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Court orders Winding Up of Keystone Bank and forefiture of Majority Shares to FG

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An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Tuesday ordered the winding up of Keystone Bank Ltd and forfeiture of 6,250,000,000 units of the ordinary shares of N1.00 each, to the Federal Government.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Rahman Oshodi gave the order in a judgment in Lagos.

The judgment followed guilty plea by the Chairman of the company, Umaru Hamidu-Modibbo, who represented the company.

The chairman pleaded guilty to an amended six-count charge brought against Sigma Golf by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The charge bothered on conspiracy to steal, stealing, transfer of property derived from stealing with the aim of concealing the origin and evade the legal consequences.

Sigma Golf had entered a plea bargain agreement with the EFCC.

The company was arraigned alongside a former Managing Director of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Ahmed Kuru.

While Sigma Golf pleaded guilty to the six-count charge, Kuru pleaded not guilty. Oshodi held that he was satisfied that Sigma Golf admitted guilt of its own volition.

He said: “I am satisfied that the second defendant was aware of the nature of the amended information and the consequences of the plea. “

All its rights, title and interest in the 6,250,000,000 units of Keystone Bank’s ordinary shares of N1.00 each shall be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria represented by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

“In respect of the facts and circumstances of the instant case, the complainant agrees not to pursue criminal charges both now and in the future against Alhaji Umaru Hamidu-Modibbo and Sigma Golf Nig Ltd.”

The judge also held that Hamidu-Modibbo agreed to fully cooperate with EFCC in any ongoing or future investigations relating to the matter, including providing truthful testimony if required.

NAN reports that EFCC had stated that Kuru, Hamidu-Modibbo, Ifie Sekino (still at large) and Sigma Golf, sometime in 2016, conspired to steal by dishonestly converting N20 billion, property of AMCON, through Heritage Bank Ltd. to the use of Sigma Golf for acquisition of Keystone Bank Ltd.

The commission also stated that Sigma Golf and the others transfered N10 billion derived directly from stealing with the aim of concealing the origin of the said sum and evade the legal consequences.

EFCC lead counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo , told the court that the commission agreed with Sigma Golf on the plea bargain in accordance with legal principles, justice and public policy.

Oyedepo submitted that the terms of the plea bargain agreement included the company pleading guilty to all the six counts and winding up.

NAN reports that the chairman and the legal representative of Sigma Golf, Mr David Idemu, confirmed to the court that the plea bargain agreement was made voluntarily. Kuru’s lawyer, Mr Olasupo Shasore (SAN), did not oppose the agreement.

Oshodi consequently convicted Sigma Golf and adopted the terms of the agreement. The judge earlier granted Kuru bail in the sum of N50 million with two sureties, who must swear to an affidavit of means.

The sureties must also provide evidence of tax payment in the last three years, according to the judge. Oshodi adjourned the case until March 7 for ccommencement of trial.

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PENGASSAN – Dangote Rift: A needless attack on private enterprise

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The Director-General, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Segun Ajayi-Kadir, has described the rift between Dangote Refinery and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) as unfortunate, and a needless attack on private enterprise.

He noted that the strike had far-reaching implications on residents and businesses, as factories suffered cuts in production schedules, with a hike in transportation fare.

Fielding questions from reporters at MAN House, yesterday, while announcing the association’s coming Annual General Meeting (AGM), he revealed that imported products, which were not suffering disruption, were likely to fill the gap and if the rift rears its head again, it would affect daily workers and people in the logistics value chain that rely on the products made in those factories.

Meanwhile, PENGASSAN has said it decided to suspend its two-day strike to protect the jobs of its members in Dangote Refinery.The President, Festus Osifo, explained that the union was unsatisfied with the posting of about 800 sacked staff to Dangote’s subsidiaries to prevent job loss.

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FG Spends $2.86bn on External Debts Servicing – CBN

By August 2025, debt service climbed to $302.3m, which was $22.35m or 8 per cent higher than the $279.95m of August 2024.

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The Federal Government spent a total of $2.86 billion to service external debt in the first eight months of 2025.

This was disclosed in the international payment data from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The figure shows that external debts accounted for 69.1 percent of the country’s total foreign payments of $4.14 billion in the period.

In the same eight-month stretch of 2024, debt service stood at $3.06 billion, representing 70.7 percent of total foreign payments of $4.33 billion.

The figures show that while the absolute value of debt service fell by $198m between 2024 and 2025.

The share of debt in overall foreign payments has remained persistently high, with about seven out of every ten dollars leaving the country used to meet debt obligations.

The monthly breakdown highlights the volatility of Nigeria’s repayment schedule:

In January 2025, $540.67m was spent compared with $560.52m in January 2024, a fall of $19.85m or 3.5 per cent.

February 2025 recorded $276.73m, slightly below the $283.22m in February 2024, down by $6.49m or 2.3 per cent.March 2025 surged to $632.36m against $276.17m in March 2024, an increase of $356.19m or 129 per cent.

In April 2025, payments reached $557.79m, which was $342.59m or 159 per cent higher than the $215.20m of April 2024.

May 2025 stood at $230.92m, sharply lower than the $854.37m in May 2024, a drop of $623.45m or 73 per cent.

June 2025 rose to $143.39m compared with $50.82m in June 2024, a rise of $92.57m or 182 per cent.

July 2025 fell to $179.95m, down by $362.55m or 66.8 per cent from $542.5m in July 2024.

By August 2025, debt service climbed to $302.3m, which was $22.35m or 8 per cent higher than the $279.95m of August 2024.

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ECOWAS Bank okays $308.63m for Nigeria, Guinea

The bank gave the approval during its 93rd Ordinary Session convened at the it’s headquarters in Lomé, the Togolese capital.

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ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), has approved $308.631 million for the implementation of various projects in Taraba State, Nigeria, and a $40 million credit line for Vista Bank, Guinea, to bolster trade-related activities, including import-export operations and commercial value chains.

The bank gave the approval during its 93rd Ordinary Session convened at the it’s headquarters in Lomé, the Togolese capital.

President and Chairman of Board of Directors of the bank, Dr. George Agyekum Donkor, said the newly approved financing would advance strategic public and private sector initiatives, aligned with EBID’s mandate to promote sustainable development throughout the Economic Community of West African States by strengthening regional integration and fostering economic diversification.

The approved facilities include the $98.18 for a 50 MW Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant in Taraba State, Nigeria, , which will augment the supply of reliable, clean electricity to spur inclusive economic development, alleviate energy poverty, and improve environmental sustainability.

Anticipated benefits include direct electricity access for roughly 390,000 individuals, enhanced power reliability for at least 200 public institutions, the creation of 400 direct jobs during construction, and approximately 50 permanent operational roles.

The bank noted that an estimated 1,200–1,500 indirect jobs were expected to emerge across supply chains, maintenance services,and small businesses.

Another facility is the $79.219 million modern rice processing complex and 10,000-hectare irrigated rice production unit also in Taraba State.

Also included is the $91.232 million facility for Taraba State Industrial Park, an initiative conceived to accelerate local industrialisation and economic diversification through the establishment of a modern, integrated industrial ecosystem.

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