Buhari reportedly receives evidence showing Chief of Staff, Kyari took N500m bribe from MTN

Kyari

There are indications that President Muhammad Buhari has received evidence linking his Chief of Staff, CoS, Abba Kyari to a N500m bribe from the telecommunications giant, MTN Nigeria.

The alleged bribe was aimed at softening the heavy fine the Federal Government had imposed on the telecommunication giant, says SaharaReporters.

The Federal Government through the Nigerian Communication Commission, NCC, had in October 2015 slammed MTN with a fine of N1.04 trillion.

The sanction was due to its refusal to comply with a directive to disconnect 5.1 million improperly registered lines before the deadline given to telecoms operators in the country.

Although the fine was subsequently reduced by 25 per cent to N780 billion, MTN Nigeria failed to pay the penalty.

The telecom giant in June 2016, however agreed to pay a fine of N333bn to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Chairman of the group, Phuthuma Nhleko, who retired in the heat of the crisis, led the negotiation process.

Nhleko in his resignation letter had said, “The relationship between MTN, the Nigerian government and the Nigerian Communications Commission has been restored and strengthened.”

However, the new report said the evidence was presented to President Buhari several times including during the Sallah holiday.

But Kyari allegedly replied that he was helping the All Progressives Congress, APC, raise funds for the gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State.

Kyari reportedly claimed that President Muhammadu Buhari was aware of his involvement in the election, saying the President even asked him if he was the party Chairman, though did not relieve him of his post.

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