Nigerian ICT Minister Adebayo Shittu has said the government will suspend new talks with MTN over a USD 3.9 billion fine for missing a deadline to disconnect unregistered SIM card users until the National Assembly concludes its probe. The probe, according to Reuters, has hindered efforts by MTN to launch new talks aimed at getting the fine reduced further.
The House of Representatives launched the investigation in March, into whether the government can reduce the fine, which had originally amounted to USD 5.2 billion. In December, telecoms regulator NCC cut the penalty to USD 3.9 billion.
Shittu said as soon as the parliamentary investigations are concluded, the government will sit down with MTN. The House began its investigation after MTN angered lawmakers by snubbing an invitation to its Nigeria Chief Executive, Ferdi Moolman, to appear at the telecoms committee, according to lawmakers.
MTN offered to pay USD 1.5 billion in March, according to a document seen by Reuters. It dropped a legal case against the regulator as the first step in its efforts to reach an out-of-court settlement. In 2015, Nigeria imposed a deadline on mobile operators to cut off unregistered SIM cards, amid fears they were being used by criminal gangs such as Boko Haram. MTN missed the deadline.
