Reps insist telecom company must pay N1.4tr fine

chika ebuzor

March 10, 2016 6:44 AM

The lawmakers also accused the justice minister, Mr. Abubakar Malami of usurping the powers of the NCC.

People walk past an outlet of South Africa's MTN Group in downtown Cape Town, November 10, 2015. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings

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The Reps have insisted that the telecom company must pay the N1.4tr fine imposed on it by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

There are insinuations that President Jacob Zuma came to Nigeria to diplomatically settle the issue.

The lawmakers also frowned at the role the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami played in getting the government to agree to a reduction of the fine.

Punch reports that they also accused the justice minister of usurping the powers of the NCC.

Speaking on the issue, a member of the House of Reps, Mr. Sajeed Fijabi, said “There is nowhere in the law that said there is room for reduction.

“If you are reducing this now, what happens to Globacom and others? I see MTN going to court every time as a way to circumvent the law. In the US, British Petroleum paid its full fine for oil spills.”

Adding that “Somebody is not allowing you to handle this matter the way you should. After you have imposed the fine, somebody negotiated and reduced it.

“You imposed the fine, you should take the lead on the negotiations, but now you are being sidelined. You gave them N1.4tn fine, and we at the National Assembly have already projected that amount as part of FG revenue.”

You will recall that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) confirmed that the Federal Government received N50b from MTN, as part of the settlement for the fine.

chika ebuzor