In a shocking revelation that could shake Nigeria’s telecom industry to its core, Senator Joel Onowakpo Thomas, representing Delta South in the National Assembly, has accused GLO Network of what he described as “mathematics that does not make sense” — a coded way of exposing a pattern of billing irregularities and opaque customer service practices allegedly affecting millions of voiceless Nigerians.
In a detailed public statement, the senator recounted an alarming experience with GLO that left him unable to use his mobile line despite having a credit balance of N90,835.26.
The issue? A mysterious “debt” of N13,900 which, according to GLO’s customer service, needed to be paid before his line could be reactivated — even though the company was already holding nearly seven times that amount in his account.
“This explanation sounds funny,” said Senator Onowakpo in a widely circulated statement. “If I have N90,835.26 with you already, there is no reason to disconnect me because you could have simply deducted what I owe from my existing balance.”
Despite escalating the matter during a late-night call with GLO’s customer representatives Adebola and Bukola between 10:22pm and 10:51pm on October 13, he was told flatly that their policy required the debt to be settled separately — and that no higher authority was available to address the issue.
This incident, which may have passed unnoticed had it happened to an ordinary Nigerian, has now ignited a firestorm. The senator has vowed to take the matter to the floor of the Senate, promising to raise it before the relevant committees for a full-scale investigation into telecom operators’ billing practices, accountability standards, and regulatory oversight.
“Many Nigerians may be going through this same ‘mathematics’ in the hands of these network operators. I intend to formally raise this issue with the Senate. If you have been shortchanged, reach out,” he urged.
A Symptom of a Rotten System?
This incident raises critical questions:
Are Nigerian telecom companies running opaque billing systems that defraud customers?
Why is a customer with a huge positive balance being forced to pay an alleged debt before service is restored?
Where is the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in all this?
Consumer rights advocates are already calling for a sweeping audit of the telecom sector, citing longstanding complaints from customers about unexplained deductions, data vanishing acts, and poor customer service.
“This is not just bad service, it’s economic sabotage,” said one Lagos-based activist. “If a sitting senator can be stonewalled like this, imagine what ordinary citizens are going through every day.”
A Brewing Telecom Uprising
Senator Onowakpo’s bold move may have just opened the floodgates. Since his statement, Nigerians across social media have begun sharing similar experiences of funds disappearing, lines being barred without explanation, and untraceable deductions.
With GLO now under the microscope, industry insiders worry that this could expand into a sector-wide reckoning, involving MTN, Airtel, 9mobile, and others — many of whom have faced prior allegations of shady practices but largely escaped meaningful scrutiny.
What’s Next?
The senator is now requesting the official transcript of his customer service call as evidence in the likely investigation. All eyes will be on the National Assembly in the coming weeks as he pushes for accountability.
But this case has already done something rare: it has bridged the gap between power and the people — uniting a senator and the masses around a shared frustration: being fleeced by the very networks they pay to stay connected.
READ SENATOR JOT’s POST ON FACEBOOK
GLO Network
Dear constituents,
I bring you my personal experience with Network Operators in Nigeria with particular reference to GLO Network. I intend to carry out investigation on any abuse by these network operators and expose sharp practices if any suffered by unsuspecting network users.
Read through my experience and if you have been a victim one way or the other, kindly reach out.
Thank you so very much.
I discovered my glo line stopped working when I tried using it. I was asked to call customer services. Before the call, I decided to check my balance to be sure I haven’t exhausted my available credit. Luckily, I still had a balance of N90,835.26K. With this information, I called customer service at 10.22pm. Adebola spoke with me. Her explanation was that I was owing N13,900.00 hence the line was disconnected and for me to use this line, I need to pay the N13, 900.00.
This explanation sounds funny, so I told her it doesn’t make sense to me. If I have N90,835.26K with you already, there was no reason to disconnect me because, you would have just deducted what I am owing from my existing balance. After much discussion, I requested that the matter be escalated, which she did, and I spoke to Bukola, who also insisted the procedure in glo is that irrespective of what amount I have with glo, the N13,900.00 must be paid before the line can be available to me. I requested that this matter be escalated to higher authority but she affirmed that she is the highest authority and no other person is available.
I have decided to put this up because, this mathematics is not making sense to me. I am also wondering, that many Nigerians may be going through this mathematics in the hands of this network operators.
Following all due process, I intend to formally raise this issue with the relevant committees in the Senate for thorough investigation.
Every Nigerians who have been shortchanged one way or the other by network operators should speak up by reaching out to me.
Once again, the time of the call was 10.22pm – 10.51pm on 13th October 2025. I intend to request for the official transcript of this conversation.
Thank you.
