Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Umar Danbatta, the Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idrid and Chief Executive Officer of MTN, have been summoned by the Senate over claims that MTN Nigeria had paid N50 billion to the Federal Government.
The Senate also summoned the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and the Minister of Communications Technology, Adebayo Shittu, over the matter.
The summon issued by the Senate Committee on Communications requires those summoned to appear before the committee on March 10.
MTN had in the last few weeks confirmed that it paid about $250 million out of the $3.9 billion fine imposed on it by the Nigerian Communications Commission, and also withdrew its legal action against Nigeria.
According to a letter of invitation dated March 3, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Gilbert Nnaji, said it discovered during one of its recent oversight functions that NCC could not provide any proof of the payment by MTN.
The committee said that MTN had been misguided to lodge the said 50 billion Naira into the Central Bank of Nigeria’s recovery account, specially designated for recovered funds.
Senator Nnaji’s committee said it suspected foul play foul play over the manner of payment and the haste in which MTN withdrew its suit against NCC from the court.
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