Reps accuse MTN of multi-billion naira tax evasion

This was contained in the 2019 Auditor-General of the Federation’s queries to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of government.

Chairman of the Committee, Oluwole Oke (PDP, Osun) who presided over the hearing lamented the level of external borrowings by the federal government saying the committee’s probe of public funds was aimed at curtailing revenue leakages to boost government treasury.

The lawmakers raised the queries against the backdrop of tax evasion by telecom service provider, MTN whose current assets stands at N2.68 trillion in the country, yet does not have proof of Customs duty over the years

They decried the issuance of assets certificate by the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment to the telecommunication firm without first evaluating their assets Following the failure of MTN’s representative to tender relevant documents buttressing his position that the company is up-to-date, the committee resolved to write the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to furnish it with relevant documents including MTN Duty Permit so as to ascertain the total amount it owes government since 2001 to date.