Business
Former MTN Group CEO, Sifiso Dabengwa dies of cancer
Former MTN Group CEO, Sifiso Dabengwa, has been announced dead, Monday morning, after losing battle with Cancer.
Dabengwa was MTN CEO from March 2011 till 2015 when he had to resign as MTN was looking for ways to negotiate itself out of a record N1.04trn fine Nigeria slammed on the telco for failing to disconnect over five million customers with unregistered SIM cards.
The Zimbabwean-born Dabengwa also served briefly as MTN Nigeria CEO until 2006.
South African media outlets are quoting a family spokesperson Themba Sibanyoni to have confirmed his death.
According to the reports, Sibanyoni said: “Dabengwa was a titan in the telecommunications industry and an astute businessman.
His tenure as CEO of MTN Group from 2011 to 2015 was marked by visionary leadership, integrity, and dedication that drove significant advancements in the industry”.
Sibanyoni said Dabengwa, left a legacy that extends far beyond the boardroom.
“He was an advocate for education and a fervent believer in the power of technology to transform lives.”
An MTN top executive who also confirmed the death at MTN headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa, said MTN recieved the news of his death with shock and heavy heart.
She noted that everybody in MTN was in a mourning mood considering that Dabengwa was still a member of the MTN family having headed the telecommunication giant for a number of progressive years.
Dabengwa was said to have battled Cancer for a while but gave up early hours of Monday.
Business
Issue: Cloning Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC)
The Presidency says the bodies allegedly used by Adeyemi—including the so-called Presidential Economic Advisory Council, Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, and Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council—do not exist as government agencies.
The Presidency says a man identified as Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew allegedly created and operated fake government agencies, forged appointment letters, and falsely claimed to have been appointed by Femi Gbajabiamila.
According to the statement:
The Office of the Chief of Staff discovered the alleged scheme after complaints from the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) that an unauthorized body was operating in a way that conflicted with its functions.
The Chief of Staff petitioned the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force in October 2025 to investigate alleged forged appointment letters.
The Presidency says the bodies allegedly used by Adeyemi—including the so-called Presidential Economic Advisory Council, Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, and Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council—do not exist as government agencies.
Investigators allege Adeyemi operated from an office in the Federal Secretariat Complex, held meetings with diplomats, and sought diplomatic support to obtain U.S. visas for members of the alleged organization.
Police reportedly recovered forged documents and other exhibits during searches of his office and residence.
The investigation allegedly found that Adeyemi operated 34 bank accounts, including several in the names of fictitious organizations, and used forged documents to open a Central Bank of Nigeria account.
The Presidency says no government funds were paid into that account.
Police charged Adeyemi and two others before the Federal High Court on multiple counts, including forgery, impersonation, and obtaining by false pretence. The case is scheduled for hearing on July 27.
The Presidency also denied claims that Gbajabiamila appointed Adeyemi, stating that appointments to federal offices are issued through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, not the Office of the Chief of Staff.
Current status
The Presidency maintains that:
the agencies in question are fictitious,
the appointment letter was forged,
Adeyemi is an impostor,
and the allegations against him should be resolved by the court.
As the case is pending before the court, the allegations remain subject to judicial determination.
Business
Naira Exchange Rates Thursday July 2, 2026
BLACK MARKET RATES
US DOLLAR (USD) Buy ₦1, 395 Sell ₦1, 403
GREAT BRITISH POUND (GBP) Buy ₦1,845 Sell: ₦1,865
EURO (EUR) Buy ₦1, 585 Sell ₦1,600
CANADIAN DOLLAR (CAD) Buy ₦1,030 Sell ₦1,100
SOUTH AFRICAN RAND (ZAR) Buy ₦75 Sell ₦90
UAE DIRHAM Buy ₦350 Sell ₦370CHINESE YUAN Buy ₦180 Sell ₦200
GHANA CEDI (GHS) Buy ₦95 Sell ₦110
WEST AFRICAN CFA Buy ₦2, 380 Sell ₦2, 460
CENTRAL AFRICAN CFA Buy ₦2, 220 Sell 2,300
AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR Buy ₦800 Sell ₦900
CBN OFFICIAL EXCHANGE RATES
US DOLLAR (USD) ₦1,372.41
GREAT BRITISH POUND (GBP) ₦1,821.73
EURO (EUR) ₦1,565.37
SWISS FRANC (CHF) ₦1,695.42
JAPANESE YEN (JPN) ₦8.45
CHINESE YUAN (CNY) ₦201.98
WEST AFRICAN CFA (XOF) ₦2.40
WEST AFRICAN UNITACCOUNT (WAUA) ₦1,870. 31
SAUDI RIYAL (SAR) ₦365.45
SOUTH AFRICAN RAND (ZAR) ₦83.80
Business
CBN revokes 46 MFBs’ licences
According to the revocation order, the action became necessary because of one or more of: insufficient assets to meet liabilities; closure of operations without the CBN approval; and inactivity and cessation of financial intermediation.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has revoked the operating licences of 46 Microfinance Banks (MFBs).
CBN’s Ag. Director of Communications, Mrs. Hakama Sidi-Ali disclosed that the revocation becomes effective today.
She emphasised that the revocation was in accordance with its powers under Sections 12 and 13 of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA), 2020.
“The revocation was approved by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. OlayemiCardoso, following the banks’ failure to meet the regulatory requirements for continued operation as licensed financial institutions,” she said.
According to the revocation order, the action became necessary because of one or more of: insufficient assets to meet liabilities; closure of operations without the CBN approval; and inactivity and cessation of financial intermediation.
Others were: failure to commence operations within 12 months of licence approval, and failure to maintain minimum capital funds unimpaired by losses.
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