MTN Withdraws Suit Against FG, Pays N50b Out Of N780b Fine

NCC-MTN

Leading telecommunications company, MTN Nigeria, has withdrawn its suit against the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and paid the sum of N50 billion out of the N780 billion fine the NCC imposed on it.

The NCC had fined MTN Nigeria a record N1.04 trillion last October for failing to deactivate 5.1 million unregistered lines from its network.

Following weeks of high-level negotiation between the company and government officials, the fine was reduced to N780 billion.

Dissatisfied with the reduction, MTN dragged the Nigerian Government before a Federal High Court in Lagos, seeking to stop the payment of the fine, for which the NCC gave it a Dec. 31st 2015 deadline to pay.

However, last month, MTN Nigeria indicated its willingness to settle out-of-court.

A statement issued by the telecommunications company on Wednesday states that the sum of N50bn was paid to the federal government “as a gesture of good faith and commitment to continued efforts towards an amicable resolution”.

MTN Nigeria’s CEO, Ferdi Moolman, while speaking on the new development, said: “This is a most encouraging development. It demonstrates a willingness and sincerity by both parties to work together towards a positive outcome. We are hopeful at this stage. Along with the authorities, it is clear that we are collectively committed to working towards a solution that is of mutual benefit to all parties. Our industry in Nigeria is an incredibly important example of the remarkable progress in ICT particularly as a much needed catalyst for socio-economic growth and development at this time”.

Source: The Cable.