FG Halts Talks Over MTN $3.9bn Fine

The Federal Government has surprisingly has suspended talks with mobile operator MTN

about reducing the $3.9 billion fine that was imposed on the company. Then it will be recalled that the Nigerian unit of South African company MTN was prosecuted because it had not disconnected unregistered SIM cards – cards that the government feared were being used by terrorists. The latest twist comes as an influential group of lawyers has called for the vice-chairman of the country’s regulator to be sanctioned for getting involved in the negotiations over reducing the fine. There was no immediate explanation for the suspension of talks between Nigeria and MTN, announced on Monday morning.