MTN, telecommunication giant, has denied reports it gave bribe for the reduction of the N1.04 trillion fine slammed on it by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The NCC had slammed the N1.04 trillion fine on MTN in October 2015 after the operator failed to disconnect about 5.1 million subscribers it registered improperly on its network.
Mr Ferdi Moolman, chief executive officer of MTN, in a statement said that MTN’s attention had been drawn to an online report, alleging that a top official in the Presidency took bribe from the company to get the Federal Government to reduce the fine.
He said, “MTN Nigeria has no knowledge of this and the allegation is therefore denied. The MTN Nigeria fine was ultimately settled with the Nigerian Communications Commission.”
Media reports have alleged that a top presidency official had collected N500 million as bribe from MTN to help the company to mitigate the fine imposed on it by the Federal Government.
The NCC had last year reduced the fine to N330 billion.
MTN was allowed to pay the fine in a staggered payment plan that would last till May 31, 2019.
By the terms of the agreement, MTN is expected to pay N30 billion to the NCC, 30 days from the date the agreement was entered into on June 10, 2016.
MTN is also expected to pay N30 billion to NCC on March 31, 2017 and another N30 billion on March 31, 2018.
It is also to pay additional N55 billion on Dec. 31, 2018 and a balance of N55 billion is expected to be paid on March 31, 2019.
