Business
9mobile Investors Fight in Court Over Ownership and Control
The plaintiff, Abubakar Isa Funtua had sued General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (Rtd) and his company LH Telecommunication Limited, as well as the other defendants over the ownership and control of Emerging Markets Telecommunications Limited trading under the name of 9mobile
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, will on March 19, 2025, hear an ongoing dispute over the ownership and control of Emerging Markets Telecommunication Service (EMTS) which is the holder and operator of 9mobile Telecommunication licence.
The plaintiff, Abubakar Isa Funtua had sued General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (Rtd) and his company LH Telecommunication Limited, as well as the other defendants over the ownership and control of Emerging Markets Telecommunications Limited trading under the name of 9mobile.
The other defendants are: Seltrix Limited (sued as the 1st Defendant); the Corporate Affairs Commission; Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); Hayatu Hassan Hadeija; Teleology Nigerian Limited and one Mohammed Edewor, a Director in Teleology Nigeria Limited.
ThisDay reports that in his statement of Claim, the plaintiff seeks amongst other reliefs: “A Declaration that he is the beneficial owner of the 43,000,000 (Forty-three Million) ordinary shares held in trust for him by the 1st Defendant (Seltrix Limited) in the capital of the 3rd Defendant (Teleology Nigeria Limited)”.
A declaration that the acquisition of the 43,000,000 (Forty-three Million) ordinary shares purportedly transferred or surrendered to the 3rd Defendant (Teleology Nigeria Limited) in breach of the 1st Defendant’s (Seltrix Limited) duty as Trustee of the Plaintiff and in contravention of Clause 48 of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the 1st Defendant (Seltrix Limited) is null, void and of no effect.”
That the purported registration of the transfer by way of surrender/gift of Forty-three Million (43,000,000) ordinary shares held by the 1st Defendant (Seltrix Limited) in the capital of the 3rd Defendant (Teleology Nigeria Limited) is unlawful, null, and void.”
An Order setting aside the purported registration by the 6th Defendant (Corporate Affairs Commission) of the increase in the share capital and the allotment of the newly created One Billion, Nine Hundred Ten Million (1,910,000,000) ordinary shares of the 5th Defendant (Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services Limited) in contravention of Section 127 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020.”
The plaintiff also seeks the sum of N100 billion, as general damages from the defendants, jointly and severally, amongst other reliefs.
Business
MAN woos CBN, MOF for manufacturing refinancing facility
The Director -General of MAN, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, made the call for the facility in a report on the manufacturing outlook for 2026.
Cover image: MAN
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has called on the monetary authorities ( CBN and MOF) to introduce a Manufacturing Refinancing and Rediscounting Facility (MRRF) believing that it can reinvigorate the manufacturing sector in 2026.
The Director -General of MAN, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, made the call for the facility in a report on the manufacturing outlook for 2026.
He said that the MRRF is to enable banks to refinance approved manufacturing loans at single-digit rates for up to seven years.
He emphasised that to ensure a more robust manufacturing sector in 2026 , there was need for:
- 1. Launch a Manufacturing Refinancing and Rediscounting Facility (MRRF) that allows banks to refinance approved manufacturing loans at single-digit rates for up to 7 years.
- 2. Create a publicly accessible dashboard tracking lending flows, interest rate spreads, loan approvals and sectoral disbursement patterns in real time.
3. Further reduce the benchmark interest rate by at least 200–300 basis points over the next two quarters to make credit affordable for manufacturers.
4. Craft and ensure the effective execution of the implementation strategy for the recently approved Nigeria Industrial Policy.
5. Categorize manufacturers as strategic users of gas to remove the gap between what manufacturers and electricity generation companies pay per cubic foot of gas.
6. Introduce a stable, transparent gas pricing framework for manufacturers and prioritize local gas supply before exports.
Business
Nigeria Revenue Service unveils new logo as FIRS goes to rest
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony in Abuja on Wednesday, the Executive Chairman of the NRS, Zacch Adedeji, said the launch of the logo and accompanying brand elements represents an important milestone in the evolution of Nigeria’s revenue administration framework.
The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), which has replaced the now-defunct Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), has unveiled its institutional brand identity (logo) as part of efforts to reposition the country’s revenue administration structure.
The agency came into operation following the signing of the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Act 2025 by President Bola Tinubu in June 2025, marking a major shift in the legal and operational framework governing tax administration in the country.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony in Abuja on Wednesday, the Executive Chairman of the NRS, Zacch Adedeji, said the launch of the logo and accompanying brand elements represents an important milestone in the evolution of Nigeria’s revenue administration framework.
Adedeji noted that the new institutional identity “signals continuity of purpose, strengthened institutional capacity, and a forward-looking approach to supporting taxpayers and national development.”
Business
BREAKING: Heirs Energies Acquires 20.07% Stake in Seplat Energy from Maurel & Prom in $496-500 Million Deal
In a major shake-up in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, Heirs Energies Limited, chaired by billionaire Tony Elumelu, has agreed to acquire the entire 20.07% equity stake in Seplat Energy Plc from French oil company Etablissements Maurel & Prom S.A.
The transaction involves the sale of 120.4 million ordinary shares at approximately £3.05 per share, valuing the deal at around $496 million to $500 million.
The binding agreement was signed on December 30, 2025, after market close, marking Maurel & Prom’s exit from its long-held position in Seplat, one of Nigeria’s leading independent energy producers listed on both the London Stock Exchange and the Nigerian Exchange.
Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Energies and its parent Heirs Holdings, described the acquisition as a “long-term investment in Nigeria’s and Africa’s energy future,” emphasizing its alignment with goals of energy security, industrialization, and shared prosperity.
Maurel & Prom CEO Olivier de Langavant stated that the sale allows the company to monetize its stake and redirect resources toward direct investments in oil and gas assets, while expressing confidence in Heirs Energies as a strong, long-term shareholder for Seplat.
Seplat Energy, a key player in Nigeria’s energy transition with significant oil and gas operations in the Niger Delta, recently bolstered its portfolio through acquisitions, including ExxonMobil’s shallow-water assets.
This deal further consolidates indigenous ownership in Nigeria’s upstream sector, following Heirs Energies’ own growth as a major gas supplier powering domestic electricity generation.
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.
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