The Federal High Court in Lagos, Nigeria has given mobile operator MTN until mid March to reach a settlement relating to a multi-billion dollar fine it uncured late last year in the country.<\/p>\n
MTN had earlier this month fended off an attempt by the Nigerian government to freeze its accounts, after the Federal High Court turned down the application.<\/p>\n
Nigerian scribe, This Day<\/a>, reported that the application was aimed at preventing the mobile operator from emptying its accounts in 21 commercial banks in the country.<\/p>\n The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) fined MTN \u20a61.04-trillion (around R71-billion at the time) in October 2015 for not disconnecting unregistered SIMs on its network.<\/p>\n After negotiations with Nigerian authorities, the fine was reduced by 25% to \u20a6780-billion.<\/p>\n MTN then opted to take the matter to court in Lagos, thereby missing a 31 December deadline imposed by the Nigerian government.<\/p>\n In a statement on Friday, MTN said that the judge adjourned a hearing to 18 March 2016, “in order to enable the parties to try and settle the matter”.<\/p>\n “If the parties are unable to reach a settlement the matter will then proceed on that date,” it said.<\/p>\n Nigerian court rejects application to freeze MTN accounts: report<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n MTN in stand-off over massive fine: report<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n MTN to challenge Nigeria fine in the high court<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nMore on MTN<\/h3>\n