The Central Bank of Nigeria has fined four Nigerians banks a total of N5.86 billion for illegally helping MTN Nigeria repatriate $8.134 billion back to South Africa between 2007 and 2015. The four banks affected by the sanctions include Standard Chartered Bank (₦2.4 billion), Stanbic IBTC (₦1.8), Citibank (₦1.2 billion), and Diamond Bank Plc (₦250 million).
New post: CBN Fines Four Banks for Illegally Aiding MTN in Repatriating $8bn Forex https://t.co/LYquVwbePX
— TechNext.ng (@technextdotng) August 30, 2018
However, MTN Nigeria has responded, absolving itself of any wrongdoing as claimed by the apex bank. The telco said all dividends it paid to its shareholders between during the period of scrutiny were approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
In a statement issued on Thursday morning, the telco said it “strongly refutes these allegations and claims. No dividends have been declared or paid by MTN Nigeria other than pursuant to CCIs issued by our bankers and with the approval of the CBN as required by law.”
— MTN Nigeria (@MTNNG) August 30, 2018
Full Text of MTN’s Press Statement
MTN Nigeria Communications Limited (MTN Nigeria) received a letter on 29 August 2018 from CBN alleging that CCI’s issued in respect of the conversion of shareholders loans in MTN Nigeria to preference shares in 2007 had been improperly issued. As a consequence, they claim that historic dividends repatriated by MTN Nigeria between 2007 and 2015 amounting to $8.1 billion need to be refunded to the CBN.
MTN Nigeria strongly refutes these allegations and claims. No dividends have been declared or paid by MTN Nigeria other than pursuant to CCIs issued by our bankers and with the approval of the CBN as required by law.
The issues surrounding the CCI’s have already been the subject of a thorough inquiry by the Senate of Nigeria.
In September 2016 the Senate mandated the Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions to carry out a holistic investigation on compliance with the Foreign exchange (monitoring and miscellaneous) Act by MTN Nigeria & Others.
In its report issued in November 2017, the findings evidenced that MTN Nigeria did not collude to contravene the foreign exchange laws and there were no negative recommendations made against MTN Nigeria.
MTN Nigeria, as a law-abiding citizen of Nigeria, is committed to good governance and to abiding by the extant laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The re-emergence of these issues is regrettable as it damages investor confidence and, by extension, inhibits the growth and development of the Nigerian economy.
We will engage with the relevant authorities and vigorously defend our position on this matter and provide further information when available.
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