Abuja - Mobile phone operator MTN’s pleas for leniency following a $5.2 billion fine for failing to disconnect 5.1 million unregistered Nigerian users has suffered another setback.
The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) insists that the company pays the penalty.
The governors’ body argued that the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) decision to impose the record fine was justified, according to a statement issued by the NGF.
The governors also called on the Federal Government to expedite action in compelling MTN to pay the fine.
“We, the governors forum decided to support the NCC to abide by the laws of the land and the laws of our land do not give leniency to deliberate offence to our nation,” said NGF Chairman and Governor of Zamfara State Abdulaziz Yari in the statement.
MTN Nigeria was fined earlier this year for not disconnecting unregistered cellphone subscribers.
The Nigerian business is South Africa-based MTN Group’s most lucrative subsidiary. It has about 62 million customers among Nigeria’s 170 million people.
ANA-CAJ News