South Africa MTN Group's Executive Chairman Phuthuma Nhleko was in Nigeria, a source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters, as a deadline to pay a $5.2 billion fine for failing to disconnect unregistered SIM cards approached.
MTN has stated it was continuing talks with the authorities in Nigeria over the fine.
Nhleko was named executive chairman of MTN for a period of up to six months after Sifiso Dabengwa stepped down as CEO with immediate effect on Monday.