Thursday, September 6, 2018
Video - MTN woes over massive fine imposed by Nigeria
In 2015 MTN was slapped with a $5.2b fine for failing to register SIM cards on time in Nigeria. MTN eventually paid a reduced $1.7b to Nigerian authorities in late 2017. But the Nigeria Central Bank is now demanding a further $8b; this time for dividends it claims shouldn't have been taken out of the country.
Wednesday, September 5, 2018
Nigeria slams MTN with $2bn tax bill
Nigeria has asked mobile phone operator MTN to pay a $2bn (£1.6bn) tax bill, the company says.
MTN challenged the figure, saying it related to activities over the past decade. It said it had settled the bill with a $700m payment.
The tax demand is the latest in a series of disputes between MTN and Nigeria, the company's largest market.
In 2016 it agreed to pay Nigeria $1.7bn over failing to disconnect unregistered Sim cards.
Last week, Nigeria's Central Bank ordered the company to repatriate $8bn it said had been taken out of the country illegally.
MTN, Africa's largest mobile phone company, said the tax bill had emerged from an investigation by Nigeria's attorney general and related to "the importation of foreign equipment and payments to foreign suppliers over the last 10 years".
But, it added, "MTN Nigeria believes it has fully settled all amounts owing under the taxes in question".
Shares in the company on the Johannesburg stock exchange fell sharply on Tuesday's news, reaching a low of almost 10 years.
MTN challenged the figure, saying it related to activities over the past decade. It said it had settled the bill with a $700m payment.
The tax demand is the latest in a series of disputes between MTN and Nigeria, the company's largest market.
In 2016 it agreed to pay Nigeria $1.7bn over failing to disconnect unregistered Sim cards.
Last week, Nigeria's Central Bank ordered the company to repatriate $8bn it said had been taken out of the country illegally.
MTN, Africa's largest mobile phone company, said the tax bill had emerged from an investigation by Nigeria's attorney general and related to "the importation of foreign equipment and payments to foreign suppliers over the last 10 years".
But, it added, "MTN Nigeria believes it has fully settled all amounts owing under the taxes in question".
Shares in the company on the Johannesburg stock exchange fell sharply on Tuesday's news, reaching a low of almost 10 years.
NFF bans assistant coach for accepting bribe
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has banned coach Salisu Yusuf for a year and fined him US$5000.
The sanctions were imposed on Yusuf, 56, following an NFF investigation into bribery allegations.
He was caught on camera taking cash from men posing as football agents, who requested that two players be selected for a continental championship.
The names of the players were not disclosed and Yusuf has denied any wrongdoing.
He appeared before an NFF ethics committee in the capital Abuja on Thursday.
The probe was prompted by footage captured by Ghanaian investigative journalist Anas Aremayaw Anas and handed to the BBC's Africa Eye investigation programme.
The committee said the ban was from "all football-related activities at both national and international level" adding that "an appeal against the decision can be made to the NFF Appeals Committee".
An NFF said in a statement "found as a fact from the documentary and video evidence before it, that he accepted the cash gift of $1,000.
"[He] Offered by Tigers Player's Agency, an undercover reporter, purportedly interested in acting on behalf of Players Osas Okoro and Rabiu Ali, for their inclusion in the list of players for 2018 CHAN Competition in Morocco."
He insisted at the time that the money was a gift and that the players were selected on merit and he is yet to say whether he will appeal the sanctions.
"There is nothing in the allegation pointing to a demand for the money from the agents of the two principals. Rather, the agent only handed the money to me after expressing 'hope' that the principals would play in the Championship," he said in a right of reply.
"Be that as it may, I did accept cash handed to me by one of the said football agents, which I later discovered, upon checking, to be $750 and not $1000."
Yusuf was assistant to Gernot Rohr at the recent World Cup in Russia and led the Nigeria to the final of this year's Championship of African Nations (CHAN) in Morocco.
The sanctions were imposed on Yusuf, 56, following an NFF investigation into bribery allegations.
He was caught on camera taking cash from men posing as football agents, who requested that two players be selected for a continental championship.
The names of the players were not disclosed and Yusuf has denied any wrongdoing.
He appeared before an NFF ethics committee in the capital Abuja on Thursday.
The probe was prompted by footage captured by Ghanaian investigative journalist Anas Aremayaw Anas and handed to the BBC's Africa Eye investigation programme.
The committee said the ban was from "all football-related activities at both national and international level" adding that "an appeal against the decision can be made to the NFF Appeals Committee".
An NFF said in a statement "found as a fact from the documentary and video evidence before it, that he accepted the cash gift of $1,000.
"[He] Offered by Tigers Player's Agency, an undercover reporter, purportedly interested in acting on behalf of Players Osas Okoro and Rabiu Ali, for their inclusion in the list of players for 2018 CHAN Competition in Morocco."
He insisted at the time that the money was a gift and that the players were selected on merit and he is yet to say whether he will appeal the sanctions.
"There is nothing in the allegation pointing to a demand for the money from the agents of the two principals. Rather, the agent only handed the money to me after expressing 'hope' that the principals would play in the Championship," he said in a right of reply.
"Be that as it may, I did accept cash handed to me by one of the said football agents, which I later discovered, upon checking, to be $750 and not $1000."
Yusuf was assistant to Gernot Rohr at the recent World Cup in Russia and led the Nigeria to the final of this year's Championship of African Nations (CHAN) in Morocco.
Tuesday, September 4, 2018
Video - Nigeria's move to ease business
Francis Okolie had been operating his interior decoration firm without any formal registration for two years. He says the business was struggling until he decided to make the company official.
Boko Haram attack Nigeria base - 48 dead
The number of military personnel killed in a Boko Haram attack on an army post in Nigeria's northeast has risen to 48, according to sources.
The attack took place late on Thursday when scores of fighters in trucks stormed the base at Zari village in Borno state and briefly captured it after intense fighting.
"The casualty toll now stands at 48 with the recovery of 17 more bodies of soldiers in surrounding bushes in Zari by search and rescue teams," a Nigerian military source told AFP news agency.
More bodies are likely to be recovered as search and rescue missions continue.
Boko Haram took weapons and military equipment before they were pushed out of the base by soldiers with aerial support.
The attack took place late on Thursday when scores of fighters in trucks stormed the base at Zari village in Borno state and briefly captured it after intense fighting.
"The casualty toll now stands at 48 with the recovery of 17 more bodies of soldiers in surrounding bushes in Zari by search and rescue teams," a Nigerian military source told AFP news agency.
More bodies are likely to be recovered as search and rescue missions continue.
Boko Haram took weapons and military equipment before they were pushed out of the base by soldiers with aerial support.
Increased attacks on military
More than 20,000 people have been killed since Boko Haram launched an armed campaign in northeast Nigeria nearly a decade ago. Over two million others have been forced from their homes.
In recent months, the armed group has intensified attacks on military targets.
On July 14, Boko Haram fighters overran a military base in Jilli village, in Yobe state, when dozens of troops were said to be been killed, wounded or missing.
Soldiers and civilians have also been targeted in separate attacks in neighbouring Chadand Niger.
The assaults appear to undermine repeated claims by the Nigerian military that Boko Haram had been defeated.
More than 20,000 people have been killed since Boko Haram launched an armed campaign in northeast Nigeria nearly a decade ago. Over two million others have been forced from their homes.
In recent months, the armed group has intensified attacks on military targets.
On July 14, Boko Haram fighters overran a military base in Jilli village, in Yobe state, when dozens of troops were said to be been killed, wounded or missing.
Soldiers and civilians have also been targeted in separate attacks in neighbouring Chadand Niger.
The assaults appear to undermine repeated claims by the Nigerian military that Boko Haram had been defeated.
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