IT NEWS NIGERIA
Federal Government yesterday said the MTN must pay part of the $5.2bn fine as part of the out of court settlement.
Minister of Communication Barrister Adebayo Shittu made this known during Media Parley with ICT journalist in Lagos Monday in Lagos.
Though the Minister did not give specific amount to be paid but he insisted that the federal government will not give any attention until the demand is met.
He said initially when MTN was fined the company acknowledged the registration default and pleaded for leniency.
He said that President Muhammad Bubari in his magnanimity reduced the fine from N1.04 trillion to N780 billion.
“When MTN came. We understood their pleas. However, we added that if you cannot meet up with the fine, you have to add your account details to show that upon paying your company will collapse. They are yet to respond on that. The next thing was for me to get a call they are going to court. And now, they are coming back for out of court settlement. We don’t want MTN to die, rather, we want them to obey the law”.
It can be recalled that a court of jurisdiction in Lagos gave MTN till March 18, 2016 to settle out of court with NCC/Federal Government.
Meanwhile, on the latest saga involving Etisalat and MTN over Visafone acquisition, Shittu said that, as an operator, Etisalat has the right to exercise its feelings, however, it has not come to the knowledge of the Ministry that Etisalat feels sur-changed.
