E-Financial
Adekanye, Former CRO @ NIBSS Takes Legal Action for Wrongful Termination
Temidayo Adekanye, a former chief risk officer of the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), has filed a lawsuit against the organization for alleged unlawful termination of his employment.
Temidayo Adekanye,
Adekanye is seeking an order of court directing NIBSS to pay him the sum of N1 billion “for wrongful termination of employment and for breach of contract of employment”.
He was employed by NIBSS via a letter of employment dated December 7, 2020, as the chief risk and compliance officer and his employment took effect from January 15, 2021.
In his statement of fact attached to the suit, the claimant said throughout the period of his employment, he served the NIBSS “diligently and was never involved in any disciplinary misconduct of any kind”.
However, he said despite his “excellent record”, the defendant unlawfully terminated his employment via a letter dated January 15, 2024 “without stating any reason whatsoever or howsoever”.
The claimant said the termination was due to his alertness of informing the management “about serious financial misappropriation including but not limited to fundamental governance, transparency and fraud-related issues in the organization”.
He said in the absence of feasible action after raising initial concerns, he subsequently escalated his complaints to the board audit and risk committee on November 13, 2023, but that instead of an investigation, his appointment was unjustly terminated.
“Rather than act swiftly on the concerns raised by him, the defendant changed its corporate structure and organogram to eliminate the claimant’s office in a calculated attempt to oust his jurisdiction and stultify his duties as the Chief Risk and Compliance Officer,” the court papers read.
“The claimant was sidelined and his responsibilities and departments were taken away from him. The Executive Management Committee (Exco) was reconstituted with the claimant completely obliterated from meetings and his 2024 upfront payment unjustifiably withheld. Thereafter, the letter terminating his employment on the 15th of January 2024.”
Adekanye stated that he was invited for a meeting at 10 am on January 15 alongside the head of human resources, HOD legal/company secretary and chief financial officer.
He said while the meeting was ongoing, “three armed men in military attire claiming to be officers of the Department of State Service (DSS) busted into the conference room, showed their ID cards”, and ordered him to hand over all his mobile devices and laptops.
He said he was offered to resign with the payment of the sum of N160 Million as pay-off package or risk the immediate termination of his appointment.
“His request to enable him time to weigh and consider the offer was refused and on the spot he was given the letter dated 15th January 2024 terminating his employment ignobly,” the court papers read.
Following the averments made, Adekanye wants the court to declare the termination of his appointment as “unlawful, wrongful and unjustified”.
“An order of court reinstating the claimant to his position as though he had never been terminated,” Adekanye sought.
“An order of court directing the defendant pay to the claimant all his salaries, allowances and or other perquisites accruable to his office from the date of the purported termination until judgment is delivered.
“An order of court that the claimant is entitled to all the promotions which he would have had but for the purported termination.”
Aside the N1 billion the claimant is seeking, he wants the court to further order the defendant to pay N250 million as special and general damages as well as another N150 million as exemplary damages for the infringement of his fundamental rights.
Also, he wants the defendant to pay N10 million as the cost of litigation.
Alternatively, Adekanye is praying the court to issue an order directing the defendant to pay him the full amount of salaries, allowances and other emoluments which he would have earned of the unexpired remaining years on the attainment of 60 years.
He also wants “an order of court that the defendant shall pay to the claimant such sum accruable as entitlements inclusive of all emoluments and 2% of the defendant’s Profit Before Tax declared for the year 2023 and other entitlements applicable to the claimant in the circumstances”.
Adekanye filed the suit marked NICN/LA/56/2024 on March 21 before the national industrial court in Lagos through his counsel, Wahab Shittu, a senior advocate of Nigeria.
Renaissance Capital Africa (Rencap) has named Zenith Bank Plc its top conviction pick among Nigerian banks, ahead of GTCO and AccessCorp, in a fresh research report highlighting the lender’s robust balance sheet and dividend potential despite sector headwinds.
Zenith Bank
The comprehensive review of the Nigerian banking industry notes that Zenith’s current market valuation lags its improving fundamentals, even as the NGX Banking Index posts strong gains recently.
Rencap upgraded Zenith from HOLD to BUY, lifting its target price by 96 per cent based on a lower risk-free rate from falling government bond yields, refined beta estimates, and expectations of cleaner assets post-forybearance resolutions.
Balance Sheet Strength Drives Outlook
Analysts project challenges to earnings growth from anticipated Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) rate cuts but foresee higher dividend payouts from resolved forbearance and single obligor loan (SOL) exposures alongside rising cash profits.
“Although we expect banks to face challenges in growing earnings… the balance sheet clean-up… will support higher dividend payouts relative to prior years,” the report states, ranking Zenith first, followed by GTCO and AccessCorp.
Key positives include loan write-offs that bolstered asset quality, enabling sustainable growth amid financial system reforms.
Dividend Recovery in Focus
Sector profitability from 2023-2024 was inflated by unrealised foreign exchange gains, which regulations barred from cash dividends, capping payouts despite headline profits.
Zenith historically led payout ratios in 2021-2022 via strong cash generation and capital discipline; Rencap expects a rebound as pressures ease, attracting income-focused investors.
Tier-1 Leadership Reinforced
Zenith Bank recently topped Nigeria’s tier-1 capital rankings for the 16th straight year, per The Banker magazine (Financial Times), affirming its resilience and positioning for long-term value creation.
CBN
- Access Bank Plc
- Fidelity Bank Plc
- First Bank of Nigeria Ltd
- Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank)
- United Bank for Africa (UBA)
- Zenith Bank Plc
- FCMB (First City Monument Bank) – currently pushing to raise additional capital to secure its international licence.
- Wema Bank
- Standard Chartered Bank (Nigeria)
- Citibank Nigeria
- Stanbic IBTC Bank
- Sterling Bank
- Globus Bank
- Premium Trust Bank
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has revised the minimum capital applicable to all categories of regulated capital market entities after 10 years.
The minimum capital review, according to the SEC, is informed by the need to strengthen market resilience, enhance investor protection, align capital adequacy with the evolving risk profile of market activities, and ensure that regulated entities possess sufficient financial capacity to discharge their obligations in a sustainable manner.
“The revised Minimum Capital framework seeks to: enhance the financial soundness and operational resilience of market operators; align capital requirements with the scope, complexity, and risk exposure of regulated activities; promote market stability and systemic risk mitigation; and support innovation and orderly development of new market segments, including digital assets and commodities markets,” SEC said in a January 16 circular to market operators.
The SEC circular was sent to all entities regulated by the Commission, including but not limited to core and non-core capital market operators; market infrastructure institutions; capital market consultants; financial technology (FinTech) operators; Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs); and Commodity market intermediaries.
All affected entities are required to comply with the revised Minimum Capital Requirements on or before June 30, 2027, the circular said.
“Entities that fail to meet the prescribed requirements within the stipulated timeline shall be subject to appropriate regulatory sanctions, including suspension or withdrawal of registration, as may be determined by the Commission,” SEC said.
Tier-1 Portfolio Managers (Full Scope) involved in the management of Collective Investment Schemes (CIS) and Alternative Investment Funds (Private Equity, Venture Capital, Infrastructure Funds etc) above N20 billion Net Asset Value (NAV), or discretionary and Non-Discretionary Private Portfolio Management Services above N20 billion Assets under Management (AuM), or exposure to foreign instruments up to 40 percent of the NAV are now required to have a minimum capital of N5 billion as against N150 million.
“Any Fund and Portfolio Manager with NAV/AuM of more than N100billion should have a minimum of 10 percent of the NAV/AuM as capital,” SEC added.
For the Tier-2 fund/portfolio managers (Limited Scope) who are in the business of management of Collective Investment Schemes with limited pooled fund creation of not more than 10 times the required capital (N20 billion) on Net Asset Value (NAV), or discretionary and non-discretionary private portfolio management services of not more than N20 billion, or those exposure to foreign instruments of not more than 20 percent of the NAV, now require N2 billion as minimum capital as against low of N150 million.
Likewise, broker-dealers whose services include: client execution, proprietary trading, margin/securities lending and advisory services no longer require N300 million minimum capital to operate but N2 billion.
The SEC said the minimum capital review from 2015 low is in line with its mandate under the Investments and Securities Act 2025 to regulate and develop the Nigerian capital market.
Also, Tier 1 issuing houses who do non-interest finance services, advisory & arrangement services but no underwriting now require N2 billion as against N200 million; while Tier 2 –issuing houses with underwriting and offers a ‘one-stop-shop’ for issuers, provides underwriting services, and renders advisory and product development services require N7 billion minimum capital for this business as against N200 million.
Also, the minimum capital requirement for brokers (client execution only) has been jacked up from N200 million to N600 million, while that of dealers (proprietary trading only) has been moved from N100 million to N1 billion.
Broker-Dealers’ (client execution, proprietary trading, margin/securities lending and advisory services) has been raised from N300 million to N2 billion, while Sub-Brokers’ (Digital) from N10million to N100million; Sub-Broker (Corporate) has been increased from N10million to N50 million. Also, sub-brokers’ (Individual) now need N10 million minimum capital for the business as against N2 million while inter-dealer brokers require N2 billion as against N50 million.
Zenith Bank Top Nigerian Bank Pick Ahead of GTCO, AccessCorp
Here Are Nigerian Banks That Have Secured Their Licences
ICPC Charges Ozekhome with Forgery, Corruption Over London Property
MTN CEO Toriola Hails Nigeria’s Telecom Transformation at MIPAD
SEC Hikes Minimum Capital Requirements for Market Operators After a Decade
Banks quietly move to enforce new ₦50 transfer levy from Jan. 1
FIRS says NIN, CAC Numbers to Serve as Tax IDs from 2026
FIRS Declares NIN, CAC Numbers as Tax IDs from 2026
US Begins Partial Visa Ban on Nigerians January 1
Galaxy Backbone Tops FG’s Website Performance Ranking
E-Financial2 days agoSEC Hikes Minimum Capital Requirements for Market Operators After a Decade
Telecom2 days agoStudy Shows Blocks in Telegram are Pushing the Underground Out
Telecom2 days agoVodacom Crowned Africa’s Top Employer 3rd Year Running on Innovation, Ethical AI
News2 days agoNigeria Off EU High-Risk Money Laundering List in Major Financial Win
News2 days agoNGX Unveils Net-Zero Plan for Greener Capital Market
Telecom2 days agoGalaxy Backbone Marks Two Decades of Powering Nigeria’s Digital Evolution
Telecom2 days agoGalaxy Backbone Marks 20 Years, Tops FG Website Scorecard
E-Financial3 hours agoZenith Bank Top Nigerian Bank Pick Ahead of GTCO, AccessCorp