MTN had no discussion with VP on N1.04 trillion fine – Presidency

Vanguard, Monday, published a story that there was a meeting between MTN Group and the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, over the N1.04 trillion fine imposed on MTN by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC.

Vanguard has since discovered that there was no such meeting, official or private between the MTN team and the Vice President over the fine imposed on the telecom company.

The report in Vanguard had said that there were series of meetings between MTN management team from South Africa and Nigeria with the presidency at the weekend.

The report had further said that MTN has finally bowed to pressure as it has accepted to pay the N1.04 trillion fine slammed on it last week by the telecoms regulatory authority, the NCC.

The report read in part: “There have been series of meetings at the Presidency between Vice President Osinbajo and the MTN team both from South Africa and the Nigerian arm. MTN wanted a waiver considering their level of investments in the country, but government did not buy the idea of waiver.

Instead, I think there will be concession, but certainly not a waiver. At the conclusion of the meeting, the MTN people negotiated on how to stagger the payment. The Presidency is even angry because MTN was a signatory to the regulation, but they are failing to comply with rules.”