand and forty cents only) and in so doing, committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under S. 111 and 112 of the Stamp Duties Act (as amended).COUNT 3: That you SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED, ROGER BROWN, SAMSON EZUGWORIE, ELEANOR ADARALEGBE, EFFIONG OKON, AYODELE OLATUNDE, IBI ADA ITOTOI, PIUS OZOEMENAM UDEH, EDITH ONWUCHEKWA, CHIOMA YVONNE AFE, OKECHUKWU MBA, ALASDAIR MACKENZIE and STEVE OJEH, sometime in 2010, in Nigeria and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did purchase a participating interest in the producing assets of OML 4, OML 38 the executed Purchase Agreements and the accruing interest in the sum of S eighty three dollars and forty cents only), a sum due and payable to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and in so doing, committed an offence contrary to and punishable under S. 32 of the Federal Inland Revenue Service Establishment Act 2007 (as amended).COUNT 4: That you SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED, ROGER BROWN, SAMSON EZUGWORIE, ELEANOR ADARALEGBE, EFFIONG OKON, AYODELE OLATUNDE, IBI ADA ITOTOI, PIUS OZOEMENAM UDEH, EDITH ONWUCHEKWA, CHIOMA YVONNE AFE, OKECHUKWU MBA, ALASDAIR MACKENZIE and STEVE OJEH, sometime in 2010, in Nigeria and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did purchase a participating interest in the producing assets of OML 4, OML 38and OML 41 and failed or evaded to pay the statutory stamp duty imposed on the executed Purchase Agreement and the accruing interest in the sum of $37,581,083.40 (thirty seven million1, five hundred and eighty one thousand, eighty three dollars and forty cents only a sum due and payable to the Federal Republic of Nigeria in so doing, committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under S.40 of the Federal Inland Revenue Service Establishment Act 2007 (as amended).COUNT 5: That you SEPLATPETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED, ROGER BROWN, SAMSON EZUGWORIE, ELEANOR ADARALEGBE, EFFIONG OKON, AYODELE OLATUNDE, IBI ADA ITOTOI, PIUS OZOEMENAM UDEH, EDITH ONWUCHEKWA, CHIOMA YVONNE AFE, OKECHUKWU MBA and STEVE OJEH on or about 2010 in Nigeria and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did counterfeit the seal of the Commissioner of Stamp Duties by inserting same on the purchase agreement of OML 4, OML 38 and OML 41, for the purposes of verification relating to the taxes thereat and thereby committed an offence, contrary to S.43 (c) and punishable under S.43 ( c) of the Federal Inland Revenue Establishment Act 2007 (as amended).When contacted, Chioma Afe, Director, External Affairs and Sustainability, Seplat Energy, told The Witness via a text message that “The matter is in court and as such we cannot comment on it. Further information will be shared at an appropriate time as needed,”Meanwhile, the matter has been fixed for February 28, 2025 for trial.
A trial opening on Monday in which plaintiffs want more than one billion pounds is set to answer that question.The complaint, filed in May 2021, accuses Apple of breaching European and UK competition laws by “its exclusion of any other app stores from iOS devices” like iPhones and iPads.It claims that some 20 million Apple users may have been overcharged by the company “due to its ban on rival app store platforms.”The complainants say a “30 per cent surcharge” that the company “imposes” on apps purchased through Apple’s App Store comes at the “expense of ordinary consumers.”
The case, which Apple has called “meritless”, has been brought by Kings College London academic Rachael Kent and the law firm Hausfeld & Co.The trial is set to last seven weeks at the Competition Appeal Tribunal in London.At the heart are accusations that Apple used the App Store to exclude competitors, forcing users to use its system and boosting profits in the process.“The 30 per cent surcharge relates to most of the applications that you’re going to be using when you’re downloading and making in-app purchases on the App Store,” Kent told AFP, citing dating platform Tinder as an example.However, it does not apply to applications offering physical products, such as the delivery services Deliveroo and Uber Eats, the academic specifies.Any user who purchased applications or subscriptions in the British version of the App Store between October 1, 2015, and November 15, 2024, may be entitled to compensation from Apple, believes Kent, a lecturer in the digital economy.The claim seeks total estimated damages of £1.5 billion ($1.8 billion).
According to British law, in this type of class action, all potentially affected persons are included in the procedure by default and may benefit from possible compensation, unless they voluntarily opt out.When contacted by AFP, Apple referred to a 2022 statement, in which it said 85 per cent of the applications on the App Store are free.“We believe this lawsuit is meritless and welcome the opportunity to discuss with the court our unwavering commitment to consumers and the many benefits the App Store and Apple’s valuable technologies have delivered to the UK’s innovation economy,” the statement added.The company also insists that the commission charged by the App Store is “very much in the mainstream of those charged by all other digital marketplaces”.Investigations and complaints against Apple have multiplied around the world in recent years, particularly regarding its app store.The American behemoth is the subject of another complaint worth £785 million (936 million euros) related to rates charged to app developers.
Last June, the European Commission accused Apple of breaching its digital competition rules by preventing developers from “freely steering consumers to alternative channels” other than the App Store.Apple then agreed to relax its rules, announcing in August that iPhone and iPad users in the European Union could delete the App Store and use competing platforms.“They’re responding to these investigations and also being told what to do. I don’t think they’re going to do it voluntarily, which I think is why it’s really important to bring these collective actions,” said Kent
AFP
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