On March 23, 2016, Nigeria’s House of Representatives requested that government, before reducing $3.9 billion fine imposed MTN, amends NCC telecommunication regulation. Deputies, who are very strict regarding the law, said it would be unconstitutional to review the fine in any other way, newspapers This Day reported.

Minority leader, Leo Ogor, said the only way to review the N200,000 fine per unregistered SIM card imposed MTN would be through parliament given that it was imposed through it.

The part of telecom regulation, which deputies request to be amended, is under the subscribers’ registration section. This section, amended in 2015 by Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), fixes at N200,000 the fine for failing to disconnect unregistered SIM cards.

Asides this request, the House of Representatives wishes to determine the impact of MTN’s failure to comply with the law on national security.

In Fact, deputies asked the Telecommunication Committee to investigate and find out if MTN’s action led to the death of over 10,000 Nigerians killed by terrorist group Boko Haram. Deputies would like to know if MTN can also be sued on that base.