Telecommunications giant MTN is facing serious accusations of misleading the Osun State government regarding its dealings with Oodua Infraco, a company it falsely claimed was affiliated with the state.
According to reports, MTN alleged that Oodua Infraco had instructed it to suspend Right of Way (RoW) payments, a claim that Oodua Infraco has vehemently denied.
Rotimi George-Taylor, the consultant to the Osun State Government on telecommunications infrastructure and Chairman of Global Transactions Limited, issued a statement in Osogbo, accusing MTN of dishonesty in its dealings.
Taylor highlighted that MTN's actions were "disgraceful," pointing out that the company falsely asserted in the Nigerian Communication Weekly on August 16, 2024, that Osun State was a shareholder in Oodua Infraco and that the company was part of the O’odua Investment Group. He criticized MTN for its lack of due diligence, noting that Oodua Infraco’s Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) documents clearly show it is privately owned and has never been part of the O’odua Investment Group.
Oodua Infraco has categorically denied instructing MTN to suspend RoW payments, directly contradicting MTN’s justification for withholding these payments. In a letter dated March 4, 2024, Oodua Infraco stated it never requested MTN to neglect its statutory tax obligations. Furthermore, the company clarified that it had no prior agreement with the Osun State government at the time MTN signed its deal with Oodua, casting doubt on MTN’s claim of having a valid contract for RoW fees.
There are also allegations that MTN misled the Osun State government by claiming to pay ₦650 for RoW fees when the actual cost is over ₦1,000, raising concerns of potential fraud. Taylor demanded that MTN present evidence of any payments made to Oodua Infraco for RoW fees.
Taylor also called for a criminal investigation into the agreement between MTN and Oodua Infraco, stating that the deal did not exempt MTN from paying RoW fees to Osun State. He urged MTN to provide transparency regarding its RoW agreements and payments.
