A Nigerian and Chief Financial Officer
(CFO) of MTN in Iran, Mr. Kunle
Awobodu, is being illegally held
hostage for nine months in the
Islamic country after serving out his
term of office.
The Iranian authorities have
reportedly placed a travel ban on
Awobodu, since March, this year over
alleged fund transfer involving the
telecommunications giant.
Mr. Awobodu, who worked for MTN
Nigeria, was seconded to MTN Iran,
called MTN Irancell, in 2006. He rose
to the position of the CFO in the
company in Iran, reporting to Mr.
Nazir Patel, the group’s CFO in South
Africa.
Saturday Sun learnt that sometimes
in March, the Iranian officials served
him summons to appear at EVIN
Detention Camp in Tehran for
interrogation over transfer of funds,
which his boss in South Africa Patel
did, while head of accounts in Iran.
The interrogation revolved around
MTN Group loans/dividend funds that
were paid by MTN Irancell to MTN
Group via a swap contract
arrangement entered into between
MTN Dubai and the Petro Chemical
Company of Iran (PCC) and his role in
the deal. He reportedly responded to
their queries stating that part of his
responsibility as the CFO of MTN
Irancell was to follow instructions
given to him by MTN Group Chief
Financial Officer at that time, the said
Mr. Nazir Patel; and to ensure proper
records, coordination and
reconciliation of transactions
between MTN Dubai, MTN Irancell
and any other local third party
involved.
After the interrogation, he was told
that they had nothing against him
and that he had done nothing
His passport, laptop, as well as three
storages devices, were, however, later
seized, after further interrogations
and demeaning search of his office
and apartment. All passwords on his
computers were forcibly elicited from
him.
Embattled Awobodu’s contract had
ended in December 2012. However,
due to the delay in finding a
replacement for him, he agreed with
both the Chief Operating Officer of
MTN Irancell (a South African
national named Mr. Ferdi Moolman)
and the former Chief Financial Officer
of MTN Group (South African named
Mr. Patel) to return to Iran in January
2013 to assist the company on urgent
financial matters, including helping
MTN Irancell to close the financial
period which ended in December
2012.
After series of intense interrogation,
the embattled Nigerian was finally
informed that he would not be
allowed to leave Iran until two
conditions were met. One, either he is
able to convince Mr. Patel to travel to
Tehran or, he is able to convince Mr.
Patel to give them a copy of the
relevant documents. Between, the
months of May-July 2013, MTN most
Senior representative in Iran, Mr.
Moolman and the MTN Group Chief
Executive Officer, Mr. Dabengwa,
sources informed Saturday Sun, met
with the interrogators several times,
providing them with documentation
and explanations of the contracts for
the funds transfer but it was not until
mid June that Mr. Awobodu’s laptop
was released to him. During all of
these months, the said Mr. Patel
refused to travel to Iran and by the
third week of July 2013, it was
communicated that he had finally
resigned from his post as MTN Group
CFO. A public statement was released
in July 2013 on the Johannesburg
Stock Exchange that he (Mr. Patel)
does not want to prejudice an
ongoing investigation being
conducted by MTN Group.
The Iranian foreign police department
later called for Awobodu’s passport,
saying they had received instructions
from a Judge Pasandideh asking that
he should not be permitted to leave
the country.
All efforts including those of Iranian
lawyers to resolve the matter have
been futile as the MTN boss’ file
keeps moving back and forth between
the Prosecutors office and the
Revolutionary courts of Iran without
anyone taking full responsibility.
Although, throughout this ordeal,
Awobodu consistently kept the
Nigerian Embassy in Tehran updated
on the developments, all he was told
was that two letters had been written
on his behalf to their foreign ministry
counterparts in Iran, without any
response. Also, he was told that a
briefing document was sent to
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
in Abuja. But never sighted any copy
of these correspondences.
http://sunnewsonline.com/new/national/im-held-hostage-mtn-boss-cries/

It is about time our government steps in diplomatically and get this man released afterall, he has not committed any crime.

Mtn=Criminals....Am not even surprised, they can keep him.

.

assuming dis s an american citizen being tossed up and down n nigeria! or even an iranian citizen

KingMEXX(m): Quote Post

Mtn=Criminals....Am not even surprised, they can keep him


U R A Fool A Very Big One

yemmy_tee: KingMEXX(m): Quote Post

Mtn=Criminals....Am not even surprised, they can keep him


U R A Fool A Very Big One

And yu are??
Abeg shift, no dey block me with that yur bloated body. And next time, I don't wanna see yu in my quotes!

It is not every job in any and any country that you take. Iran will hold this guy till they are thoroughly satisfied.

Iran smuggled out their nationals who imported Weapons into this country, why cant Nigeria smuggle this man out after all he's not under arrest (yet)

KingMEXX: Mtn=Criminals....Am not even surprised, they can keep him.

foolish thing!

SLIDE waxie: foolish thing!

Real foolish thing....ASSU is surely not doing the future of these kids any good.

.

otokx: It is not every job in any and any country that you take. Iran will hold this guy till they are thoroughly satisfied.

true.

Sadly for this man,it seems Mr Patel's hands are soiled hence his refusal to show up and resignation. Now he's gonna pay for the sins of another man.

Sad for him, dis is both personal n business, with South Africans who are racist even to dere own kind, I don't c Mr Patel growing a conscience for a Nigerian anytime soon, and also the Nigerian government will probably not want to get involved or to quote my oga @ d top "they don't give a damn!"

Why is the Nigerian Embassy helpless in this matter? Afterall he is not an illegal resident which usually serves as an excuse to turn a blind eye. Abike Dabiri should please intervene in this case and the GOA case. We deserve some respect wherever we choose to live (though we must always strive to be of good behavior.)

ilugunboy:

Real foolish thing....ASSU is surely not doing the future of these kids any good.

SLIDE waxie: foolish thing!

Yu two clowns should learn to keep those brains of Yurs useful. I have a freedom of speech and I don't see anywhere I mentioned yur names in my comment. If yu have a problem with my comment, kindly face front and mind yur freaking businesses. Mature indeed! Don't get me started!!