An authoritative source has given details of the correspondence between MTN Nigeria and NCC concerning the imposed fine on the network provider.
It has been revealed by a reliable source that the Nigerian Communications Commission may review its decision and reduce the N1.04 trillion fine imposed on MTN Nigeria over non-compliance in the deactivation of improper registered SIM cards.
A reliable source at the NCC, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that the commission received a letter of apology from MTN asking for leniency. Although what step to take on that is yet to be made public, however, it is believed NCC is working on reviewing the bogus charge.
According to the source, “I can confirm that the commission has received an official letter from MTN admitting its guilt and pleading for leniency. However, the power to grant the leniency is no longer entirely on NCC’s hands but that of the presidency. But there are also indications that the Federal Government may ask us to reduce the fine to an appreciable level.
"If MTN had complied with several directives by the NCC it wouldn’t have been in this mess but I hope they learn their lessons from this. Nigeria is its biggest market. It was surprising that they didn’t anticipate that if things get wrong here, it could affect their other markets.
"Now, it is alleged that it has lost more than $2.7b from people migrating from its shares to others since this incident. It’s a lesson they should not allow to recur”, he added.