Connect with us

E-Financial

N750m Currency Contract: EFCC Quizzes, Releases ex-Mint MD

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released Ehi Okomoyon, former managing director of the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC), after being quizzed over alleged N750million Polymer notes contract.

Okoyomon also forced to retire over the alleged N2 billion missing notes from the Mint under his leadership was arrested on Sunday by operatives of the anti-graft agency in Abuja.

Okomoyon’s arrest allegedly followed reports on the alleged scam sent to the EFCC by the Australian police.

He was quizzed by investigators at the EFCC Abuja office on relation to the Australian polymer banknotes bribery scam.

Nigerian officials allegedly received bribes for Securency, a note-printing firm partly owned by the Reserve Bank of Australia, which handled the polymer banknotes contract.

A former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, was quizzed by the EFCC in January in connection with the probe.

The polymer technology is used to print the N5, N10, N20 and N50 notes.

A festering scandal has surrounded the printing of polymer notes by the Central Bank of Nigeria after an Australian newspaper ‘The Age’ that blew the scam open, reported that Securency International, a company that manufactures polymer used in banknotes in 28 countries, paid kickbacks to secure polymer note printing contracts in some countries, including Nigeria.

The sum of N750 million is said to have been paid to bribe Nigerian officials.

At the Nigerian end of the international swindle, the newspaper reported that Securency International, a subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of Australia, paid millions of dollars into the offshore bank accounts of two British-based businessmen for onward transfer to some top Nigerian government functionaries and CBN officials to win the 2006 polymer printing contract.


Kindly share this post

Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Comments

E-Financial

Kuda Microfinance Bank Releases ‘My Year on Kuda’ 2025 Financial Recap

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Kuda Microfinance Bank has unveiled the 2025 edition of “My Year on Kuda,” its annual recap providing customers with personalised insights into their spending, saving, and money management habits from the previous year.

Kuda Microfinance Bank Releases 'My Year on Kuda' 2025 Financial Recap

Kuda Microfinance Bank

The tool analyses transaction data across categories like transfers, card payments, online purchases, and bills, revealing patterns such as highest-spending months, biggest payments, saving frequency, and savings from Kuda’s 25 free monthly transfers. Customers can compare 2025 activity against 2024, including income versus expenditure.

In an era of inflation and economic uncertainty, the recap promotes financial literacy by highlighting responsible borrowing via Kuda Overdraft usage, including access frequency, amounts borrowed, and repayment patterns.

Customer-shared screenshots on X reflect national trends: Nigeria recorded over 2.2 billion electronic transactions worth ₦285 trillion in Q1 2025, up 20 percent year-on-year, with POS terminals driving the shift to cashless commerce.

Kuda Group CEO Babs Ogundeyi, in the recap’s opening video, urged users: “Before you carry on with January, this is the perfect time to see everything you did with your money on Kuda last year and learn something.”

The feature underscores Kuda’s focus on actionable insights to help Nigerians navigate evolving personal finance amid shifting earning and spending behaviours.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

E-Financial

Wema Bank Launches SAW AI Voice Assistant for Seamless Banking on ALAT 2.0

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Wema Bank has introduced SAW, a new AI voice assistant integrated into the ALAT 2.0 app, allowing customers to manage finances through natural voice commands similar to Siri, Bixby, or Alexa.

Wema Bank Launches SAW AI Voice Assistant for Seamless Banking on ALAT 2.0

Wema Bank

SAW understands everyday language and delivers instant responses tailored to banking needs, such as checking account balances, transferring money, reviewing transactions, and accessing support.

This feature brings conversational banking to Nigerian users, eliminating complexity and enhancing accessibility.

The bank positions SAW as a pioneer in AI-powered financial services, aligning with global trends where millions interact daily with voice assistants for tasks like setting reminders or playing music.

ALAT 2.0 represents the next evolution in digital banking, making services more efficient, personal, and human-like for everyday Nigerians.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

E-Financial

Ecobank Offsets Repayment of $300m Eurobond Notes

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Ecobank Nigeria Limited has fully repaid bondholders who validly tendered their notes ahead of the February 2026 maturity date.

Ecobank Offsets Repayment of $300m Eurobond Notes

The bank announced the successful completion of its tender offer, under which it prepaid approximately $245 million of its $300 million Eurobond, representing more than 80 per cent of the total issuance.

According to a statement, the transaction relates to the 7.125 per cent Senior Note Participation Notes due February 2026.

Ecobank Nigeria Limited said it launched a tender offer to eligible noteholders in respect of the outstanding $150 million on the bond on November 27, 2025, providing them with an opportunity to redeem their holdings ahead of the original maturity date of 16 February 2026.

It stated that the early and late tender participation deadlines were 11 December 2025 and 29 December 2025, respectively.

According to the bank, holders of notes validly tendered and accepted received a cash consideration of $1,000 per $1,000 in principal amount, in addition to accrued interest from the last interest payment date up to, but excluding, the final settlement date of 31 December 2025.

Following completion of the offer, the bank said the outstanding principal amount of the notes has been reduced to approximately $55.092 million.

The bank also stated that the initiative reflects Ecobank Nigeria’s proactive approach to liability management and prudent balance sheet optimisation.

The tender offer was conducted with Renaissance Capital Africa (Renaissance Securities Nigeria Limited) acting as financial adviser and dealer manager, while Sodali & Co Limited served as tender agent.

The notes were originally issued by EBN Finance Company B.V., with limited recourse to the issuer, for the sole purpose of financing the purchase of the $300 million 7.125 per cent Senior Note due 2026 issued by Ecobank Nigeria Limited.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Trending