9 mobile sale must follow due process ―Reps committee

THE House of Representatives committee on telecommunications on Monday declared that the sale of 9 mobile (formerly Etisalat) must follow due process.

This is coming just as the committee summoned the former chairman and directors of Etisalat Nigeria over alleged indebtedness of about N500 billion from the consortium of 20 banks.

The House committee chaired by Honourable Saheed Akinade Fijabi at an investigative session  with Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, 9 mobile management team and “the syndicate of lenders of Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services Limited (trading as 9 mobile)” said that the House was concern over development as regards to sale of 9 mobile to another investor.

According to him, the House was interested in having a transparent bidding process anchor on best practices.

It also emerged at the investigative meeting that there was a court order nullifying the interim management of 9 mobile, while the process for the sale of 9 mobile to another investor is been handled by Barclays Africa, according to NCC Head of Legal, Yetunde Akinloye.

The Acting Director Regulatory and Corporate Affairs, 9 mobile, Oluseye Osunsedo, however, said that the court order has been appealed.

It also emerged that today (January 16) had been fixed for the bidders to submit their bids as being handled by Barclays Africa.