The Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has denied claims he instigated the spat between MTN Nigeria and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The governor also disassociated himself from any equity holdings, either directly or through proxy in Etisalat and Jabi Mall in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, had fined MTN Nigeria a staggering N1.04 trillion ($5.2 billion) for failing to disconnect 5.1 million unregistered subscribers.
Following the fine imposed on the company, the Group Chief Executive Officer, Sifiso Dabengwa, resigned on November 9.
His spokesman, Muyiwa Adekeye, said it was the Nigerian governors forum that unanimously moved a motion for consideration of the matter by the federal government after listening to the presentation of the executive vice chairman of NCC, Umar Dambatta, during the Nigerian Governors’ Forum meeting held on November 18.
“The NGF does not have constitutional, regulatory or enforcement powers.
“Its motion is purely advisory and strongly supportive of the NCC and the need to uphold regulatory rulings properly issued.
“The NGF appreciated that a reduction of such a fine not only create moral hazard but subject to even wilder interpretations on how it was procured.
“Apart from encouraging state institutions to uphold rules, state governors have direct beneficial interest in ensuring that additional revenues accrue to the federation account for the benefit of the three tiers of government.
“This is the greater public interest which motivated the unanimous passage of the motion by the governors.
“The NGF does not have constitutional, regulatory or enforcement powers. Its motion is purely advisory and strongly supportive of the NCC and the need to uphold regulatory rulings properly issued.
“The NGF appreciated that a reduction of such a fine not only create moral hazard but subject to even wilder interpretations on how it was procured.
“Apart from encouraging state institutions to uphold rules, state governors have direct beneficial interest in ensuring that additional revenues accrued to the federation account for the benefit of the three tiers of government.
“This is the greater public interest which motivated the unanimous passage of the motion by the governors,” he said.
Mr. El-Rufai however acknowledged participating actively in the discussions, stressing that he even helped modify the motion that was eventually adopted.
“El-Rufai believes that Nigerians will see beyond the attempt to insert him into a purely regulatory issue.
“El-Rufai is not the NCC and did not author the rules that were breached; neither did he encourage one out of several telecommunication companies to breach a regulation of national security significance,” he added.