Business
Court Battles Stalling Huaxin Takeover of Lafarge Cement
The suit was instituted by Strategic Consultancy Ltd, a Nigerian firm and shareholder in Lafarge Africa, seeking to halt what it called the “surreptitious” divestment of Lafarge’s 83.81 percent stake by the Holcim Group—a Swiss multinational and Lafarge’s parent company.
Justice Lewis Allagoa of the Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered parties in the ongoing legal dispute over the sale of Lafarge Africa Plc to Chinese firm Huaxin Cement Ltd to maintain the status quo pending the outcome of an appeal.
The order followed the filing of a Notice of Appeal by Lafarge Africa, challenging the court’s earlier decision that dismissed its objection to jurisdiction.
The suit was instituted by Strategic Consultancy Ltd, a Nigerian firm and shareholder in Lafarge Africa, seeking to halt what it called the “surreptitious” divestment of Lafarge’s 83.81 percent stake by the Holcim Group—a Swiss multinational and Lafarge’s parent company.
Strategic Consultancy is asking the court to determine whether the transaction violates Nigerian corporate and investment laws, including the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Act, and the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) Act—particularly in relation to minority shareholder rights and foreign ownership regulations.
During the proceedings, Lafarge Africa’s counsel, Mr. Babatunde Fagbohunlu, SAN, informed the court that the appeal had already been filed, and that records of proceedings had been transmitted to the Court of Appeal, along with an application for a stay of proceedings.
(ThisDay)
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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