IT NEWS Nigeria:
Nigerians are shocked as Nigeria Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami has withdrawn a N725bn ($2bn) tax demand against MTN Nigeria.
MTN revealed today in a letter filed with the Nigerian Stock Exchange. The telecom company said the government had decided to drop its case and refer the issue to the tax authorities; the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the tax authorities, Nigeria Custom Service (NCS); “with a view to resolving contentious issues”.
Chief Executive of MTN Nigeria, Ferdi Moolman sad he is delighted at the government decision and commended authorities for the decision.
According to him, “We are very pleased with the decision of the (attorney general); and we commend him for his wisdom.”
Recalled, Nigeria Justice minister insisted that MTN owed taxes relating to the import of equipment and payments to foreign suppliers from 2007 to 2017. The AGF had notified that his office made a high-level calculation that the company should have paid approximately $2 billion; on import duties, value added tax (VAT) and withholding taxes on foreign imports/payments from foreign suppliers; over the last 10 years.
