LAGOS: A company that had threatened to destroy MTN Nigeria's infrastructure along the Niger Delta is now being reported to be working with the leading telecom operator. However, MTN Nigeria said it has never had any direct working relationship with Gbaruka Resources. The threat to destroy MTN property came after Gbaruka alleged that MTN failed to honor its contractual agreements it was reported to have reached with Procomtel Limited. MTN has questioned why it should be liable for debt that is owed to Gbaruka by Procomtel. A copy of the petition, endorsed by Charles Taylor, MD Gbaruka Resources, and addressed to the CEO MTN Nigeria, alleged that as a result of a huge debt that MTN supposedly owes Procomtel, its subcontract Gbaruka can no longer service the bank facilities it obtained to execute some of the projects." Funmi Omogbenigun, general manager for corporate affairs at MTN, said that Procomtel “was engaged by MTN as a contractor, and not Gbaruka Resources." She said MTN does not have any direct contractual relationship with Gbaruka Resources as such, it does not know them. She added that Procomtel “was engaged as a site build contractor to carry out specific works as might be required by MTN, and upon completion of the works, MTN representatives were to verify work status and issue Certificates of Completion." Omogbenigun said that MTN had suffered losses “arising from delays and failures by Procomtel in its job execution, a development that compelled the operator to undertake the completion of the project." BN
