By Dipo Olowookere
Leading telecom firm, MTN Nigeria, has confirmed paying the sum of $52.6 million (about N19.2 billion) to the Nigerian government through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
In a statement issued by the company on Monday, it was disclosed that the money was paid as part of ways to resolve the dispute over the $8.1 billion the central bank accused MTN Nigeria of moving out of the country to South Africa illegally from 2007 to 2015.
However, MTN Nigeria has maintained severally that it did not illegally repatriate the funds to its parent country.
It was disclosed that the $52.6 million paid was agreed at after “various engagements” between MTN Nigeria and the CBN “in order to find an equitable resolution to the matter. In particular, a series of meetings were held in Lagos with CBN officials during November 2018.
At these meetings, MTN Nigeria said it provided additional material documentation which satisfactorily clarified its remittances and that the CBN, upon review of the additional documentation, concluded that the firm was no longer required to reverse the historical dividend payments made to MTN Nigeria shareholders.
“However, the CBN maintains that the proceeds from the preference shares in MTN Nigeria’s private placement remittances of 2008 of $1 billion were irregular having been based on CCIs that only had an approval in-principle, but not final regulatory approval of CBN.
“The CBN instructed MTN Nigeria to implement a notional reversal of the 2008 private placement of shares in MTN Nigeria at a net cost of circa N19.2 billion equivalent to $52.6 million (the notional reversal amount).
“This is on the basis that certain certificates of capital importation (CCIs) utilised in the private placement were not properly issued,” the statement said.
“MTN Nigeria and the CBN have agreed that they will resolve the matter on the basis that MTN Nigeria will pay the notional reversal amount without admission of liability.
“In terms of the resolution agreement, the CBN will regularise all the CCIs issued on the investment by shareholders of MTN Nigeria of circa $402,625,419 without regard to any historical disputes relating to those CCIs, thereby bringing to a final resolution all incidental disputes arising from this matter,” it added.
MTN Nigeria explained that it relied on certain commercial banks to ensure all approvals had been obtained prior to the CCIs being issued and to ensure the CCIs were properly utilised in the private placement.
The telecom firm said it will be engaging with the banks in relation to the issues dealt with in the resolution agreement.
“Shareholders are advised that the legal process initiated by MTN Nigeria for injunctive relief restraining the AGF from taking further action in respect of its orders for back taxes is continuing.
“The AGF matter came up for initial mention before the Federal High Court of Nigeria Lagos Judicial Division on 8 November 2018 and has been adjourned to February 7, 2019.
MTN Nigeria continues to maintain that its tax matters are up to date and no additional payment, as claimed by the AGF, is due, and consequently no provisions or contingent liabilities are being raised in the accounts of MTN Nigeria for the AGF back taxes claim. “As a result of the above, shareholders are no longer required to exercise caution in dealing with the company securities,” the statement said.
Adedapo Adesanya