MTN Nigeria on Friday said its legal counsel has received a letter from the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (the AGF) Abubakar Malami formally withdrawing his demand for N242bn and USD$1.3bn alleged revenue indebtedness.

The letter confirmed that following careful review and due consultation with relevant statutory agencies, the AGF has decided to refer the matter to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) with a view to resolving contentious issues, MTN said in a statement Friday night.

'MTN Nigeria will consequently follow due court process to withdraw its legal action against the AGF and engage with the FIRS and NC on the issues. MTN Nigeria remains committed to conducting its business in accordance with applicable laws in Nigeria', the telecom company said in the statement.

Expressing satisfaction at the development, MTN Nigeria CEO, Ferdi Moolman said ''we are very pleased with the decision of the AGF and we commend him for his wisdom. We maintain our dedication to building and maintaining cordial relationships with all regulatory authorities in Nigeria and remain fully committed to meeting our fiscal responsibilities and contributing to the social and economic development of Nigeria.''

© Pakistan Press International, source Asianet-Pakistan