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CBN Freezes 84 Bank Accounts of Firms/Persons under Investigation

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Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has secured an interim order of a federal high court in Abuja, freezing 84 bank accounts belonging to 25 individuals and companies.

CBN Freezes 84 Bank Accounts of Firms/Persons under Investigation

Those affected by the new order include Nuhu Abubakar, Lat-Ade Logistics, Adenmosun Lateef Jimoh, Lateef Adenmosun, Saki Polo Global Investment Limited, Sam Polo Concept Enterprises, Saki Abdullahi, Saneo Global Resources Limited, Saneo Global Resources LTD, Romvic Ventures NIG LTD, Romvic Ventures Nigeria Limited, Enychristo Enterprises, Ezeh Onyebuchi and Ezeh Onyebuchi Chris.

Others are Christopher .O. Ezeh, Christopher Onyebuchi Ezeh, Ezeh Christopher Onyebuchi, Mandes Mega Koncepts Limited, Okpalaugo Paul Ifeanyi, Okpalagu Ifeanyi Paul, Ifeanyi Paul Okpalaugo, Paul Ifeanyi Okpalaugo, Chinweuba Okoye Sunday, Sunday Chinweuba Okoye, Okoye Chinweuba Sunday.

The affected bank accounts are domiciled in First Bank Plc, Keystone Bank PLC, Polaris Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC Plc, Access Bank Plc, First City Monument Bank Plc, Heritage Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa, Eco Bank Plc and Sterling Bank Plc.

CBN had asked the court for an order directing the enlisted banks to freeze the accounts “for a period of 180 days pending the outcome of investigation and inquiry currently being conducted by the Central Bank of Nigeria.”

Ahmed Mohammed, presiding judge, on March 30, granted the application of the apex bank.

However, the freezing order would only last 45 days as against the 180 days requested.

Mohammed said: “The order is renewable on expiration but only on good reasons shown.”

“The applicant (CBN) shall publish this order on its website within three days from today,” he added.

“Any person or persons affected by this order are entitled to approach the court to seek to set aside, discharge or have the order reviewed for good reasons shown.”

In two other separate applications, the court also made an order freezing the account of four other companies for 45 days.

Bluebeam Capital Limited, Sethwealth Ventures, Sethweath Ventures Ltd and Seasons Bureau de Change Ltd are the affected companies.

The CBN has been clamping down on businesses and individuals with suspicious bank transactions especially for money laundering and illegal forex transactions in recent times.

The Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) said 26 members were recently arrested by security operatives, over alleged unlawful foreign exchange transactions.

 

 


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Lagos State Appoints MoneyMaster as Payment Partner for “Ounje Eko” Programme

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“Ounje Eko”, the food price discount initiative of the Lagos State Government, has appointed leading payment service bank, MoneyMaster Payment Service Bank Limited (MMPSB), as its collaborator in the bid to ensure ease of payments at the market.

MoneyMaster is one of the Central Bank of Nigeria-licensed Payment Service Banks (PSBs) to promote financial inclusion across Nigeria.

Under the partnership, MMPSB will apply its cutting-edge payment solution to engender easy payment and reconciliation in order to make   the experiences of Lagosians who will be getting their food supplies from the markets pleasurable. Its payment solution is also all-encompassing and ensures real time value to payment destinations.

The mobile bank was appointed as the collection and payment partner for “Ounje Eko” Food Markets programme which is a government initiative serving the five divisions of Lagos State. Consequent on this, MoneyMaster Payment Service Bank will collect payments in 57 LCDAs in the state.

The partnership gives credence to the quality of payment solutions that MoneyMaster is reputed for in its services to its growing business clientele in private and public sectors.

 


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CBN, EFCC Probe Banks, Firms over Alleged Forex Racketeering

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Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), is investigating irregular foreign exchange transactions and forward contracts valued at approximately $2.4 billion.

CBN, EFCC Probe Banks, Firms over Alleged Forex Racketeering

The  inquiry follows an extensive audit by Deloitte, which scrutinized $7 billion in dollar debts accumulated under the bank’s previous leadership.

In the aftermath of the 294th Monetary Policy Committee meeting in Abuja, Yemi Cardoso, governor of CBN,  disclosed to journalists that the investigation, supported by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, among other security bodies, aims to clarify the legitimacy of these FX allocations identified as problematic by the audit.

“It was determined that a number of these transactions did not qualify…they were outright illegal. The law enforcement agencies are now looking into those transactions that as far as we are concerned, are not valid to be paid,” Cardoso detailed, emphasizing the unlawful nature of these forex deals.

The crux of the investigation lies in the audit findings that a significant portion of the scrutinized transactions lacked proper documentation and, in many instances, were deemed outright illegal.

However, the unfolding investigation has raised concerns within the organized private sector, with some entities contemplating legal action against commercial banks for unresolved forex bids.

Despite these tensions, Governor Cardoso reassures that the foreign exchange market remains open and transparent, inviting stakeholders to address their forex needs through the official channels.

Furthermore, Cardoso clarified the distribution of fertilizers to farmers as a one-off measure and not indicative of a shift back to direct interventions by the CBN, underscoring a commitment to strategic, regulatory governance rather than direct market involvement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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CBN Urges Banks to Expedite Action on Recapitalisation

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Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed deposit money banks in the country to expedite action to increase their capital base from the current ₦25bn.

CBN Urges Banks to Expedite Action on Recapitalisation

Olayemi Cardoso, governor of CBN

Olayemi Cardoso, governor of CBN, stated this during the apex bank’s 294th meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) on Tuesday in Abuja, when the MPC hiked the interest rate by 22.75% to 24.75%.

The apex bank chief said the MPC examined developments in the banking sector and expressed satisfaction that the industry remained stable. The committee, however, said to guard against risk, commercial banks in the country should accelerate their recapitalisation efforts.

Cardoso said, “The MPC also reviewed developments in the banking system and noted that the industry remains safe, sound, and stable. The committee thus called on the bank to sustain its surveillance and ensure compliance of banks with existing regulatory and macro-potential guidelines.

“The MPC also enjoined the banks to expedite actions on the recapitalisation of banks to strengthen the system against potential risks in an increasingly globalised world.”

 

 

 

 


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