We had no option than to impose N330bn fine on MTN —NCC

The Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) has said violation of the already stipulated rules forced the commission to impose the N330billion fi ne on MTN Nigeria in 2015. Th e Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, who disclosed when some management members of the MTN Group paid a visit to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja recently, also said left to him that the sanction which was imposed on MTN Nigeria would not have been. Th is was as he disclosed that MTN has so far paid N165 billion out of the N330 billion imposed on it by NCC.

Following allegation of irregular registration of subscribers, NCC in October 2015 imposed a fine of N1.04 trillion on MTN Nigeria, but reduced it to N330 billion aft er prolonged negotiations, with the mode of payment spread over a period of three years. While hosting some MTN directors, who paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja on Monday aft er a board strategy meeting, Danbatta told his visitors that left to him the fine would not have been necessary but that NCC had no option than to impose the sanction due to already stipulated rules. “The whole idea of that exercise was not to bring MTN to its knees.

We just wanted to ensure that it is not business as usual. More than the fine, we wanted to ensure that the rules of engagement are respected. That is all. “Left to me, the sanction wouldn’t have been necessary but because the rules were there clearly stipulating what should be done in such a situation, the EVC did not have much option but to play by the dictates of the rules governing engagement in the telecommunications sector of the economy,” Prof Danbatta said. He appreciated the company for keeping to the schedule of payment, adding that MTN had made a total deposit of N165 billion and that the regulatory agency had received a cheque of N55 billion in the last two weeks. “Part of the fi ne was paid in March. Not more than two weeks ago, we received a cheque for N55bn.

So far, MTN has paid more than 50 per cent of the fi ne. Th at would translate to N165bn. Th e payment they are making is consistent with the terms of agreement we reached with them. “Th ere was an amicable settlement and agreement leading to the way the fi ne is being paid. So far, they have not reneged. Th is information should go out’’, he said.