NCC-MTN FINE: Senate Queries Ministers, Others Over Fine Reduction To N330b

SENATE Committee on Communications has summoned all the parties who played key roles on the sudden reduction of a fine imposed on the leading telecoms company, MTN Nigeria from N1.04tn to N330b by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) without consulting all the relevant bodies particularly the Senate to appear before it unfailingly on Thursday.

Those summoned include the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation; Minister of Communications; the Executive Vice Chairman, NCC; Accountant-General of the Federation; Managing Director/CEO of MTN; and Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The Committee vehemently frowned at the development stating that the action taken by some top Federal Government officials by the reduction of the fine imposed on MTN Nigeria for operational misconduct by the Nigerian Communications Commission was suspicious and vowed to get to the root of the matter.

In a letter entitled: ‘Re: Settlement between NCC and MTN over fine’ dated June 15, 2016 and addressed separately to all the government officials in the deal, the Chairman of the committee, Senator Gilbert Nnaji said the entire transaction was fraught with suspected criminal tendencies following the secrecy adopted in the transactions..

Part of the letter reads, “As a committee and representatives of the Nigerian people, we are saddened about this development at a time when the Nigerian economy needs all the available capital infusion to bolster it.

“It is our strong opinion that Nigeria has been short-changed in this whole process on account of the ridiculous settlement payment plan coupled with the disparity in the exchange rate regime when the fine was imposed ab initio compared with the current prevailing exchange rate when it was agreed to cut the fine to N330bn.

“We wondered why the NCC should engage in such a negotiation that is tainted with a lot of questionable conclusions without the knowledge of the committee.

“The committee is worried about this development because it is on record that during our last investigative meeting with all the relevant parties to this matter on Thursday, March 10, 2016, the committee was informed that the case was still in court and that it was adjourned till March 18.

“The committee was not aware of the outcome of the court case neither was it privy to any active negotiation that led to the fine being reduced to N330bn.”

Specifically demanded by the committee for the Thursday meeting includes all documents showing the Presidential directive, which approved that MTN should pay N330bn to the government.