The Federal Government has insisted that telecommunications firm, MTN, must pay the $2 billion tax penalty slammed on it by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

At hearing of the case yesterday, government lawyer, Tijani Gazali, according to Bloomberg, prayed the Lagos High Court to throw out the Johannesburg-based company’s application to stop it from paying backdated taxes.

However, MTN’s counsel, Wole Olanipekun, said the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who imposed the penalty, lacked the powers to do so.

The firm had previously denied it did not pay taxes properly in the West African nation. The case was adjourned until May 7.

Meanwhile, the matter resulted in MTN shares falling as much a 6.8 per cent, the most since October 5 before paring losses to 0.1 per cent by close in Johannesburg.

The share price has fallen 16 per cent since it was hit by a double Nigerian penalty in mid-2018.

The Central Bank of Nigeria first ordered it to transfer $8.1 billion of repatriated dividends back to the country before Malami announced the measure on taxes.

The company settled the former dispute in December, agreeing to send back $53 million and clearing itself of any wrongdoing.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/government-insists-on-mtn-paying-2b-tax.html

Their problem. Make dem use the penalty load us airtime na!
Buhari go kuku squander the money!
The boy above me has a destiny fixed to that useless fixed odd.

If they erred they should pay

Who are the fooling?

They are mad how can you come and extort us heavily without paying our government the normal due, pls if they fail to comply seize their license Jor,mtn will be ripping us off since forever

good for them they are also looting customers

Fdg

serves them right

They still haven't paid that fine, watch how SA's president visits Naija to talk about the fine...

Buhari may be a dullard, but I like his tough stance in disciplining certain people and companies.

He should extend that to his cabinet members to be taken seriously.

Despite all the noise about Buhari fighting corruption and improving Nigerian economy, all the widely accepted rating standards for Nigeria remain negative or below average. This is not good for an administration that blows its own trumpet.

if not for the orrupt system we are in the 4 billion usd initially slated on MTN should have been paid.greedy fellows all over the place.

Who told MTN that fine cannot be paid on back dated event. As long as one can serve a punishment for crime commit in the past, so also they should pay the fine

It is a pity that our lawyers have subjected their profession to a mockery thing and also I don't see any to be professional anymore. Imagine, MTN sending billions of dollars to SA and these shameless and unrepented lawyers are still defending MTN and even trying to tell the AGF that he lacks the power to impose taxes on MTN. Can Globacom try that in Ghana? It is not possible! Kick out the stupid company out of Nigeria, after all their workers were treated as a second class citizen in their country. What a shame!

They should investigate Multichoice too

How much have they paid already?

How much kick back Kyari received?

I still awaits the day the MTN will be collected from them like ETISALAT. Those companies never get tired of playing with the laws of this land when our peoples respects the laws of their land.

This tax issue don dey drag for long o.


Your laptop, our business.

Na we go soon suffer am.

Actuarydeji:
It is a pity that our lawyers have subjected their profession to a mockery thing and also I don't see any to be professional anymore. Imagine, MTN sending billions of dollars to SA and these shameless and unrepented lawyers are still defending MTN and even trying to tell the AGF that he lacks the power to impose taxes on MTN. Can Globacom try that in Ghana? It is not possible! Kick out the stupid company out of Nigeria, after all their workers were treated as a second class citizen in their country. What a shame!

Our laws provides for the right to fair representation/hearing. You may employ the best legal team money can buy. And its a case of innocent until proven guilty.

Not a penny less.

The 8th Assembly is highly compromised in this regard especially the oversight committees.

I thought lawyers are meant to defend justice but this is Nigeria.

Every kobo must be paid.

Well said

Actuarydeji:
It is a pity that our lawyers have subjected their profession to a mockery thing and also I don't see any to be professional anymore. Imagine, MTN sending billions of dollars to SA and these shameless and unrepented lawyers are still defending MTN and even trying to tell the AGF that he lacks the power to impose taxes on MTN. Can Globacom try that in Ghana? It is not possible! Kick out the stupid company out of Nigeria, after all their workers were treated as a second class citizen in their country. What a shame!

Good for them

Preator:

Our laws provides for the right to fair representation/hearing. You may employ the best legal team money can buy. And its a case of innocent until proven guilty.

Abi! What happened in New Zealand is a clear example that our lawyers are stomach infrastructure. Offa robbery suspect have a lawyer defending them, but in New Zealand no lawyer step forward to defend the terrorist that killed people in a mosque.

F

PDP AND MTN HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON

OK

MTN pay your tax, your level of income has increased over the years, you can't keep paying the same amount every year...with all their business innovation that is pumping in money, the tax should be more than $2b sef