MTN has released another message commending the “immense dedication and passion for excellence” which Amina Oyagbola brought to her roles, first as corporate services executive, later as human resource executive and most recently as executive in charge of the human resource and corporate services roles.
Mrs Oyagbola recently resigned after a 12-year stint with the telecommunications company to pursue other interests.
Her unexpected resignation sparked controversy, with Sahara Reporters claiming she was sacked for allegedly offering bribe to Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Abba Kyari.
The online medium reported that the bribe was purportedly given to facilitate the reduction of the $5.2 billion (N1.04 trillion) fine the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) slammed on MTN in 2015 for failing to deactivate more than five million unregistered SIM cards.
A statement by MTN Nigeria’s Chief Executive Officer, Ferdi Moolman, on Tuesday however said “Amina has been exceptional, not only for her consummate professionalism and commitment to the core brand values of MTN but also for her passion for mentoring people, especially women”.
Her leaving, said Moolman, “is a big loss to us at MTN and while we will certainly miss her commitment and passion, we remain proud of the record of stellar and unblemished service she leaves behind.”
In 2015, in addition to her role as human resource executive Oyagbola was saddled with the responsibility of corporate services executive in the aftermath of the NCC fine.
“Despite the added task of overseeing the Human Resource function, Amina discharged her responsibilities creditably, contributing immensely to the amicable resolution of the issues by all the parties,” said Moolman.
The fine on the South Africa-owned company was subsequently reduced to N330 billion.
Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, disclosed recently that N80 billion has been paid as first tranche.
MTN had on Friday, December 23 declared that the bribe story was “untrue, malicious, defamatory, with the goal of damaging our hard-earned reputation, as well as that of our highly respected executive, Amina Oyagbola, who has served our company for 12 meritorious years.”
The company categorically denied the accusation that it or its employees offered a bribe to a government official over the NCC fine.
“Secondly, there is absolutely no truth to the accusation that Mrs Amina Oyagbola who is our Human Resources and Corporate Services Executive was fired,” the company stated.
Oyagbola, the company said, made the voluntary decision to resign after serving MTN for 12 years as the longest serving executive, during which she also served as a director on the boards of the MTN Nigeria Foundation, MTN Benin and Visafone.
“Amina has made the decision to take a well-deserved break after almost 30 years of providing her leadership skills and expertise to various multinational organisations in corporate Nigeria,” it added.
A lawyer by training, Oyagbola commenced her working career in the chambers of FRA Williams.
She has attended several international training programs and is a Chevening Scholar.
