₦airaland Forum

Nigeria’s leading retail bank, Access Bank Plc, has unveiled a series of great deals and exciting offers to celebrate its customers this Valentine season. The campaign, tagged “It’s a Love Thing” is the 4th edition and will kick off from February 11 to February 29, 2020.

Speaking at the launch of the campaign in Lagos today, Victor Etuokwu, Executive Director, Retail Banking, Access Bank plc said: “Valentine season is another opportunity to show love to our customers by rewarding their loyalty and enabling them achieve their valentine wishes. We are using this opportunity to thank our customers for their loyalty to Access Bank. We are grateful to our customers and non-customers who depend on our banking services and products to achieve seamless banking transactions and wish everyone a happy valentine celebration”.

Commenting further on the campaign, Adaeze Umeh, Group Head, Consumer Banking, Access bank Plc, said: “In the spirit of the love season, we are going to reward customers who finance the purchase of a Suzuki car through us with free vehicle registration, free servicing for a year and N100,000 fuel allowance. We will also reward 30 lucky customers with a 5–star dinner experience when they perform a minimum of 5 transactions on their mobile app, POS & Web and USSD (*901#) platforms.

“Customers will get 20% off their initial monthly, quarterly or annual subscription when they subscribe to our XclusivePlus proposition and the first 50 customers to activate or reactivate their Diamond Business Advantage accounts will enjoy one-month free Ebony Life TV advert. Instant prizes will also be given to customers who subscribe to our Healthxtra plan. We are offering all these and more to our customers to show how much we appreciate them for their consistent patronage.

To join our rewarding train, all you need to do is to dial *901#, or walk into any Access Bank branch close to you to reactivate or open a new account and start enjoying the Valentine Campaign benefits,” Adaeze concluded.

Access Bank is the leading retail bank in Nigeria with over 600 branches and more than 40 million customers. The bank offers products and services tailored to suit the lifestyle of every Nigerian irrespective of age and demographic.

To know more about the Access Bank ‘Valentine Campaign’ please click HERE .

Following the appointment of one of their advisory member, Commonwealth Business Women, Nigeria (CWBN) as congratulated Halima Buba the newly appointed Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Sun Trust Bank Limited.

According to a Congratulatory letter signed by CEO of CWBN Afoma Adigwe, “congratulations to you on your appointment as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of SunTrust Bank Limited. Everything you have done and accomplished has led to this point and you truly deserve it. Your integrity, diligence and hard work had paid off in the end.”

While wishing her well in her new office, Adigwe expressed optimism that Buba will excel in her new role while she records more success ahead.

Prior to this appointment, Buba rose to the rank of Deputy General Manager in Ecobank Nigeria, in charge of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja and the North. She demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities in building cross-function teams and focused on business development and market expansion.

Her appointment was premised on her years of experience as a financial expert and a seasoned banker with over 20 years of experience in both the private and public sectors with recognizable impressive strides. Commenting on her appointment, she stated that “These are interesting times for us as a country”.

The economy is still in its post-recession phase and the prospects of sustained growth are encouraging. “Being appointed to take over the helms of SunTrust Bank at such a time is both humbling and challenging. She is currently sitting on the board of Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) as a non-executive director and participates amongst other key stakeholders in making critical decisions to ensure that the nation’s wealth is being channelled to optimum use for the future generations of Nigerians.

She is the co-founder of TAJ consortium, a group of dynamic technocrats.

She is a committed humanitarian; Mrs Halima Buba serves as Patron, Community Project Management Committee, Michika.

She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree (BSc) and Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Maiduguri.

She is a Fellow Chartered Institute of Finance and Control of Nigeria, Institute of Capital Market Registrars and Institute of Loans and Risk Management of Nigeria.

She is an honorary member of the Nigerian Chartered Institute of Bankers and had attended various courses.

NdaniTV has confirmed that everyone’s favorite show, Skinny Girl in Transit will in fact be back for the 6th season!

The new season will see us following Tiwa and Mide on their journey as husband and wife, exploring the intricacies of their new lives. The show will also explore other story arcs, including Shalewa and Mohammed’s relationship. EVERYONE EXPECTS ANOTHER WEDDING! It sure promises to be a truly exciting season.

Starring Abimbola Craig, Ayoola Ayolola, Sharon Ooja, Ngozi Nwosu, Timini Egbuson, and Chioma Okoli, Skinny Girl in Transit Season 6 premieres on Valentine’s Day at 12pm and is powered by GTBank.

See newly released photos and watch the official trailer below!

Photography: @obisomto

Nigeria’s leading financial institution, Zenith Bank Plc has introduced a new product, Z-Woman, which is focused on empowering female business owners.

Z-Woman account holders stand a chance to enjoy loans of up to N10 million at a single-digit interest rate, free digital skills training, and free exhibition stands at Zenith Bank events and many other benefits which will help them grow their businesses and increase sales.

According to the Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive of Zenith Bank, Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, Z-Woman offers women the opportunity to enjoy a partnership with the Zenith Bank brand as the name Z-woman implies. The Z-Woman account is designed to address the unique needs of women-owned businesses and offer them unmatched services that empower them to achieve more.

Zenith Bank Plc is recognized as one of the most innovative financial institutions in Nigeria and was voted the most customer-focused bank in Nigeria for the Retail and SME segments in the 2018 KPMG Annual Banking Industry Customer Satisfaction Survey (BICSS). Most recently, the bank won the Best Bank in Retail Banking and the Bank of the Year at the 2019 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BOFI) Awards and was ranked as the Best Digital Bank in Nigeria 2019 by Agusto & Co.

The bank’s commitment to world-class service standards has led to several product innovations over the last couple of months including the “Zenith Timeless Account”, which allows Nigerians aged 55 years and above bank for free, the “Zenith Save4me”, a high-interest target savings account and “Dubai Visa Service” on the Zenith Internet Banking Platform, which offers convenient application and payment for visas to Dubai.

To learn more about Z-Woman, please visit www.zenithbank.com/zwoman

These are certainly not the best of times for Lagos State Commissioner for Establishment, Training, and Pensions, Ajibola Ponnle, as information reaching this newspaper revealed that her marriage to Lagos big boy, Michael, who was the chief executive officer of defunct Origin Oil and Gas, is at the stage of crumbling.

As you are reading this, the affair is like what could be described as ‘things fall apart’ as the centre can no longer hold.

Ajibola has dragged her husband to a Lagos court for dissolution of their over two-decade-old union which has produced three children, all boys.

In her evidence before the trial judge, Justice Lateefah Okunnu, on February 4, 2020, Ajibola, a chartered accountant admitted that she had left her matrimonial home, and now co-habits with her lover, one Segun Bamidele who lives four streets away from her matrimonial home in Banana Island, Lagos.

In the amended petition she filed before the court, she stated that eight years after she got married to her husband, he changed his behavior towards her in a manner as leading to constant intimidation, coercion, and threats, seizure and and destruction of the petitioner’s personal belongings as well as emotional and physical abuse.

She stated that when she could no longer cope, she left her matrimonial home in Banana Island on January 9, 2016 after which the respondent moved her belongings to her mother’s house on the same day and forbade her from returning to the house.

She therefore urged the court to issue a decree of dissolution of the marriage. She further seeks an order of court to direct the respondent to pay for the educational, physical, and medical maintenance of the children, and a house in Banana Island Lagos, being the location the children are accustomed to, pursuant to section 70 of the Matrimonial Causes Act. She further wants the court to order the respondent to pay her the sum of N250 million for her maintenance pursuant to the act.

Michael and Ajibola Ponnle, when the going was good

However, her husband the respondent denied the allegations made against him by his wife. He said that the petitioner first deserted her matrimonial home in January 2010 with their children because he insisted that the petitioner should perform her duties as a wife and mother, particularly at it relates to the upbringing of the children.

He denied ever been cruel to his wife who he said he married out of genuine love. Rather, he said that the petitioner’s attitude changed towards him within two weeks after their marriage and she became cruel towards him by locking him out of the matrimonial home at every flimsy excuse.

In the 49 paragraph deposed to by him, which also serve as answer to his wife’s petition before the court, the respondent denied ever incarcerating his wife, or preventing her from meeting work obligations. “Regardless of the respondent’s support, the petitioner neglected her primary responsibilities to the respondent and the children and continued in that manner of defiance to any advice or plea from the respondent that she should try to create a balance in managing the home and meeting work obligations”.

He also stated that the petitioner preferred to come home late, long after the children must have gone to bed without making provision for their meals, a situation that necessitated him to employ cooks and stewards in their home. “Yet, the petitioner persisted coming home late,” he stated.

The respondent said that the only thing that caused a strain in their relationship was the petitioner’s refusal to fulfill her obligations as a wife and mother. He claimed that the petitioner’s mother and sister once assaulted him over his insistence that she take more care of the children. Also, she moved out of the home twice in five years over the same issue.

“The petitioner moved out with majority of her belongings, using over 15 suitcases and leaving behind only clothes she no longer wore. The respondent offered to send them to her as he was no longer comfortable with the petitioner coming into the matrimonial home after she had voluntarily moved out a second time in five years,” he stated.

When the matter came up on Wednesday, February 5, the respondent, led in evidence by his lawyers, Mr. Adebowale Kamoru and Mrs. Kehinde Daniels of Pinheiro LP told Justice Okunnu that he cannot afford the N250 million his estranged wife is asking for her maintenance, saying that his business has gone down.

Asked how he had been living, he said: “When business was good, I invested in many people, including my wife, which resulted into the booming business and job (commissioner) she has now”, and it is the goodwill of those other people he has been living off..

He however told the court that he was willing and ready to take care of his children, as they were his reason for still working. He particularly lamented that against his wish, his wife took their last born (name withheld) to the United Kingdom at the age of 10.

He said: “Initially, I agreed to her wish to have custody of all the kids. To me, the issue of the kids is very vital. In as much as I don’t agree with Jibola, we cannot divide the kids. I came from a single home and I know what it means. But it dawned on me when she sent our last boy to school abroad at the age of 10 and I think it is very wrong. I know all my sons. I know my last born is very smart and curious. He therefore needs a fatherly role model.  Nobody can do this better than me, his father. It is not right to take him abroad at such a tender age. I therefore ask for his custody. Others are old enough and I need to guide my son to be a responsible man”, he said.

He mentioned that he has since been taking care of the children to the tune of five million on each of them and an additional five million for their maintenance, all amounting to N20 million per annum, last payment of which was just this January of 2020.  He says that the sole reason he is working is to take care of his children.

When asked by Chief Bolaji Ayorinde SAN, the petitioner’s lawyer, whether he loved his children, he replied: “One million percent”. The petitioner’s lawyer thereafter attempted to tender as evidence, an e-mail which the petitioner’s first son sent to the respondent but his counsel objected.

Justice Okunnu in her ruling struck out the application to tender the letter, saying that what had happened between the parents was not the making of the children. She said it did not concern them and that they must not be made to suffer the consequences of the actions of their parents. “Admitting such a letter can destroy the relationship and confidence between father and son and the court will not be part of such. Besides, she said such admittance is contrary to family law”.

The trial judge therefore admonished the lawyers to advise their clients appropriately. She thereafter adjourned the case till May 5, 2020 for final address.

A former President, Goodluck Jonathan, has explained why he sacked Farida Waziri as the chairperson of the anti-graft outfit, EFCC.

Mr Jonathan also said he had no personal grudges against Mrs Waziri.

Mr Jonathan, in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Ikechukwu Eze, on Monday, said Mrs Waziri’s removal was in the interest of the nation and he is obliged to keep the details a “state secret.”

Mrs Waziri, who was chairperson for the EFCC between May 2008 and November 2011, in her yet to be launched book, ‘Farida Waziri: One Step Ahead’, said the former president Jonathan fired her for probing oil racketeers.

She also alleged that she was victimised for refusing to contribute money for Mr Jonathan’s election in 2011.

Former President Jonathan was vice president, later acting president and president following the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua.

He contested and won the 2011 elections under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defeating now incumbent president Muhammadu Buhari in 2011.

Mr Jonathan later lost the 2015 presidential election to Mr Buhari who is now in his second term.

Conflict

Mr Jonathan dismissed claims by Mrs Waziri that she was removed as chairperson of EFCC because of her ”purported refusal” to probe the oil subsidy fraud

He described her claims as ”superficial” saying it contradicts available evidence in the possession of the then government.

”It must be pointed out that former President Jonathan had no personal issues with Mrs Waziri,” the release noted. “The former President had to eventually let her go in the national interest. Her removal, therefore, has a lot to do with reasons relating to Nigeria’s interest and global standing which details Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is obliged to keep as a state secret in our common national interest.”

Mr Jonathan also said, “it is very important to note that when dealing with the interest of the nation and the performance of the functions of a public office, a determined leader cannot prioritise the interest of an individual.

”It, therefore, bears repeating here that Mrs Waziri’s removal as chairperson of EFCC had absolutely nothing to do with her purported refusal to desist from probing any oil individual.

”This claim sounds rather superficial and contradicts available evidence of the then government’s genuine efforts to combat oil subsidy racketeering.”

The former president urged Mrs Waziri not to see public office as an entitlement

”Those who choose to continue to rue, like Mrs. Waziri, over the loss of public positions should realise that such a position, which is a public trust, is not an entitlement. They are usually given to individuals to provide service to the people. Public officers should therefore see such transitions as their own personal sacrifice to the nation.

“It is in this light that Mrs Farida Waziri should view her removal from office. It was nothing personal. It was everything patriotic.”

Keystone Bank Limited has re-emphasised its commitment to the growth and development of the Africa’s creative industry as the lender recently partnered with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and other multilateral agencies to host the maiden edition of the Creative Africa Exchange Weekend (CAX WKND) in Kigali, Rwanda.

According to the organisers, the Creative Africa Exchange Weekend is Africa’s first continental event dedicated to promoting exchange within the creative and cultural industry.

“CAX is a consolidated marketplace for the creative and cultural industry. It was developed as the catalyst that brings together the identified assets and resources within the creative industry’s ecosystem, enabled by cutting-edge technology to consolidate the resources that create a viable, monetizable and impactful African creative and cultural economy.

“CAX aims to facilitate investments into the industry through trade, industrialization and provision of critical infrastructure to support the transformation of Africa through mobilizing continental initiatives such as African Continental Free Trade Agreements,” it stated.

Commenting on the bank’s involvement, Keystone Bank executive director, Adeyemi Odusanya said: “There is a misconception of ‘mistrust’ between creative industry practitioners and the banking community, rather the issue is, both parties need to seek better understanding of their respective peculiarities.

“For instance, creative industry practitioners are concerned of the stringent conditions of accessing finances from banks, while the bankers intend to comply with their mandate of protecting depositors’ assets, provide optimum return on investment to investors as much as reducing their cost of risk.

“These concerns call for greater partnership/collaborations between both parties with putting together structures and platform that address the issues of intellectual properties, legal systems as well as the protection of the value chain framework for ease of advocacy and execution of common goals.

“In the motion industry, most finances are targeted at content development and production (which ideally should be financed by equity, while the real obstacles are the packaging, marketing and distribution stages which might require financing for the real heavy lifting for that business.

“Hence, focus should be on developing a platform (like physical/virtual room) and structure for knowledge sharing and collaboration.”

On its part, at the event, Afreximbank announced a $500 million support for the production and trade of African cultural

and creative products over the next two years.

President of the bank, Prof. Benedict Oramah, told guests that the funds, which would build on what the bank was already doing, would be accessible as lines of credit to banks, direct financing to operators and as guarantees. He said the creative economy was increasingly recognized as a significant sector and meaningful contributor to Africa’s gross domestic product and that the cultural and creative industries catalysed economic growth by stering more inclusive, connected and collaborative societies.

Keystone Bank is a technology and service-driven commercial bank offering convenient and reliable solutions to its customers.

Nollywood actress, Dakore Akande and radio OAP and compere, Oluwaseun have been announced as co-hosts of the maiden edition of MultiChoice’s latest reality show, Ultimate Love, which premieres this Sunday, 9 February at 7:30pm WAT on DStv and GOtv.

The duo is poised to bring their diverse experiences and exciting personalities to bear on what is already billed as the most exciting development in African reality television.

“After a long search, we are delighted to have Dakore Akande and Oluwaseun on board as hosts for our new reality show, Ultimate love. We believe they have all it takes to deliver a great on-screen experience that will resonate positively with viewers,” said John Ugbe, Chief Executive Officer, MultiChoice Nigeria.

“They have done well in their respective careers in the Nigerian entertainment and media space, and we believe the Ultimate Love show will be a great inclusion to their portfolios as hosts. We ask that you join us Sunday, February 9 live on DStv and GOtv to witness their amazing work first-hand,” he added.

Dakore Egbuson-Akande, is an accomplished and highly regarded multiple award-winning Film/Stage Actor and TV personality. She has appeared in many Nollywood films including big box office titles such as Isoken (2017) and Chief Daddy (2018). She is also a humanitarian involved in a number advocacy causes and community outreaches as seen in her work for Amnesty International, United Nations, the European Union and most recently, ActionAid Nigeria.

Oluwaseun P. Olaniyan is a Media Creative, Event Compere and Conference Facilitator who co-pioneered the award winning radio show, Morning Crossfire on Nigeria Info 99.3FM. He also produced and presented other weekly shows such as Art & Soul, The Panel, Think Agric amongst others. He has hosted a string of events in the private and public sector.

Ultimate Love premieres Sunday, 9 February at 7:30pm WAT on DStv channel 198 and GOtv channel 29. Available to customers on DStv Premium, Compact Plus, Compact, Confam and Yanga packages as well as to customers on GOtv Max and JOLLI packages. Visit www.dstvafrica.com or www.gotvafrica.com and download MyDStv or MyGOtv Apps to pay your subscription or switch your package.

Please visit www.africamagic.tv for more on this and other frequently asked questions. Follow the social media updates on Ultimate Love @ultimateloveng on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook using the hashtag #UltimateLoveNg.

Primate Elijah Ayodele is ranked among charitable African men of God not just because he preaches redemption on the pulpit, he is one of those regularly mentioned also because he is found to be practicing what he preaches, which is evident in his various humanitarian interventions.

In various ways, Ayodele has touched, and still does, lives locally and internationally through his ministry. The rebranded humanitarian arm of his ministry, Inri Widows Foundation (IWF), has projects catering for the needs of widows, widowers, the aged, the physically challenged and orphans. It is, therefore, not unexpected, that his ministry, INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Isolo, Lagos, has continued to draw interests from far and near, even beyond the shores of Africa.

On Friday, February 14, 2020, Primate Ayodele would be hosting a United Nations delegation at his church premises. The event that will herald the official flag-off ceremony of the 75th anniversary of the UN, it was gathered, will be graced by eminent personalities from within and outside Nigeria.

The guest list includes the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; Maiyegun of Yorubaland, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall; top government functionaries, businesspersons, movie and music stars, among others.

Characteristics of the famous prophet, he would also be using the occasion to empower over 2000 people.

”I will be empowering 1000 widows, 1000 youths and I will be giving out JAMB and WAEC forms to indigent students,” declared the cleric who had earlier been honoured in November 2019 with the United Nations ‘Eminent Ambassador Of Peace’ award, “for his relentless contributions to the society and global humanitarian services and, above all, for being a man of peace.”

For Ayodele, this success feather, and others like it, indeed, have put paid to undesirable stories and signals fresh rounds of glory.

Director-General of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA and married to a former Secretary to the Local Government, Ifako Ijaiye, Lagos State, Dr. Oke-Osanyitolu has dragged his ex-lover, a Director in a ministry, Lagos State Government, Olaide Ibraheem to Court over the ownership of the plum property located at No. 1, Baba Yusuf Close, Alausa, Lagos, which the Igbosere High Court had fixed 7th February, 2020, for the adoption of final written addresses in the case.

Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye fixed the date after hearing submissions from the Defence Counsel, Adeoye Asaolu, and the Lead State Prosecutor, Akin George.

Ms Ibraheem was arraigned on May 22, 2017 and faces a three-count charge of forgery, forcible entry and criminal damage to the property which allegedly belongs to Oke-Sanyitolu.

During the trial, four witnesses, including Oke-Osanyitolu, his personal assistant and a signature expert, testified for the prosecution while six witnesses, including Ibraheem, a surveyor and a Police officer testified on behalf of the defence.

In his testimony, Randy Oke-Osanyitolu told the Court that he and the defendant were formerly lovers and top civil servants working for the Lagos State Government. He said that in the course of their relationship, he needed accommodation for his ailing mother and had sought Ibraheem’s help in getting an accommodation.

Oke-Sanyitolu who is allegedly known as good chaser of anything under the skirt said the defendant negotiated the purchase of the property on his behalf for N45 million from the former owner, Baba Yusuf, in Kano.

The LASEMA DG told the Court that he made payment for the property in installments via Luqman Salami, his personal assistant, and that he paid a balance of N1. 5 million the day the Deed of Assignment was signed.

Five people, including the defendant, were present when the Deed was signed but only four persons – myself, the owner of the property, Baba Yusuf, his son Musa Yusuf and Salami, my personal assistant signed the document,” he said.

According to Oke-Sanyitolu, following the breakdown of their relationship, the defendant in order to unlawfully lay claim to the property, fraudulently made another Deed of Assignment and forged his signature on the fake document.

He said that Ibraheem, with the aid of hoodlums, also unlawfully broke into and took possession of the property.

The LASEMA chief noted that when he reported his ex-lover’s actions to the authorities, she threatened his life and said she will show him the power of women.

Ibraheem, while testifying in her defence, said the property belonged to her. She said that when she wanted to buy the property, she visited Baba Musa, the former owner of the property in Kano. However, he had said that due to religious reasons, he could not sell the property to a woman, unless she came with her spouse. Ibraheem said that obliging the request of Baba Musa, Oke-Sanyitolu accompanied her to buy the property.

The defendant in her version of events said that four persons – herself, the owner of the property, his son and Oke-Sanyitolu signed the Deed of Assignment while Salami, Oke-Sanyitolu’s personal assistant was a witness.

She said at the end of their relationship, she got wind of the fact that Oke-Sanyitolu had procured another Deed of Assignment for the property. Ibraheem noted that the new Deed did not contain her signature and that he was trying to register the new Deed at the Lagos State Ministry of Lands. The director denied taking over the property illegally from the complainant.

According to the prosecution, Ibraheem allegedly committed the offences in September 2015 at the disputed property. The alleged offences contravene Sections 52, 339 and 365(3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

After a thrilling round of football in the quarter finals, eight teams in the male and female categories have advanced to the semi final stages of the 2020 GTBank Masters Cup. All four games will be played at the Campos Stadium, Lagos Island, on Wednesday 5thFebruary 2020, where the Semi Finalists will compete for a coveted spot in the grand finale.

Last season’s winners in the male and female category, Kings College and Lead-Forte Gate College, will hope to defend their title when they take on Eko Boys High School, Mushin and Queens College, Yaba respectively.

Coming off their five-goal rout of International School Lagos in the quarterfinals, Greensprings School, Lekki will be looking to keep up the momentum against last year’s male finalists, Anwar-Ul-Islam Model College, Agege who also completed a seven-goal rout of C.M.S Grammar School, Yaba.

In the female category, Ansar-Ud-Deen Girls High School, Itire and Greensprings School, Lekki will battle it out for one of two spots in the final of the GTBank Masters Cup.

Since its commencement in 2012, the GTBank Masters Cup has become one of the most anticipated secondary school football competitions renowned for discovering and developing indigenous talents, some of whom have secured scholarships and trials with football academies around the world.

Now in its 9th season, the competition hosts 50 teams from over 40 schools who come together to showcase their football talent, whilst promoting the values of sportsmanship, passion, and fair play.

The full schedule of the semi-finals is as follows:

Wednesday 5th February 2020

Female Category

Ansar-Ud-Deen Girls High School, Itire vsGreensprings School, Lekki

Lead-Forte Gate College, Lekki vs Queens College, Yaba

Male Category

Anwar-Ul-Islam Model College, Agege vsGreensprings School, Lekki

Eko Boys High School, Mushin vs Kings College, Lagos Island

The unbanked and underbanked, two groups at the centre of retail banking, need to be captured for the financial system to achieve its full potential. The KPMG Nigeria Banking Industry Customer Experience Survey says customers have expectations about how their needs will be met and meeting this requires banks deploying the right network and technology. First Bank of Nigeria Limited has through its Firstmonie Agent Banking Network created over 150,000 indirect jobs for Nigerians and executed three million transactions via 45,000 agents, writes COLLINS NWEZE.

Banking is no longer where you operate, but what you do. And doing more in today’s banking world requires the right tool, network and technology. Capturing the retail segment of the sector requires the right technology and product. The KPMG Nigeria has for the 13th consecutive year released the Banking Industry Customer Experience Survey, which showed banks playing formidable roles in the retail segment of the market. The retail segment of the report showed that FirstBank scored 71.8 percent, an improvement from 65 percent score in the 2018 survey.

The KPMG report showed that 53 percent of retail customers considered quality of service experience in choosing their bank, 13 percent chosen their bank based on financial stability while 12 percent chose their bank based on image and reputation.

For First Bank of Nigeria Limited, achieving these milestones did not come by chance. It took several decades of investment in the right technology, product and quality leadership.

As the oldest financial institution in the country, founded in 1894, FirstBank has over 28,000 Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), launched the first cash deposit ATM in Nigeria in 2011, has appointed over 45,000 FirstMonie Agents spread across the country, targeting 500,000 agents and operates in over 750 business locations. The bank has also created over 150,000 indirect jobs through the FirstMonie Agents scheme as at December 31, 2019.

Also, the bank’s alternative channels were the first to launch WhatsApp banking, among other milestones. Achieving the 80 percent financial inclusion target set by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will require the support of commercial banks and use of technology. First Bank of Nigeria is one of the financial institutions which have taken steps to make the target a reality by deploying technology in its operations by way of Agent Banking Network. FirstBank has expressed its commitment to continue to drive financial inclusion through its First-monie Agent Network in 99 per cent of the 774 local government areas and has processed over N2 trillion through the initiative.

The Firstmonie service provides financial/banking solutions to rural and semi-urban locations across the country. Such solutions include account opening, cash deposit, cash withdrawals, airtime purchase, and bill payments. Through this channel, the bank is committed to providing convenient services that engender and provides ease of access to banking products, thereby saving time and travel costs for users of the network. Speaking at the Firstmonie Agent Banking National Awards in Lagos, FirstBank’s Chief Executive Officer, Adesola Adeduntan said: “The initiative has witnessed several changes in the operating structure and value proposition of FirstBank

In December 2017, the bank ran a pilot test with over 400,000 transactions processed and following the success of the first run, it re-launched in 2018.”

According to Adeduntan, through Firstmonie, the bank has remained at the forefront of driving nation-wide inclusion, given our belief that access to financial services is part of lifting people out of poverty and fostering collective national economic development.

Adeduntan said: “The key strength of the bank’s services is to look at the gaps in the society and develop products and services that address the gap. As an integral part of our strategy, we believe in working with the CBN to improve financial inclusion index of the country. We would, at FirstBank, assist Nigeria to address poverty and hunger, thereby promoting security of life and property. Because when people are gainfully employed, the implication is that they will think less of crime.”

The bank’s Deputy Managing Director, Francis Shobo, noted that the agents are the most critical part of the ecosystem because they take deposits, make payments and open accounts, provide transfers and sell airtime at locations with little or no access to financial services. He said there are switches and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System (NIBSS) has also supported the Firstmonie network. Shobo praised the CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele, stating that the the apex bank has made changes in regulation around agency banking. “They have allowed the programme to scale as much as it has scaled,” he said. At the event, 31 agents at the state level won N250,000 each, five agents N1 million each at the regional level and a grand prize of N2.5 million at the national level.

FirstBank Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Folake Ani-Mumuney, said the Bank has, through the First-monie initiative, empowered communities by connecting them to the financial system. She said the bank will continue to support Firstmonie agents. She said customers’ expectations were changing and that it’s the bank’s duty as a customer-focused bank to ensure that customers were provided with the means to carry out banking through any channel they desire. FirstBank has also recognised the opportunities for inclusive growth and influence of financial technology not just in banking but also business operations across industries.

One of the Firstmonie agents said: “I have been with Firstmonie since they started, and I can say that it has been a life-changing experience. I have been able to build trust of the communities around me as many workers in my area have forgotten the last time they visited any bank branch for basic banking services. I am a proud employer and as a result, my members of staff are well paid and comfortable.

“Firstmonie has created an enabling opportunity for dwellers of my immediate community and neighbouring towns to carry out banking transactions with less time, money, resources and risks as people don’t have to waste time embarking on long journeys to the city, added to the dangers of being robbed on the highway.’’ FirstBank has also partnered National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW). The deal seeks to leverage the human traffic and commercial activities at various motor parks across the country to ease access to financial services. FirstBank is also in partnership with Azuri Technologies Limited, an off-grid power distribution firm to make access to off-grid power easy, especially in rural communities, as well as other institutions, that seek to provide resources to cushion the effects of economic and social shocks on low income individuals. Under this deal, FirstBank and Azuri will co-brand and co-market Azuri’s solar home television product.

The pay-as-you-go customers will also pay for their solar photovoltaic (PV) system via FirstBank’s Firstmonie agents and mobile payment solution, thereby deepening financial inclusion. Banking with Technology Banking and technology are becoming inseparable. FirstBank under Adeduntan is driving growth and customer services with technology. The Financial Technology (Fintech) Summit organised by the bank was an opportunity for the bank to emphasise the need for technology in e-business, digital offering, agent banking, wholesale/ transaction banking, retail/consumer lending and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) productivity. He noted that as a Tier-1 lender, which celebrated its 125th anniversary last March, the bank had been able to maintain its leadership position in the industry by leveraging technology to offer innovative solutions through its product offerings.

FirstBank is also taking advantage of the opportunities created by cash-less banking to innovate and give value to customers. The bank has introduced the Visa Multi Currency Card, an All-in One-Card and first of its kind to be offered by any financial institution in Nigeria. This card can be linked to four currencies: Naira, United States dollar, Euro and British Pounds Sterling accounts. With the Visa Multi-Currency card, FirstBank customers – within and outside Nigeria – can enjoy the luxury of having their local and foreign denominated accounts in any currency, linked to a single debit card.

Many banks have continued to make impact in the e-payment space. The Nigeria Postal Service and Fidelity Bank Plc have also entered into a collaboration to deploy modern banking services to Nigerians in 266 rural communities. The move is part of the measures to boost the level of financial inclusion in the country and reduce the number of those not yet in the formal financial system. Speaking at the launch of integrated banking services between Fidelity bank and NIPOST in Abuja, the bank said the collaboration would enable the bank to deploy all its banking services in 266 locations using NIPOST offices.

Access Bank Plc has introduced agency banking to deepen financial inclusion in Nigeria, to enable branches to focus more on complex customer obligations. A banking agent is defined as an authorised third party (a retail or postal outlet) contracted by a financial institution to process clients‘ transactions. The Head, Agency Banking, Access Bank, Michael Ogbaa, while introducing the bank’s Omni-channel agency banking application at the bank’s agency banking forum, in Lagos, on Tuesday decried that there are only 307,000 PoS terminals in Nigeria as at last July, of which only 167,000 are active.

Also, the adoption of e-transactions for customers earned Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank), United Bank of Africa (UBA), and other eight banks N135.15 billion between January and September, last year. A look at the unaudited 2019 third-quarter reports of the banks, showed that their revenue from electronic transactions grew by 57 per cent as against the N86.312 billion they earned from the first 10 months of 2018.

An Ondo High Court on Friday ordered Unity Bank Plc to return the sum of N25 million the bank stole from a customer. Justice O. Osadebayo of Ondo High Court delivered judgement in the case involving the bank (defendant) and Denki Wire and Cable Nigeria Limited (Claimant).

Denki Wire and Cable Nigeria Limited sued Unity Bank Plc for diverting the sum of N25 million from the N60 million intervention fund which Central Bank of Nigeria credited Denki Wire and Cable through Unity Bank Plc.

Justice O.O Osadebayo also said that the building used as collateral for the N10 million loan obtained from the bank be released to the claimant, Engr. E. O. Adewumi of Denki Wire and Cable Limited.

Earlier, Mr Oladimeji Adams, counsel to the claimant, had told the court that Denki Wire and Cable Nigeria Limited had secured the sum of N10 million in overdraft facility from Unity Bank Plc, then known as First Interstate Bank Plc.

According to Oladimeji Adams, when the claimant noticed some discrepancies from the bank, it hired the services of a consultant, who discovered that Unity Bank Plc was overcharging the claimant.

According to him, it was while the case was ongoing, that Central Bank of Nigeria Plc released N60 million to the company through Unity Bank as intervention fund out of which the bank unilaterally without the consent of the customer removed N25 million.

He said Unity Bank Plc denied it when the company approached them for explanation and also denied access to the remaining N35 million that made up the N60 million intervention fund from CBN.

Adams, who spoke with newsmen shortly after the judgment commended the judiciary adding that it was a good omen for industrialists in the state, who had, for long, been subjected to ridiculous charges and undue discrepancies by banks.

When you feel the time is right for you to find long-lasting love, challenges sometimes arise especially when it concerns where to find that someone. Your search for love might take you to places populated with singles such as bars, clubs, or even virtual spots like social media or any of the various dating apps.

However, despite the plethora of options, many still deem the acquaintance and dating process exasperating, while others have just not had the luck of hooking up with their dream partner. With all that said, perhaps it is time to try something or find somewhere more interesting to hang out.

While there’s nothing wrong with meeting someone online or hitting up at a bar, it can be fun to see what other options are out there when it comes to finding love:

1. A book club is an interesting way or place to meet new people, socialize and find love. The fun part of this is you really do not have to be a book person. Besides, there is no harm in trying a new hobby.

2. The mall is also a very underrated place to meet people – as long as you have an open mind and realize love can happen to you anywhere, even while shopping for that pair of jeans at your favourite store in the mall.

3. Group trips. Sometimes, all it takes is you getting out of your comfort zone and going on a little adventure. Various travel agencies offer group tours to different parts of the world; pack your bags and go on that trip because you never know – you might just meet the love of your life.

4. Your friend’s wedding is another great place to meet new people. You definitely came for your friend, but it doesn’t hurt to look around for other singles. Weddings are known for good food, alcohol, and a perfect atmosphere for love and loving people. They also have a reputation for being perfect and relaxed environments and fantastic places to meet prospective partners.

5. Dating shows. This might sound corny and extreme but yes! People find love on dating shows. It is no longer news that MultiChoice Nigeria is launching a first of its kind reality dating TV show called Ultimate Love. If you are in doubt, you can follow the show which is scheduled to start on the 9th of February 2020 on DStv and GOtv. The best part of this is that the winning couple do not just get the opportunity to find love, a lavish traditional wedding ceremony and dream home (if they commit to getting married) but also get fame, cash prizes and other amazing prizes.

Ultimate Love will be LIVE and 24/7 on DStv Premium, DStv Compact Plus, DStv Compact, DStv Confam and DStv Yanga packages on channel 198; and on GOtv Max and GOtv JOLLI packages on channel 29. Sign up for any DStv package today via www.dstvafrica.com or get GOtv Max or JOLLI on www.gotvafrica.com

For more information on the show, please visit www.africamagic.tv and follow the social media updates on Ultimate Love on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook using the hashtag #UltimateLoveNg.

The nominal complainant in the alleged N170.3 million Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) contract fraud, Benjamin Joseph, on Thursday wept in open court as he begged the judge for an opportunity to state his case.

Mr Joseph accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) lawyer of attempting to close prosecution without him giving evidence.

Mr Joseph, who is also the Managing Director of an Ibadan-based IT firm, Citadel Oracle Concept Limited, defied court protocols to appeal to Justice D. Senchi, for an opportunity for the court to hear his side of the case.

It was at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Jabi, Abuja during the opening of the defence by two of the seven persons Mr Joseph accused of hijacking a contract awarded to his company in 2012.

The petitioner said the EFCC prosecutor, Jude Obozuwa, has refused to present documents he submitted to the anti-graft agency to the court but has closed the case in an attempt to shut him out from testifying to defend himself.

“My Lord, I will love this honourable court to give me an opportunity to say my side and defend myself in this case.

“My Lord, I am being shut out of this case by the prosecutor. I have not been given the chance to say anything to defend myself of all the allegations against me. The prosecutor even slapped me in his office when I went to see him. He said I wrote a petition against his poor handling of this case.

“My Lord, he has been very mean and very wicked to me. I don’t think I will have justice in this case with this man (pointing at Jude Obozuwa, the EFCC lawyer) as my prosecutor.

“My Lord, he slapped me in front of (CTV) camera in his office. I am the victim in this case.

“My Lord, money was paid (by FIRS) into the (fake) account they opened using a fake Board resolution of my company. They cleared the account. They shared the money among themselves.

“The people who opened the account in my company’s name, who are the ones that operated the fake account in the name of Citadel Oracle, the prosecutor has brought them here as his witnesses against me.

“They are the ones who should stand where I am, my Lord. I am the victim. I have said nothing, in this case, my Lord,” Mr Joseph said in open court on Thursday.

Despite attempts by the judge to calm him down, Mr Joseph refused to be restrained.

“My Lord, I have written all these to the EFCC. My Lord, there was absolutely nothing like that (claim by one of the suspects that he participated in a meeting where a good faith offer of N10 million was extended to him as settlement).

“My Lord, I never attended any meeting with Afe Babalola. All are cooked up lies.

“My Lord, I gave my prosecutor my international passport that showed I was in the U.S. when the so-called meeting with Afe Babalola was held. The prosecutor has refused to present the passport and other documents about the crime in court. Everything they are saying are lies, my Lord. Chief Afe Babalola is still alive My Lord,” he continued to shout.

Mr Joseph was restrained after Justice Senchi assured him that he would ensure all parties are given equal opportunity to state their cases.

As the judge said that, Mr Joseph prostrated full stretch and rolled on the floor in the fore-court to express his appreciation to him.

Last November 5, his lawyers sent a protest letter to the EFCC, accusing Mr Obozuwa of withholding ‘very vital facts and documents” submitted to him and refusing to diligently investigate the case.

In another protest letter from the law chambers of Akin Onigbinde, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), dated December 30, 2019, Mr Joseph asked the EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, to remove Mr Obozuwa as the prosecutor in the case.

During Thursday’s sitting, we observed that although it took the first defendant more than three hours to make her statement, it took Mr Obozuwa about five minutes to complete his cross-examination.

He did not make any reference to any of the volumes of document the petitioner said he submitted to him and the EFCC about the fraud.

Obozuwa denies slapping petitioner
In his reaction, Mr Obozuwa denied slapping Mr Joseph, saying he merely “pushed him” after he accused him of taking bribe to compromise the investigation.

“Everyone knows I will not take money. Find out at EFCC. I don’t take a bribe. I prosecuted governors in 13 states. I did not take money. Who is he? We know what we do around people like him who tell us that?” Mr Obozuwa said.

The prosecutor said he was on vacation when he was summoned to the office by his boss following a call by Femi Falana (a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

When he got to his office, Mr Obozuwa said Mr Joseph wanted to shake his hands and he refused.

“When he insisted and followed me to my office, I told him if I knew it was about him that I was summoned, I would not have come. I told him he should not make me to do what I will regret. When he resisted, I pushed him,” he said.

Kama says case a betrayal of trust, not fraud
Earlier, Princess Kama, the first defendant, in her defence, denied allegations of fraud against her, and accused Mr Joseph of betrayal of trust.

Ms Kama was formally arraigned by the anti-graft agency in October 24, 2018 along with Onny Igbokwe.

Mr Igbokwe is the chief executive of two Port Harcourt-based IT company, Ad’mas Digital Technologies Limited and Pirovics Engineering Services Limited.

They were accused of conspiring with some top officials of Zinox Group, including the Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, Zinox Group and TD, Chris Ozims, to hijack the contract awarded to Mr Joseph’s company.

Another director of TD, Folashade Oyebode, and two staff of Access Bank Plc, Obilo Onuoha and Deborah Ijeabu, were also accused of aiding the alleged crime.

The petitioner said the trio facilitated the release to them confidential bank documents belonging to his company, which they allegedly used in opening a bank account at Access Bank for the transfer of the proceeds of the crime.

Court documents also named the accountant at TD then, Chares Adigwe of filling the account opening forms at Access Bank, while the Managing Director of Zinox Group, who is also Leo Stand Ekeh’s wife, Chioma, gave directives on the disbursement of the proceeds from the fraud.

However, in her defence, Ms Kama told the court how she deployed her personal finances, experience and contacts to help her former friend who she said later betrayed her trust.

Apart from helping Mr Joseph to win the FIRS contract in 2012, Ms Kama told the court she also singlehandedly financed its execution by Citadel Oracle.

“My Lord, I used my money and experience to package the bids. When the award was given to Citadel, we met with the point-person at Utako to agree on the sharing formula of the profit.

“We agreed that Mr Joseph will take the profit from one of the three Lots. All the agreement was verbal, based on trust, in view of our over 10 years’ of friendship.

“The genesis of the whole problem was the decision to transfer the N38 million profit to the guarantor (TD’s) account,” Kama said.

In an attempt to find an amicable solution to the problem, Ms Kama said Mr Joseph was offered N10 million during a reconciliation meeting with Chief Babalola he attended along with all other parties in Ado Ekiti.

Documents contradict Kama
Court documents submitted by the petitioner to both the police and EFCC and seen by us on Friday appear not to support Ms Kama’s presentation.

For instance, her claim that Mr Joseph was present at the reconciliation meeting purportedly held with Chief Babalola in Ado Ekiti on September 26, 2013, was found by PREMIUM TIMES to be false.

A review of Mr Joseph’s international passport and other travel document revealed he was already outside Nigeria since August 29, 2013 on a business trip to the U.S.

The document shows Mr Joseph did not return to Nigeria until October 2, 2013, contrary to Ms Kama’s claim that he attended the meeting with Chief Babalola.

By Ugo Aliogo



First Bank of Nigeria Limited has reiterated its commitment to driving growth and building the capacity of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the country.

Speaking at the FirstBank SMEConnect Business Clinic, held in Lagos on Thursday, the Group Head, Lagos Island 1, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Olufunke Smith stated that the business clinic provides an opportunity for SMEs to understand how to develop their business plans, and run their business. It is one of the key initiatives that the bank has put in place to drive development of the SMEs. She further noted that the Bank’s SMEs proposition is based on seven pillars that would connect SMEs to- capacity building, market, infrastructure, talent for business development, policy and regulation, finance and resources.

According to her, “Building the capacities of SMEs is an ongoing process. SMEs are the engine of growth of any society. At FirstBank it is our responsibility to bring them on-board through support, knowledge sharing, and advisory in order for them to add value to the society. The SMEs attending the clinics today have gone through a selection process and it is the first of 2020, there will be more clinics to be held in the course of the year.

“SMEs are the bedrock of economic growth of any society. It is when you have functional SMEs that the country can grow. It is noteworthy to mention here that SMEs are great employers of labour. When you have viable SMEs they provide various services and innovations that traditional corporations may not provide. These strongly underscore our commitment – at FirstBank – to strengthening their impact on the economy.

“This clinic is part of giving back to the society, thereby ensuring we continue to develop SMEs. FirstBank has recognised that for it to serve SMEs adequately there is a need to offer more than traditional banking services. We know that connecting SMEs to the right information and business tools can save turnaround time, cost and give them a competitive edge in the sector that they operate. It is on this knowledge that we have created value propositions for SMEs that cover financial and non-financial services.”

We expose SMEs to the best deals and they have access to tools that position them at an advantage for growth.”

In his remarks, the Managing Partner, Traction, Dolapo Adejuyigbe, said: “We have a coaching marketplace that SMEs can come on our platform and even firstbank platform to book vetted coaches that can provide advisory services to them either for one session or a number of sessions. We also consider re-emerging how our business clinics can work and how to bring insights and make it practical.

“The FirstBank business diagnostic tool enables SMEs identify the needs, especially operational, of their business and the business clinic is designed in such a way we can follow up on the impacts and also track the business after three to six months. The focus of this business clinic is to help them design the strategy for 2020. A core part of that is for them to understand the economic trends, and we have catered for different kinds of businesses and how the economy is going to impact them.”

In his remarks, one of the speakers at the event, Gospel Obele, said the clinic provided an opportunity to develop a business and market outlook for SMEs, stating that the goal was to scale economic knowledge into useable insights for SMEs.

Commending FirstBank on the SME Clinic, Obele noted that the event exposed SMEs to lots of opportunities for their business growth like how the Nigerian business environment is going to look like through the year as well as the transition dynamics of the consumer.”

He said: “Examining strategy from the outlook that was presented today, it is more of how SMEs rework their internal systems to respond to the changing environment that we have. Nigeria is a high fluid and dynamic economy which means that our own business environment is changing faster than advanced economies”

One of the participants at the clinic, Tayo Oginni, President/CEO, International Energy Market Place Ltd., said attending the seminar provided background knowledge on how to develop a road map for setting up a business in a structured manner.

He asserted that the business clinic taught SMEs the things to be aware of when starting a business, “the facilitator created an atmosphere of things that need to be done. I will strongly recommend that SMEs need this kind of intervention.”

Ogini also lauded FirstBank and Traction for organising the clinic, noting that one of the key areas discussed at the clinic was financing where SMEs were taught that cash flow is key in business, therefore they have to watch their cash flow.

…as $200million investment goes down the drain

‘Government is essentially immoral’.These words of English philosopher, Herbert Spencer, came to the minds of many, since the Lagos State Government, wielded its stick against commercial motorcycles (Okada) and tricycles (Keke NAPEP), proscribing their operations in six Local Government Areas (LGAs), nine Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) and 10 major highways across the State with effect from today February 1,2020.
To add salt to their injury, the State Government directed security operatives to embark on a total enforcement of the State’s Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018.
This immediately sent the okada and keke operators into mourning,as the move,has shockingly taken food off their table.Blessing, a lady operating Keke, in Ogba area of Lagos, lamented, ’people will die of hunger, there will be no food’.
Many Okada riders are now ranting angrily, they echoed that crime rate will increase with the ban. Worst hit are,members of Transportation Hailings Alliance of Nigeria, a group of investors in the motorcycle operations like the ORide, MAX.ng, Gokada and others.

They are now lamenting bitterly, as their huge investment and the technology infrastructure they built,will now go down the drain. Reports has it that,with the ban,the investor will up lose up to $200million,from the backlash of the harsh policy. Little wonder,yesterday, in Lagos, the motorcycle riders took to the street to express their grievances over the ban.

The riders, which include majorly that of Gokada and Max.ng staged a peaceful protest from Oregun road to the government secretariat in Ikeja.Bearing various placards, the protesters appealed to the state government to regulate their services and not restrict them from operating.

If you recall,in 2019,OPay the parent company of ORide raised $120million. That was after raising $50million earlier in the year.

In May 2019, Gokada announced that it has raised $5.3million by San Francisco-based Rise Capital.

Around June 2019, MAX.ng.also raised a $7million funding capital $7 million by Novastar Ventures, with participation from Japanese manufacturer Yamaha.

To operate in Lagos, government required for them to operate as part of local transportation infrastructure, which brought about the meeting with the Lagos State chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo,whey signed a memorandum of understanding.

Under the proposed regulation, each startup will pay annual licensing fees of 25 million naira ($70,000) per 1,000 bikes and then 30,000 naira ($83) per bike after the first set of 1,000.Little wonder,a twitter user lashed at the Governor,after the ban was announced, ’if OPay and Gokada is illegal, then this is also illegal’, displaying a picture where ORide and Gokada management team,visited the Governor,last yearhis office,to intimate him of their activities.

The current move,has sent wrong signal to foreign investor,they now see Nigeria and Lagos,as not conducive for investments,despite meeting all governmental conditions.

However the Government, through the Commissioner of Information Gbenga Omotoso, said “scary figures” of fatal accidents recorded from operations of Okada and tricycles,lack of regard for the Lagos Traffic Laws, and their impermissible movements on restricted highways had also contributed to traffic jams,are parts of the reasons for the ban.

He said: “After a robust assessment of the debate on what has been widely referred to as the motorcycle (Okada) and tricycle (Keke) menace, the Lagos State Government and the State Security Council have decided that the security and safety of lives of Lagosians are paramount.

“Also, the rate of crimes aided by Okada and Keke keeps rising. They are also used as getaway means by criminals. Therefore, after consultations with stakeholders, the State Security Council, in compliance with the extant Transport Sector Reform Law 2018, has decided to commence enforcement of the law which bans the operation of Okada and Keke in six Local Government Areas and nine Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).”

Omotoso,further warned that the enforcement would be total, warning that the Government would deal with violators in accordance with the Laws. According to the Commissioner, operations of Okada and Keke NAPEP have been banned in the following LGAs and LCDAs: Apapa LGA, Apapa Iganmu LCDA, Lagos Mainland LGA, Yaba LCDA, Surulere LGA, Itire-Ikate LCDA, and Coker-Aguda LCDA.

Others are Ikeja LGA, Onigbongbo, LCDA, Ojodu LCDA, Eti-Osa LGA, Ikoyi-Obalende LCDA, and Iru-Victoria Island LCDA, Lagos Island LGA and Lagos Island East LCDA.

The Okada and Keke NAPEP are restricted on the following highways and bridges:

Major Highways

1. Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

2. Apapa-Oshodi Expressway

3. Oworonshoki-Oshodi Expressway

4. Lagos-Ikorodu Expressway

5. Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway

6. Eti-Osa/Lekki-Epe Expressway

7. Lagos-Badagry Expressway

8. Funsho Williams Avenue

9. Agege Motor Road

10. Eti-Osa Lekki Coastal Road

Bridges

1. Iyana- Ipaja Bridge Agege

2. Dopemu Bridge Agege

3. Airport/Ikeja Bridge

4. Agege Motor road/oshodi Loop, Oshodi

5. Mushin/Isolo Link Bridge

6. Dorman Long Bridge

7. Ojuelegba Bridge

8. National Stadium Flyover

9. Apapa-Iganmu Bridge

10. Apapa-Ijora Link Bridge

11. Liverpool Bridge, Apapa

12. Mile 2 Bridge-Loop, Amuwo-Odofin

13. Okota (cele)/Ijesha Link Bridge

14. Apakun/Apapa-Oshodi Bridge Network

15. Ikorodu Road/Anthony Clover leaf Bridge

16. Trade Fair Flyover Bridge

17. Festac/Amuwo-Odofin Link Bridge

18. 2 Flyover Bridges along Alhaji Masha Road

19. Ojota Clover leaf Bridge

20. Ogudu Bridge

21. 3rd Mainland Bridge

22. Maryland flyover

23. Ikeja General Hospital Flyover Bridge

24. Kodesoh Bridge, Oba Akran, Ikeja

25. Opebi Link Bridge

26. Sheraton-Opebi Bridge

27. Jibowu/Yaba flyover Bridge

28. Carter Bridge, Lagos

29. Bariga-Ifako Bridge

30. Apapa-Oshodi Expressway/Alapere Bridge

31. Bariga/Oworonsoki Bridge

32. Apapa-Oshodi Expressway/Gbagada U-Turn

33. Apapa-Oshodi Expressway

34. 3rd Mainland/Oworonsoki Bridge

35. Eko Bridge

36. Apongbon flyover Bridge

37. Cowry Bridge (Officers Mess)

38. Mcwen Bridge (Bonny Camp)

39. Marina/Ikoyi Bridge

40. Ikoyi/Obalende Bridge

It was an evening of glamour, style, inspiration and networking last Thursday, as women (and men) from all walks of life converged at the Federal Palace Hotel in Victoria Island. The occasion was the launch of Alpher – Union Bank’s women banking proposition.

In keeping with the event theme – ‘Take Your Best Shot’, the program line up was designed to inspire women to rise above their challenges and live their dreams!

A major highlight of the evening was the segment titled ‘Taking my Best Shot, which featured talks from five successful business and career women on how they took their best shot at realising their dreams.

The speakers included Beatrice Hamza Bassey, Board Chair Union Bank; Onyeche Tifase, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Siemens Nigeria; Abisoye Ajayi-Akinfolarin, Founder, Pearls Africa Youth Foundation; Toyin Odulate, Founder, Olori Cosmetics and Bikiya Graham-Douglas, Founder, Beeta Universal Arts Foundation.

Special guests at the event included the Bank’s CEO, Emeka Emuwa and the Head of Retail Bank and Digital, Lola Cardoso, along with other Executives of the Bank. Other guests included Ndidi Nwuneli, Co-Founder, Sahel Consulting, Frank Aigbogun, Publisher BusinessDay Media and media personalities Beverly Osu, Bolanle Olukanni and Zainab Balogun.

Alpher was initially unveiled at the Bank’s 2019 International Women’s Day celebration, and has since then been developed into a fully-fledged proposition, set to change the face of banking for Nigerian women. The Alpher platform provides tailored support for the individual woman, women-owned and women-led businesses. Women can also benefit from a wide range of financial services, business and career development opportunities and lifestyle discounts.

Union Bank has a history of supporting women and women-owned businesses. In 2019, to reiterate its commitment to women, the Bank awarded 40 scholarships to women entrepreneurs to build their capacity through the Enterprise & Leadership Program (ELP) organised by China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) in partnership with Leading Ladies Africa.

The launch of Alpher is in line with Union Bank’s long-standing commitment to enable enterprise and empower women, their businesses and careers.

…Attracts zero charge on all transactions

 

Pan-African financial institution, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has revamped its NextGen account which targets students in tertiary institutions and members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), with added features and benefits.

NextGen is a suit of personal accounts designed to meet the needs of young persons, grooming and growing with them from teenage years to adulthood. The bank takes up an additional role of mentorship these young ones and assists with tips towards guiding their future. The added benefits would confer premium services to the young account holders.

UBA, which operates in 20 African countries, introduced NextGen Account to encourage active savings among young people and teach them to manage their money effectively while enjoying world-class services that suite their lifestyles

Jude Anele, Group Head, Retail Banking, UBA said the importance of inculcating in young people the culture of saving and being finance-wise cannot be overemphasized, hence the importance the bank attached to the account.

 “The NextGen Account is our way of putting students in charge of their money so they can do more, especially at this critical stage of their lives with an account that comes free of fees,” Anele said.

“The new NextGen Account opens students and NYSC members up to several benefits and opportunities, including multiple digital channels that makes banking just another fun thing to do on their mobile phones,” the Retail Banking head added.

As a plus, the NextGen Account holders stand to win pocket money, complimentary invites to prime events and enjoy zero charge on all transactions.

Group Head of Marketing Dupe Olusola, who also spoke about the revamped NextGen Account disclosed that NextGen which the bank says is more than just an account, will partner with DRBLasGidi, a three-member group to ignite the interest of young people in the offering.

“DRB LasGidi have proven to be culture shapers, pioneering the popular Alté (meaning alternative) movement, which promotes self-confidence and encourages young people to embrace their individuality.

“As the face of the Alté subculture in Nigeria, DRB LasGidi is a perfect representation of the NextGen lifestyle of self-confidence and uniqueness,” Olusola said.

Bolaji Ojodukan popularly known as BOJ, who spoke on behalf of DRB LasGidi, expressed excitement at the partnership.

“Like most young people today, we were just being ourselves. But now, we have a movement and now our own bank; the Alté Bank of Africa,” BOJ said.

To open a NextGen Account, https://www.ubagroup.com/nextgen-account/ .

To become a Campus Ambassador, visit https://www.ubagroup.com/campus-ambassadors/.

Also watch video here: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6QdAqPh10M

For 11 seasons, Access Bank’s DiamondXtra has touched thousands of lives in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, giving customers “Xtra” value that has changed millions of lives.

DiamondXtra targeted weekly draws focused on clusters and groups of 100 members, while the monthly draws and quarterly draws targeted millions of customers for the chance to win salary for life, education grant for 5 years and rent for a year.

As at the last decade, it has given out over N5 billion in prizes to over 20,000 beneficiaries, last year alone it gave over 4000 beneficiaries. The impact of rewarding 20,000 plus households is extensive as parents are able to meet their family needs of school fees and rent just by saving N5,000, small business owners have a much needed injection of funds into their businesses which means they can employ more people and the testimonies go on.

This over a decade legacy is what United Bank for Africa, UBA is up against. On Tuesday, UBA launched its ‘UBA Bumper Account’, a hybrid account, targeted at transforming the lives of its customers by encouraging saving cultures among Nigerians just as Access Bank DiamondXtra has been doing for over a decade.

To partake in the UBA Bumper Account draw, you must ensure that you have a minimum deposit of N5,000 in your UBA Bumper Account to qualify same as the over a decade old DiamondXtra.

Just like with DiamondXtra new customers can create an Account without stepping into the bank hall by dialing codes that will create your account.

The fact is, the two products are like identical twins but the question you must ask yourself is, which do you rather go for. Whatever the case Nigerians are in for a treat this year as Diamond Xtra season 12 from Access bank is loading with even more amazing offers for customers across the country.

A federal capital territory high (FCT) court in Gwagwalada has granted N50 million bail to Mohammed Adoke, former attorney-general of the federation (AGF).

Adoke was arraigned on 42 counts of alleged fraud alongside Aliyu Abubakar, Rasky Gbinigie, Malabu oil and Gas Limited, Agip, a subsidiary of Eni, Shell Nigeria Ultra deep Limited and Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company Limited.

The EFCC alleged that Adoke received gratification worth N300 million from Aliyu over the deal for OPL 245.

Adoke has denied all charges.

Abubakar Kutigi, the judge, ordered the former AGF to produce one surety who has a landed property in the FCT.

He also granted bail to Aliyu Abubakar, the second defendant, in the sum of N50 million and with one surety. Rasky Gbinigie, the third defendant, got bail of N10 million, and he is also to produce one surety.

According to the judge, all the sureties must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court, have landed property in the FCT, and must provide evidence of tax clearance for the last three years.

The defendants were also ordered to submit their international passports to the court and to sign an undertaking to always attend trial.

The court warned that any attempt to jump bail would result in the revocation of their bail.

Credible sources can now confirm that Segun Adebutu, son of renowned lottery figure, Kensington Adebutu, popularly known as Baba Ijebu, is not in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) contrary to reports and insinuations by some online news platforms.

According to the family source, Segun Adebutu, was neither arrested by the EFCC or any other law enforcement agency. What has been twisted out of context is the dutiful honouring of an invitation from the EFCC as a law-abiding citizen, who has nothing to hide. “The businessman merely opted to go to the EFCC on behalf of his father concerning a petition filed by Senator Buruji Kashamu, an Ogun State politician and the owner of rival lottery company, Western Lotto.”

A Wednesday, January 29, 2020 story published in thisislagos.ng https://thisislagos.ng/what-is-segun-adebutu-celebrating-o/ poohpoohed the claims when it reported that Adebutu was spotted at popular Ikoyi lounge, “The W” late Tuesday night till the early hours of Wednesday in the company of employees and potential business partners. A picture taken at the scene further invalidated the rumour purporting that he is detention.

Contrary to popular belief, a reliable source told newsmen that the malicious rumour pertaining to his detention is nothing but a deliberate and petty attempt to smear the solid reputation of the lottery mogul.

According to him ‘Some competitors in the lottery business have envied Premier Lotto’s track record of successes without appreciating the amount of work that has gone into the company over the decades,” he said.

Many will recall that Kashamu continues to deny his involvement in a drug related felony in the US where he has been declared a wanted person.

He was, however, quick to alert the EFCC via a petition filed by his company, Westeen Lotto, to what he said are unscrupulous dealings in the betting industry while denying his participation in duplicitous acts. He claims to have notified the court about the corrupt practices in the industry because of his interest and concern for fellow Nigerians.

“It is highly irresponsible for a man who is alleged to have committed such grievous crimes to embark on or sponsor a campaign of calumny against an octogenarian who has created indelible footprints in the lottery industry and his family,” a source disclosed.

Kashamu was accused by a lottery commission official of filing the petition against Adebutu in order to monopolize that segment of the betting business in Nigeria.

“What we learnt is that Buruji Kashamu said he has sole rights to ‘Ghana Games’ in Nigeria,” an official confided under anonymity because the lottery commission is still considering a unified response to the EFCC investigation. “But he should not burn down the entire industry to further his business interests.”

A group has also sensitized the public that the antics of Kashamu and attributed this to politics. Kashamu was just recently a bitter rival to another of Chief Adebutu’s sons, Ladi, in the race for the Ogun State gubernatorial seat. A Civil society organization, Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution (CDNDC) cautioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against being used by to settle flimsy political scores.

According to the group’s convener, Ariyo-Dare Atoye, in a statement; “Our attention has been drawn to a petition written against Baba Ijebu’s premier lotto by Western Lotto company, owned by a controversial businessman who is wanted in the United States, Buruji Kashamu.

“The EFCC which is yet to act on a number of petitions written by unencumbered Nigerians against some prominent politicians in the country for trading in vote buying, has now found it so cheap to go after Baba Ijebu’s lotto company, acting on a petition from a fugitive.

“If there is indeed a reason to write petition against any company over tax evasion, the appropriate agency to first write is the FIRS, which has the power to invite the EFCC to do the needful, but Buruji chose to directly engage the EFCC to serve his political interest.”

Africa Magic will announce nominees in all 28 categories in the 7th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) on Thursday, 6 February 2020. DStv and GOtv viewers should tune in 9 pm WAT to watch the broadcast LIVE on all Africa Magic channels.

The AMVCAs Nominee announcement will be hosted by Nollywood’s Linda Ejiofor and Ibrahim Suleiman.

Channel Director, Africa Magic, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, said: “The journey to selecting the nominees from over 2000 entries received for this edition has been a long but exciting one. Judging from the caliber of entries received, we are once again reminded of the important role the AMVCAs play in shaping the African film and television narrative. We invite you to tune in Thursday, 6 February as we announce the talented creatives who have made the cut and have set themselves apart in the industry”.

Since its launch in March 2013, the AMVCAs continues to inspire and celebrate contributions of African filmmakers, actors and industry specialists as they promote the growth of the continent’s film and television industry. For the 7th edition, awards will be presented in 28 categories, with 7 categories open to public voting and 21 being categories to be decided by the AMVCA panel of judges with the inclusion of a new category, The MultiChoice Talent Factory Award.

The 7th AMVCAs is brought to viewers across the continent by Africa Magic in association with MultiChoice and is proudly sponsored by Amstel Malta.

Viewers can join the conversation using the hashtag #AMVCA7 and follow @africamagictv for live tweets. The full list of nominees will be published on the Africa Magic website following the announcement.

For more information about the 7th AMVCAs and other Africa Magic programming, please visit www.africamagic.tv

…N2m up for grabs every quarter
…N100,000 monthly shopping allowance

Pan African financial institution, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc on Tuesday, launched the ‘UBA Bumper Account’, a hybrid account, targeted at transforming the lives of its customers. The new account is in line with the bank’s mission of creating superior value for its stakeholders while encouraging saving cultures among Nigerians.

The account, carefully crafted to improve the lives of the UBA customers, will offer account holders an opportunity to win cash prizes of up to N2 million.

Speaking during the launch and monthly draw which was held at the UBA Head Office, in Lagos on Tuesday, the Group Head, Retail Banking, Jude Anele said, the New ‘UBA Bumper Account’ was created with the customer in mind.

Anele said: “We have in recent times deepened our focus on the most important aspect of our business – the customers we serve. Hence, our huge investment in technology to make banking easier and seamless, even as we introduce new offerings such as this Bumper Account, that will deliver improved value to stakeholders.

He explained that new and existing customers of the bank need to ensure they have a minimum deposit of N5,000 in their UBA Bumper Account to qualify for draws. According to him, current UBA customers are to dial *919*20*1# to migrate to the UBA Bumper Account whilst potential customers should dial *919*20# if interested in opening a UBA Bumper Account.

In the first draw which was held live during the official launch in Lagos today, a total of 100 customers emerged winners as the Bumper to Bumper crooner, Wande Coal serenaded guests with his famous hit songs to the delight of all present.

“A total of 100 customers emerged winners at the live draws which took place here today, and as you have seen, some of our customers here present were part of the lucky ones who won N100,000 each. From here on, lucky customers will win from N10,000 to N2 million each in the monthly, quarterly and targeted draws,” Anele stated.

He added that a monthly shopping allowance of N100,000 for a year is also up for grabs. “No fewer than 50 account holders will get a whopping N2 million each across all participating regions. This account is open to both existing and new customers of the bank who save a minimum of N5,000,” Anele noted.

Amos Wisdom, one of the winners present, could not hide his joy when he was announced as one of the winners. “I am still very amazed. Before I came here, I had the conviction that I would win. All my life, I have never won anything like this, and I am very happy that I won this time. Thank you so much UBA,” he said.

Another winner, Ohagbelum Peace, who could not believe it when her name was announced said if she wasn’t present herself, she would not have believed in promos like the UBA Bumper Account. “I am very grateful. This is a new experience for me and I am now a number one fan of UBA. This has re-enforced my belief for this bank.”

The Deputy Director and Co-ordinator, National Lottery Regulatory Commission was present during the event to ensure that winners were properly selected in a fair manner without prejudice. She noted that the commission had worked with UBA in many promos in the past without any issues.

The Head Consumer Banking, Chiedu Ibeku appreciating the customers present, said, “we had two major objectives for this account which is to say a big thank you to our customers for being there and most importantly, to encourage a savings culture. Our intention is not only to reward loyalty but also to transform the lives of our customers for good”.

“UBA will not relent, because we are aware that if our customers succeed, we ultimately succeed too and this will spur us on to make the desired impact in their lives,” she said.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is allegedly investigating Adebutu Kessington, Nigerian businessman popularly known as Baba Ijebu, for alleged tax fraud and economic sabotage, according to PREMIUM TIMES.

Segun Adebutu, one of his children who is one of the management officials of Premier Lotto, is reported to have been detained at the EFCC office in Lagos for questioning.

According to officials of the commission, the investigation is as a result of a petition submitted by Western Lotto, another betting company which is run by Buruji Kashamu, a former senator.

Adebutu and Kashamu both hail from Ogun state.

PREMIUM TIMES quoted EFCC sources as saying that they have identified N5 billion revenue that should have been remitted to the federal government but was allegedly kept aside by the company.

The probe might be expanded to include other betting companies and investigate claims of sharp practices and how some firms allegedly withhold funds from winning customers.The EFCC has not filed any charges against Premier Lotto.

Union Bank of Nigeria Plc. (“Union Bank”) today announced that it has entered a share sale and purchase agreement to divest of its 100% equity stake in Union Bank UK Plc. (UBUK). This sale is aligned with Union Bank’s strategy to geographically streamline its business operations to focus on growth opportunities in Nigeria.

Following a competitive bid process, MBU BidCo Limited (“MBU”), an acquisition vehicle wholly owned by MBU Capital Limited (“MBU Capital”), was selected as the preferred bidder. The completion of the sale is subject to regulatory approvals from the relevant regulatory authorities in Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

Commenting on the planned divestment, Emeka Emuwa, Chief Executive Officer of Union Bank, said: “As the banking landscape shifts towards digital and agency banking to drive financial inclusion, the Nigerian market presents robust long-term opportunities for Union Bank. This divestment allows us channel our focus and capital towards mining those opportunities fully.

“Through the sale, we are better positioned to deliver greater value to the organization and its stakeholders as well as continue to build the future of banking in Nigeria. The terms of the sale of UBUK delivers substantial value to our shareholders, while also entrusting its customers and trading partners to a high-quality financial services institution who will work with existing management to deliver a stronger and more profitable entity.”

Mohammed Iqbal, Founder and CEO of MBU Capital commented: “We are delighted to announce the acquisition of Union Bank UK, subject to regulatory approval. We see a huge opportunity to build on UBUK’s strengths in international markets to create a new-style bank which is focused on the needs of UK and international SMEs and entrepreneurs.

“Many of these customers are seeking a bank which truly understands the needs of entrepreneurial, fast-growing businesses. We believe that our acquisition and vision for UBUK offers the potential for significant growth for the bank. We look forward to working with our new colleagues at UBUK to continue to service the needs of its clients. We also look forward to sustaining and deepening relationships with UBUK’s existing trading partners.”

Chapel Hill Denham Advisory Limited acted as Financial Advisers while White & Case LLP and Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie acted as UK Legal Advisers and Nigeria Legal Advisers respectively to Union Bank. Syndeo Capital Limited (led by Mandeep Ahluwalia) acted as Advisers to MBU Capital with Akin Gump LLP as Legal Advisers and PwC as Financial and Tax Advisers.

Nigeria’s leading financial institution, Zenith Bank Plc, has reaffirmed its commitment to support local Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) with the introduction of the ‘Zenith Bank SME Digital Workshop’ to provide free digital training for business owners.

The initiative, which is being organized in partnership with social media giant Facebook, will provide free training on how SMEs can use digital platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp to grow their businesses.

Commenting on the initiative, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive, Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, noted that the SME ecosystem is a very important component of the Nigerian economy and the digital workshop is expected to assist participants optimally use digital channels to engage potential customers, market their products and increase sales.

The workshop is scheduled to hold on Wednesday, January 29th and Thursday, January 30th, 2020 by 08:30 a.m. at the following Zenith Bank branches: 23, Oba Akran Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos; 201, Ikorodu Road, Obanikoro, Ilupeju, Lagos; and 2, Aromire Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The Zenith Bank SME Digital Workshop is free for everyone. To register, send an email with the subject “Zenith Bank SME Digital Workshop” to smepartnership@zenithbank.com. The email should state the name of the participant and preferred venue of attendance.

Zenith Bank Plc is recognized as one of the most innovative financial institutions in Nigeria and was voted the most customer-focused bank in Nigeria for the Retail and SME segments in the 2018 KPMG Annual Banking Industry Customer Satisfaction Survey (BICSS).

Most recently, the bank won the Best Bank in Retail Banking and the Bank of the Year at the 2019 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BOFI) Awards and was ranked as the Best Digital Bank in Nigeria 2019 by Agusto & Co.

Alleged ₦6.5B Fraud: Idris Wada, Tunde Ayeni, Serving Governor, 7 Others In Trouble Over

A serving governor is topping the list of suspects being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for an alleged N6,549,942, 637.14 fraud in an arms deal. Also under scrutiny are the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada, a former Chairman of Skye Bank, Mr. Tunde Ayeni, retired Air Vice Marshal Salihu Atawodi and four others.
The alleged fraud was perpetrated by the defunct Presidential Implementation Committee on Maritime Security (PICOMSS), which was headed by Atawodi. About N4.9billion cash was said to have from PICOMMS accounts without any specific project in mind.
The serving governor was alleged to have received N1, 475, 144,199.15 of the withdrawn cash for the purpose of lobbying members of the House of Representatives to convert PICOMS into an agency. The name proposed was Maritime Security Agency. The governor was chairman of the House Committee on National Security, Intelligence and Public Safety at the time and he was said to have convinced Atawodi’s PICOMS to part with the cash. The sum received was such a top secret that a former Speaker was given a “ridiculous N1million” as his share.
Some former members of the House of Representatives who benefitted from the bribe-for-bill cash from the governor might be invited for questioning,the Nation gathered last night. Sources said the governor was initially cooperating with the EFCC on the investigation, only to stop honouring the invitation of the anti-graft agency two days before he was declared elected by the Supreme Court. He currently enjoys immunity from prosecution by virtue of his office, but he may still face trial after his tenure. The remaining seven key suspects are expected to be arraigned in court soon.
They include Mrs. Winifred Atawodi; Aeroconsult Limited, Xanatos Limited and a daughter of the ex-PICOMMS chairman, Eleojo who is under investigation. The EFCC has already blocked the following amounts in Mrs. Winifred Atawodi’s accounts: N141, 611, 736.8 and $228, 428.16. Another N200million has been placed on Post No Debit (PND) in First Mutual Micro-Finance Bank traced to Purple Pepper Farms Limited allegedly owned by Atawodi’s daughter (Eleojo). About five hectares of land worth N245million have been seized from the Atawodis. The EFCC has also uncovered how $6.12million was invested by the Atawodis in Midland Corporate Investment Limited account with Sun Trust Savings and Loans Real Estate Limited.
From the cash, AVM Atawodi allegedly transferred $408,000 transferred to an auto firm in the United States called Hennessy Cadillac for exotic vehicles including a Rolls Royce. About $808, 851 was located in Wells Fargo Bank 2 in the name of United International Enterprises. Detectives have identified a house allegedly owned by Atawodi in Lot of the 17th District of Fulton County in Georgia at 3266 Ferncliff Lane, Atlanta Georgia 30324. Despite the seizure of the passports of the Atawodis, one of the daughters has applied to travel abroad for medical treatment in order to sell the house in Atlanta.
The EFCC has also been alerted by some foreign collaborating anti-fraud agencies of plot by the daughter to sell the house. Investigation revealed that PICOMMS was set up between 2008 and 2012. It was disbanded in 2013. The committee was expected to guarantee safety on the sea and waterways. Findings by detectives revealed that AVM Atawodi, his friends and immediate family feasted on the resources allocated to PICOMMS including donor agencies funds. Others funding PICOMMS were the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA), NIMASA, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Ministry of Defence (MOD).
A document obtained by The Nation indicated that on 12th November, 2010, AVM Atawodi made PICOMMS to issue out contracts for Maritime Domain Monitoring System for Maritime Surveillance at a cost of $32,337,163.00 to Xanatos Company Limited linked with a former Chairman of Skye Bank, Mr. Tunde Ayeni. “The fraud was detected in the course of reviewing how funds were disbursed from PICOMS to Xanatos Company Limited and other beneficiary companies. Xanatos Company Limited made a lot of questionable payments obviously from the contract sum.
“One of the companies was AUSWEE Investment Limited where Atawodi, his wife and children are directors. Checks on AUSWEE acronym revealed as follows A(Amana); U(Uneku-the daughter); S(Salihu); W(Winifred Abiodun Atawodi-wife); E(Eleojo-another daughter); E(Ebi-another daughter). But one Roland Uhuago, who is an associate of AVM Atawodi, was used as a front for AUSWEE. From the statements of accounts of PICOMS in Polaris Bank, Union Bank and ECOBANK, there were many cash withdrawals and cash movement lodged in Sun Trust Savings and Loans through a former director of the finance firm, Mr. Mohammed Jibril. About $5million was invested on behalf of the Atawodis by Jibril.
“During that period, about N4.9billion was withdrawn in cash in 2011 which they claimed they used for an unclear purpose. We have seized the passports of AVM Atawodi and some members of his family to restrict their movement to the country pending the commencement of their trial. Based on the depth of investigation, EFCC has blocked the accounts of Mrs. Winifred Atawodi’s with N141, 611, 736.8 and $228, 428.16. Another N200million has been placed on Post No Debit (PND) in First Mutual Micro-Finance Bank traced to Purple Pepper Farms Limited allegedly owned by Atawodi’s daughter (Eleojo).
About five hectares of land worth N245million have been seized from the Atawodis. The land was bought from Hilton Hotel and the relevant agency in the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) has confirmed it.” On the involvement of ex-Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State, the brief on the case indicated that his company Aeroconsult Limited was awarded a contract for the construction of a hanger in Benin Airport for the sum of N2, 780, 649, 450.00 described as an inflated rate.
“Aeroconsult also sublet their contract to Olutoyi Estate Development and Services Limited in which N700million was given to the company. From the inflated total cost of the hangar, about N550million was given to AUSWEE. And from the N500million, about N484, 000,000 was transferred to Vector Integrated Services Limited owned by Atawodi. This company has an account with Union Bank where Mrs. Winifred Atawodi was a manager before she retired. The withdrawal from AUSWEE to Vector Integrated Services was from Atawodi. And from Union Bank, some of the cash were moved into the account of Vector Integrated Services Limited in Fidelity Bank.”
A top source in EFCC said: “When we invited the former Governor of Kogi State, Capt. Idris Wada for interrogation, he insisted that the contract was well-executed. But we detected evidence of transfers to AUSWEE which suggested that the hangar contract was inflated. The ex-governor and Aeroconsult have more questions to answer, especially when fresh transfers were made in 2018 and 2019 to AVM Atawodi.”
Regarding the serving governor, the source added: “The N1, 475, 144,199.15 was converted to dollars and handed over to the governor when he was a member of the House of Representatives. The owner of the Bureau De Change used by PICOMMs, Sharif Shanono has been quizzed and he has provided evidence of transactions. We also observed that on 21/12/2011, about N250million was transferred from PICOMMS account to Saab Global Links Limited account 1012330930 belonging to Shanono.
“We were on the case before the governor’s election was validated by the Supreme Court. In fact, he was to appear before our detectives two days to the Supreme Court judgment but he stayed away to await the verdict and avoid being detained.
“While going through records, detectives were able to confirm how a paltry N1million was given to a former Speaker of the House of Representatives. Now that the governor has immunity, we have to wait till 2023 when he completes his tenure before resuming his investigation and trial. We are likely to invite some former members of the house who benefitted from the bribe-for-bill cash. The bill was titled, “Maritime Security Agency Establishment Bill (MASECA) 2010 to change PICOMMS into an agency. So far, seven out of the eight suspects implicated in this fraud may face trial.”

Fidelity Bank Plc on Saturday said there was need for youth empowerment to curb crime and unemployment in the country.

The Managing Director of the Bank, Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo, disclosed this during the year-end appreciation party, themed; ‘Give them Wings’, at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The event, which was hosted by television personality, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu and veteran actress Kate Henshaw, was attended by traditional rulers and captains of industries.

Okonkwo said that the bank was hosting the party having realised that without customers, shareholders and stakeholders, there will be no bank.

“In 32 years, Fidelity Bank has been going from strength to strength and we realised each customer has 38 other choices so we thank you for choosing us.

“We themed this party ‘Give them Wings’ because a lot of people have aspirations, a lot of people has gone to school but there is no job.

“We also complained that there is crime and the youths cannot be usefully engaged and so we needed to bridge the gap.

“Fidelity bank then decided that aside the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) we have in hand, we created Youth Empowerment Academy (YEA).

“This is to train young people who would have been terrorising me and you. We give them opportunity to be useful and become independent,” he said.

Okonkwo while talking about the criteria for selection said that the bank looked for talents that people would ordinarily not support and went for them.

“Look at Tim Godfrey, a gospel artist, we felt it was not fair for such persons to loose opportunity because he was not singing secular music and we supported him,” he said.

The Managing Director added that Fidelity Bank was also gender sensitive being the only bank with the greatest number of women on the board with three female executive directors.

The bank’s Chairman, Ernest Ebi, also emphasised the importance of the Youth Empowerment Academy, which he described as a way of making beneficiaries financially independent.

“Fidelity Bank is making the youths turn their passion into pay cheque through empowerment programmes which includes training in fashion, make-up, farming, catering and more,” he said.

Ultimate Love, the new reality show from MultiChoice Nigeria, is set to hit DStv and GOtv screens on Sunday, 9 February 2020.

A recap on what the show is all about: eight males and eight females placed in a secluded location known as the “Love Pad”, with hopes that they will find life-long love. The contestants will have to compete and carry out different tasks and win the votes of the public. The winning couple will not only have won each other’s hearts and the hearts of viewers but will also win an all-expense-paid traditional wedding ceremony and a fully furnished house – if they commit to getting married. If not, they still get to win a cash prize and other amazing prizes.

One of the unique features of the show is the presence of “Aunty”. Who is Aunty and what is she all about?

Just like Big Brother, Aunty will also be a prominent feature on the show but unlike the former who is recognized by his voice only, Aunty will be physically present in the Love Pad. Her job will be to help the singles find their perfect partner and provide them with counsel where necessary.

Aunty will also ensure that the contestants are occupied with loads of daily and weekly tasks and activities, all designed to help them pick the perfect partner and groom their new-found love.

Already, this pivotal character has left soon-to-be fans of the show guessing who would play the role of Aunty. Perhaps she will be revealed before the show or may be not, but what is certain is that the Ultimate Love reality TV show promises to deliver a good dose of excitement, twists, surprises and suspense when it makes its debut on Sunday, 9 February. This is no regular dating show, as it is a journey for 16 strangers who are willing to take a chance on love against the background of a reality TV show. There will be raw emotions, lovers’ spats and most importantly, expressions of love that will keep viewers glued to their screens.

For more information on the show, please visit www.africamagic.tv and follow the social media updates on Ultimate Love @ultimateloveng on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook using the hashtag #UltimateLoveNg.

By Sefi Atta



Dear Aisha Buhari,

Last Christmas in Lekki, Lagos, where I live, I saw a street beggar and I thought about you.

She sat on a pavement near a busy junction. She was barefoot and wore a hijab. She breastfed her baby as pedestrians walked by. I was in my air-conditioned car with a hired driver and we were on our way to a shopping mall.

These days, whenever I see beggars at the road junctions they frequent, I have taken to looking down, or putting my hand up to shield my eyes. Sometimes I murmur to myself, “Oh no,” over and over until they’re out of sight, then I let out a sigh.

I am no stranger to the moments of guilt that plague privileged Nigerians, and I’m sure you recognise that despite your recent health challenges and domestic troubles at Aso Villa, you are one of the more fortunate, and visible, women in our country. From my brief observation of the woman who caught my attention, you and she had nothing in common, except being a Northern Muslim and a mother.

I have followed news reports on you over the years, some of which have taken me by surprise. For instance, your October 2016 interview with BBC News Hausa in which you accused a certain cabal of hijacking the president’s administration and said you would not campaign for him if he sought a second term in office. I wasn’t overly surprised, however, when he, in response, said your place was in his kitchen and “the other room”. Nor was I amused by the general ribaldry and jocularity that followed, in the Nigerian press and on social media, over his choice of words. Throughout this event, I never questioned your loyalty to your husband, but I had no idea what your motivation was in making those statements. I couldn’t decide whether you were speaking out of concern for Nigerians, or out of personal frustration with him.

In October last year, when the video of you giving your in-laws an ultimatum in Aso Villa went viral, it didn’t faze me one bit. The standards of conduct for first ladies are especially high, and I know wives who have thrown worse tantrums having had enough of their husband’s meddlesome relatives.

In December, however, after the president left Nigeria to attend a peace summit in Egypt, and you gave an interview to TVC News in which you said you no longer had pillow talk with him over how he ran the country, and went as far as to name members of the cabal, I must confess that I was again in doubt as to why you shared all that information. I came to the conclusion that perhaps you just had to have your say and didn’t care about the consequences – the public speculation and castigation from all sides.

I can attest to being in that frame of mind whenever I write, and if nothing else, you shattered the myth of the subservient Northern Muslim woman – and the oppressed African woman, I should add. For even though you enjoy unusual entitlement as first lady of Nigeria, your counterpart Melania Trump, in the United States, where I spend most of my time, would dare not open her mouth to chastise her husband publicly the way you have. Should she ever do so, he might send her back to Slovenia.

As the Nigerian press often reminds you, Nigerians voted for your husband, not for you, and the office of the first lady is not provided for in our constitution. It is granted because of the public duties and services you perform. I am aware of your programmes for Northerners who have fled Boko Haram, for Nigerian mothers and children, and for infant and maternal well-being. Perhaps that was why you came to mind when I saw the woman and her baby. They would fall into all these categories. She was just one of a number of displaced Northerners in Lagos, some of whom send their children to beg on our streets the way Lagosians who can afford to send their children to school.

On my trip to the mall, I passed several primary and secondary schools, all of which were privately owned, as educational institutions that rely on public funding are now in varying stages of dilapidation. At the mall, I bought some ankara fabric, which I later took to my seamstress. She is from the East and not a fan of your husband’s. I have wondered if this is due to tribalism, but she once said, “He promised us change. Where is the change? We’re still waiting for it.”

She made me a dress which I wore on Christmas Day at a family function with my in-laws. My husband is a Ransome-Kuti. His last name may ring a bell. His late father, Professor Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, served as health minister under General Babangida’s regime. His Uncle Beko spent several months in detention during General Abacha’s regime, and his Uncle Fela was jailed during your husband’s regime in 1984.

Frankly, the Kutis’ past conflicts with the government have put me off political activism, as I have witnessed its devastating effects on their family. I’ve only heard about the fate of my husband’s grandmother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, who sustained severe injuries when she was thrown from a first-storey window in a military raid on Fela’s house during General Obasanjo’s regime. She once led a women’s protest that forced the Alake of Egbaland to abdicate. I come from the Atta family, who are descendants of titled men and have played key roles in government over the years. We’ve had diplomats and civil servants, a state governor and an inspector general of police. My Uncle Abdulmalik was Nigeria’s first high commissioner to the United Kingdom. My Aunt Sefi, among her many accomplishments as a pioneering woman, served as an ambassador to UNESCO, and to Italy, and was head of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development. My father, Abdul-Aziz Atta, was Secretary to the Federal Government during General Gowon’s regime when he died in 1972.

None of our previous governments has been above reproach, but with the end of military rule in 1999, Nigeria had a chance to usher in a new era of democracy. Yet what did we choose to do instead? Like a nation with Stockholm syndrome, we began to recycle our former leaders in a political landscape dominated by two parties that were so similar in their lack of ideas it made no difference to us whenever their members changed side.

I was not on the Never Buhari bandwagon. I was for any presidential candidate who would cause the least damage to our country. I believed the news reports that said the Nigerian economy couldn’t withstand another term under Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. I was also willing to believe, when your husband assumed office in 2015, that he despised corruption and terrorism enough to take steps towards cleaning up the government and defeating Boko Haram. But during his first term, his administration appeared to be more preoccupied with attacking members of the opposition party. I reasoned that he was finding it difficult to manage Nigeria as a civilian president because he didn’t have the power he once had to rule by decree. Still, I continued to wish him success only because I wanted conditions in our country to improve.

Regrettably, his war on corruption stalled. He wasn’t able to bring a halt to Boko Haram attacks and didn’t seem keen on curbing raids by Fulani cattle herders. His promise to bring back the rest of the Chibok girls fell by the wayside and judging by what I hear in the marketplace, our economy has lagged in terms of personal income growth.

My driver was from Cotonou and I had noticed a significant increase in the number of casual workers from his country on Lagos Island. Some of them were underage, but he assured me that they had come to Nigeria willingly, to increase their earning capacity. As a casual worker himself, he was paid three thousand naira a day by his boss. He said he’d had more jobs during Jonathan’s administration. I gave him extra money for food. Sometimes I shared my takeaway meals with him. I once asked him why so many Beninese men worked on building sites in Lekki and he said it was because Nigerians were reluctant to work for meagre wages.

As you know, Nigerians do work for negligible pay. We work as hard as it takes to achieve our goals. Most of us are in fact overworked and underpaid, which is why we are loath to pay taxes. We provide our own water, electricity and security if we can. We survive with little or no support from the public sector. We resent government interference, especially if it ends up making life more difficult for us. We are all, as the owner of a private school once told me, our own governments. Complaining about our country, meanwhile, has become one of our national pastimes.

About two weeks after I arrived in Lagos for Christmas, I went to Murtala Muhammed International Airport to pick up my husband and daughter, who were flying in separately from the United States. Both flights were delayed and I ended up waiting for over six hours, during which time a mass fight nearly broke out. Other than that, I had quite a few pleasant encounters. I saw an old friend who had just arrived from England, and a fellow alumna of Queen’s College who, like me, was at the airport to meet someone. I got into conversations with total strangers: a woman who had read my books and two men who were arguing over politics. I grumbled to the woman about the state of the airport. Actually, the word “grumble” may not be emphatic enough because I said our airport was a complete and utter disgrace. I was twelve years old when it was named after General Muhammed, and in all my years of travelling in and out of Lagos, I had seen it in better – and, admittedly, worse – shape.

Whenever I arrive home, I expect the moving walkways not to function and anticipate the carousels will get jammed. Roof leaks are inevitable. After I get past Customs, I am prepared for touts, as we call them, to approach me and offer services I don’t need or goods I have no interest in buying.

With the two men, I initially listened to their debate before I chimed in. One of them was in his early thirties and his position was that he was indifferent to politics because he had never known a time when Nigerian leaders were competent. The other criticised the president’s handling of our national problems and then said he knew someone who could solve them. That was when I chorused with the first man, “Who?”

I laughed when the second man indicated that he was referring to himself.

After I met up with my husband and daughter, we headed home. It was night-time now and the journey took us about three hours. We went via Maryland because someone else I befriended at the airport warned me to avoid going through Oshodi as robbers were smashing car windows to steal mobile phones.

We finally reached Lekki and got stuck in yet another traffic jam, our slowest so far, on a dual carriageway. A woman in a black velvet dress parked her car on the hard shoulder and used her door for privacy while she crouched down to pee. I was watching her when I heard sirens on the other carriageway where the traffic was moving freely. I looked over to see police escorts clearing the way for a government official, but got confused because they were heading in the same direction we were going, at top speed.

A long line of unrelated vehicles followed them. Consequently, that side of the road transformed into a dual carriageway of its own and of course all the vehicles got stuck at the next roundabout where they faced oncoming traffic. By then, our side of the road, which was supposed to have three lanes, now had five. Yes, the three lanes on the tarmac became a haphazard four and an extra one developed on the hard shoulder. I was holding my head at that point because I could not have conjured up a more perfect metaphor for why our country, with its two-party political system, was going nowhere.

When your husband ran for a second term, I was fed up with his administration. I didn’t want to hear a word he had to say about change any more. I didn’t even want to listen to the vice president, who seemed earnest, except he reminded me of my born-again friends who ignored transgressions in their churches. I got the impression that he was trotted out to placate Southern Christians. Sometimes, he played the role of apologiser-in-chief, calming down angry citizens; other times, he was explainer-in-chief, such as in January 2019 when he and the president took part in a town-hall meeting moderated by Kadaria Ahmed, and he kept interjecting until she suggested that he let the president speak for himself.

Nigerians voted for them nonetheless, and barely a year later faced an escalation in their administration’s autocratic measures. Take the case of Omoyele Sowore, for example, which I won’t go into because the details have been repeatedly rehashed, and hashtagged to boot. I’m glad he has since been released on bail, but how could a Department of State Security agent flagrantly walk into a court of law during his hearing and physically restrain him in an attempt to re-arrest him against court orders? Haba, in what kind of democracy does an incident like that occur?

It is no wonder that Punch started referring to your husband as Major General Buhari. His government responds to critics in ways that show he is indeed a military man in mufti. But he cannot run Nigeria as if he still heads a martial law regime without incurring some public pushback. Nor can he get away with taking counsel from a group of men who comport themselves like feudal lords. Our constitution provides checks and balances to ensure the executive office doesn’t overstep its boundaries of power. It derives its power from the Nigerian people, not from any cabal.

During the December interview in which you named members of the cabal, you said this about being afraid of the consequences of speaking out: “Everybody is talking in the country.” That may be so, but not without repercussions. You then said that everybody was free to talk, and I will take the liberty of assuming you meant that you were an ally to those who stood on the side of free speech, including government critics.

Nigerians revere them because most of us don’t have the courage to do what they do. We’ve had a democratic system for over twenty years and they will not willingly go back to a state of silence. Those who remain quiet may do so for fear they have something to lose. Those who speak out recognise our nation has everything to lose if we go down that route again. A vote represents one voice only. A voice represents many others, from a street beggar to a writer who steers clear of political activism.

The late Toni Morrison once suggested that contemporary literature would be spared a good number of novels if authors would only write letters home once in a while. This one is long overdue. I used to think it was enough for me to address Nigeria’s problems in fiction. I now realise that will no longer suffice. I am therefore addressing you, woman to woman, in the spirit of Mariama Bâ’s So Long a Letter. If you haven’t had a chance to read it, please try to find a copy. First published in 1979, it is an epistolary novel set in Senegal. The protagonist, Ramatoulaye, recently widowed after thirty years of marriage, writes to her younger, more progressive friend, oddly enough called Aissatou, a variant of your given name.

I hope my letter resonates with you as hers did with me.

Sincerely,

Sefi Atta