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THE shareholders' fight at Private Telecommunications Operator (PTO), MTS First Wireless, may have taken a dangerous twist with the alleged attempt on the life of one of the directors; Mr. Bob Okoniya said to be holding very sensitive documents that can puncture claims by one of the factions.
THE shareholders' fight at Private Telecommunications Operator (PTO), MTS First Wireless, may have taken a dangerous twist with the alleged attempt on the life of one of the directors; Mr. Bob Okoniya said to be holding very sensitive documents that can puncture claims by one of the factions.
Mr. Okoniya was shot at close range Thursday night by gunmen suspected to be hired assassins in his Toyota Pick up truck with registration number Lagos DN 732-LND when he visited MTS Fire Wireless Switch in Victoria Island, Lagos. He was said to be in the company of three top executives of the firm at the time he was shot.
Narrating his ordeal to Daily Champion yesterday, Mr. Okoniya who escaped with wounds said the attack was masterminded by his boardroom rival and intended to snuff life out of him.
But spokesman of MTS First Wireless, Mr. Reuben Mouka said that peace has returned to the company after a peace meeting held at the weekend.
The General Alani Akinrinade camp has however dismissed the claim insisting that the chief executive officer of the company, Mr. Richmond Aggrey and his group be probed and removed from office for alleged exposure of the company to various liabilities.
The other shareholders in the General Alani Akinrinade (rtd) led camp include, Chief Obafemi Olapade, AVM Canice Umenwaliri, (rtd) Colonel Lawan Gwadabe, Mr. Bob Okoniya and Mrs.Adenike Adebayo-Makinde
But in a release made available to Daily Champion, Mr. Mouka, said that the the aggrieved parties agreed that the status quo remain while their grievances are being looked into MTS pioneered wireless telecommunications services in Nigeria in 1992, and had 15,000 subscribers on its analogue, mobile, trunking radio and paging service before it was disconnected from the national network by the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) in December 1995.
MTS has four broad licences, which will be launched in phases. They are the National Fixed Wireless Licence, the National Long Distance license and the International Gateway Service Licence.
A major shake-up in the board of the Private Telecommunications Operator middle of last month had torn the shareholders triggering of the intense tussle for the soul of the company.
The decision that caused the crisis said that a the new board will be reconstituted by representatives nominated by the shareholders like MTS Inc., the founding and managing partner of MTS First Wireless, Firstel (Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for Nigerian Investors) Shell Trustees, which has debenture holding in the company, and few other investors who purchased shares in the company through a recent private placement executed by Asset Resources Management, (ARM).
The meeting had also approved a new management structure for the company, and the dissolution of the Board Management Committee instituted last year to guide the company to its successful re-launch last August as the board is satisfied that it has completed its assignment
General Akinrade is however oppsed to the decision and accused the chief executive officer, Mr. Aggrey, and Senior Vice President of the company, Dr. Osarieme Bazuaye, of preferential allotment of shares to the foreign investors without approval.
Mr Aggrey's camp however claim that General Akinrade and his friends who received free shares from the company for their assistance towards the revalidation of the operations of the company, are now seeking for more control