Nigeria: MTN ask for liniency over severe sanction

South Africa's MTN has written to authorities in Nigeria asking for "leniency" and requesting a review of a $5.2 billion fine imposed on the telecoms provider for failing to cut off unregistered SIM card users, a regulatory source said on Tuesday.

MTN sent a copy of the letter addressed to telecommunications regulator NCC to Nigeria's presidency, the source said, without providing specific details about the review. A second source confirmed MTN had sent a letter.