The Lagos State division of the Tax Appeal Tribunal has ordered MTN Nigeria Communications to pay $72,551,059 in tax default to the Federal Inland Revenue Services from 2007 to 2017.

However, the Tribunal absolved the telecommunication firm from paying the sum of $21,039,807 as penalties and interest on the principal sum.

A five-person panel led by Professor A. B. Hamed gave the verdict and order recently while delivering judgment in an appeal numbered TAT/LZ/VAT/075, filed by the telecommunication company against the request by the FIRS to pay the default.

According to the processes filed before the appeal, the facts were that sometime on May 10, 2018, the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation issued a report of its investigation into the MTN’s Forms A and M transactions. The report covered the 2007 to 2017 accounting years.