Alleged Corruption: Adia Sowho, MTN’s High-Ranking Officer, Resigns as Probe into Financial Misconduct Thickens
Internal auditors reportedly discovered that parts of the funds budgeted for the launch and marketing activities were misappropriated through inflated contracts and other means
MTN Nigeria Communications Plc has commenced an investigation into the activities of its Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), Ms. Adia Sowho, who has been accused of misappropriating part of the N5 billion budgeted for the commercial launch of its 5G Network in 2022.
The investigation reportedly led to her quick resignation last week, which many believe was an attempt to avoid being indicted and dismissed for corruption.
The company launched its 5G network in Lagos in September 2022, marking a new era of fast-speed internet connection in the country.
However, internal auditors soon discovered that parts of the funds budgeted for the launch and marketing activities were misappropriated through inflated contracts and other means.
Adia Sowho, appointed as CMO in 2021, is being investigated for procuring services from contractors at significantly higher rates than before her tenure. A former staff member of MTN’s marketing department alleged that Sowho attempted to impose her own cronies as contractors and inflate costs.
The sources claimed that Sowho tried to force the marketing team to switch to a more expensive vendor, Hippo AD, for digital campaigns, and attempted to punish those who resisted.
The source also alleged that Sowho tried to inflate the budget for a campaign, “Blow my Hustle,” from N30 million to over N100 million, and threatened to reduce the budget to N7 million if her demands were not met. Additionally, she allegedly insisted on paying a vendor, Out There Media, over N50 million for bulk SMS services, despite the team’s ability to send SMSes directly to customers at no cost.
The investigation has also uncovered alleged collusion with another MTN contractor, SPV Communications, to pad invoices, resulting in bloated marketing costs. Furthermore, Sowho brought in McKinsey consultants without following due process, incurring billions of naira in costs, despite not providing any valuable insights.
The swift resignation of Adia Sowho has raised questions about the company’s commitment to transparency and accountability. MTN Nigeria’s move to investigate and address these allegations is seen as a positive step towards ensuring ethical business practices and protecting shareholders’ investments.
