N500m MTN Scandal: President Buhari Orders Probe of Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari

Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Alhaji Abba Kyari is said to be under investigation by the Special Investigation Panel of the Nigerian Police Force over bribery allegations.

The probe according to Vanguard’s investigation is in connection with alleged N500million bribery money said to have been paid to the Chief of Staff by officials of South African owned MTN Telecommunications Company with the intent that the COS influence government to discontinue its heavy stance on the $5billion fine.

It would be recalled that the NCC, Nigeria’s telecoms regulator, slammed a $5 billion fine on MTN for failing to disconnect subscribers with unregistered phone lines bought before January 2012.

Following the frustrations of the telecommunications giant’s bid to fight the huge fine imposition, firstly through the courts and later through diplomatic means, Sahara Reporters published a report on 20th September 2016, stating that officials of MTN gave a bribe of N500million to Alhaji Abba Kyari, to intervene and use his closeness to President Buhari, to influence the federal government to give MTN a safe landing.

Worried by the allegation, the Presidency is said to have directed the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to investigate the allegation and come out with findings regarding the accusation.

Source: Vanguard