The Senate Committee on Communications has faulted the court settlement arrangement between the Federal Government and the Mobile Telecommunication Network (MTN) is being conducted regarding the N1.04 trillion fine imposed on company. The committee also frowned at the alleged shutting out of the Ministry of Communications Technology and the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) from the deal.
The Committee which conducted investigative hearing on the controversial matter, expressed shock that an account in the name of “recovery account” was opened for the N50 billion fine paid by the MTN as part of the settlement. Chairman of the committee, Senator Gilbert Nnaji, noted that members of his committee are worried that a proposal initiated by the MTN for the reduction of the fine to N300 billion had been accepted by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, without recourse to the Ministry of Justice and the NCC.
The Committee said that it has emerged that an initial 25 per cent reduction of the initial N1.04 trillion fine to N780 billion was on the order of the President Muhammadu Buhari.
