Federal High Court Moves MTN and Attorney General Case to February 2019

A Federal High Court hearing concerning the dispute between MTN Nigeria and the Attorney General of the Federation over a $2 billion tax demand will take place on February 7, 2019.

The court did not sit on Monday as earlier scheduled because the judge was away on administrative leave.

MTN faces a $2 billion tax demand from the country’s attorney general, a claim which the company says is without merit. The sitting was for the hearing of all pending applications. The federal government is yet to file a full reply to its suit, but the company has filed an injunction asking the court to restrain the government from “disturbing or otherwise interfering with the business of the company.”

In addition to the $2 billion tax demand from the attorney general’s office, the telecoms firm faces a separate legal fight with the Central Bank of Nigeria over allegations that it illegally transferred $8.1 billion from the country in breach of foreign exchange regulations, an assertion the company denies.

A court hearing in the CBN’s case, also at the Federal High Court, has been set for December 4.