Tempers flared among members of the House of Representatives Committee on Telecommunications, following a letter from MTN, indicating its resolve not to honour their invitation.
The committee has now summoned the MTN Chief Executive Officer, Ferdinand Moolman and the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
The committee is investigating the status of the 1.04 trillion naira fine issued against the telecommunication company; pursuant to a House resolution.
But in a letter to the committee, MTN insists it is pursuing amicable settlement negotiations with the Federal Government and as such, the processes require sensitivity and confidentiality on all sides.
The letter then refers the lawmakers to the Minister of Justice and the Nigerian Communications Communications for any clarification it seeks.
This invariably angers the legislators who described MTN’s correspondence as an insult to Nigeria’s highest law making body.
The legislators insist they are backed by sections 88 and 89 of the Nigerian Constitution to invite any one in Nigeria on any subject they deem fit.
The legislators then walked out MTN’s representative, Austin Iyesere and also declined to have Emefiele’s representative address them.
And since MTN’s presence is critical to understanding its subject of discussion, the Committee resolved summon the MTN CEO and re-invite the CBN Governor, Emefiele.
The Chairman later told newsmen that the committee would not hesitate to issue a bench warrant against Moolman should he ignore their summon
The NCC had last week informed the committee that the 50 billion Naira so far paid by MTN wasn’t remitted into its account.
