General News
Court Freezes Bank Accounts of Petrocam, Founder over Alleged N9Bn Zenith Bank Debt

Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the freezing of bank accounts belonging to Petrocam Trading Nigeria Limited and Patrick Ilo, its founder, over an alleged N9.05 billion debt.

Patrick Ilo and Petrocam Filling station
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the court granted the interim orders in Suit No: FHC/L/CS/393/2026 which was an ex parte application filed by Zenith Bank to preserve funds allegedly owed by the defendants as of May 31, 2025.
It was gathered that the ex parte motion was argued by Chief A.A. Aribisala (SAN) on behalf of Zenith Bank.
While delivering the ruling on Wednesday, the court restrained the defendants, whether acting by themselves or through agents, privies, or assigns, from withdrawing, transferring, dissipating, or otherwise dealing with funds up to the sum of ₦9,057,511,855.63, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
“An interim order is hereby granted restraining the defendants/respondents, Petrocam Trading Nigeria Limited and Patrick Ilo, whether by themselves, their agents, privies or assigns, from withdrawing, transferring, dissipating or otherwise dealing with any funds up to the sum of ₦9,057,511,855.63 pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice,” Justice Aneke ruled.
The court further ordered the freezing of all accounts linked to Bank Verification Number (BVN) 22141926401, which the bank alleged is being used by Ilo to operate Petrocam’s accounts.
In addition, Justice Aneke directed all financial institutions within the jurisdiction of the court to immediately place a lien or “Post-No-Debit” restriction on all accounts associated with the BVN.
According to the order, “All financial institutions within the jurisdiction of this honourable court are hereby directed to place a lien or post-no-debit restriction on all accounts linked to BVN 22141926401 pending further orders of the court.”
The order extends beyond traditional banks to key operators within Nigeria’s electronic payment ecosystem. Among those joined as respondents in the matter are the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System, Interswitch Limited, and Interswitch Financial Inclusion Services Limited.
The court also directed the institutions to disclose the details of all accounts linked to the BVN. Justice Aneke ordered the respondents to file an affidavit of return within seven days, revealing all accounts connected to the BVN, their balances, and the transaction history covering the preceding six months.
Court documents filed in support of the application showed that the credit facility at the centre of the dispute was subject to several pre-disbursement conditions imposed by Zenith Bank.
According to the filings, Petrocam was required to formally accept the facility through its authorised signatories, provide a board resolution approving the loan, and disclose any existing indebtedness to other lenders, including facility limits, outstanding balances, and collateral pledged.
Other conditions included the domiciliation of sales proceeds and Sovereign Debt Note subsidy payments from Oando Plc and Total Nigeria Plc into Petrocam’s account with Zenith Bank.
The company was also required to submit relevant contract agreements for the bank’s approval and provide a five percent counterpart contribution for each transaction, while all required security documentation had to be executed before the facility could be disbursed.
The bank further stated that Petrocam was expected to submit quarterly management accounts within 60 days after the end of each quarter and audited annual financial statements within 120 days.
In addition, Petrocam was required to route all import duty payments and Letters of Credit through its account with Zenith Bank, establish Letters of Credit for petroleum imports, and obtain comprehensive marine insurance naming Zenith Bank as the first loss payee.
Court filings also revealed that General Marine and Oil Services Ltd had been appointed by the bank to monitor petroleum product warehousing at Petrocam’s expense.
The facility agreement further imposed foreign exchange obligations, authorising Zenith Bank to settle maturing Usance obligations at 12 percent interest if Petrocam failed to provide the necessary funds.
The bank maintained that in the event of default, Petrocam would be responsible for all legal, recovery, and ancillary costs arising from enforcement of the facility.
The court also granted Zenith Bank leave to serve the defendants through substituted means.
Justice Aneke ruled that the defendants may be served at their last known address in Victoria Island, Lagos.
The matter has been adjourned to March 17, 2026, for mention.
General News
NRS Debunks Viral Claim of New Tax on Vehicle

Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) has denied reports that the federal government has introduced a new tax on vehicles.

The clarification follows the circulation of a viral message online claiming that all vehicle owners would be required to start paying a new tax from July 1, 2026.
In a statement released on Sunday, the NRS said the information in the message is false and did not come from the agency or any official government institution.Nigeria Travel Guides
According to Dare Adekanmbi, spokesperson for the NRS, the viral message was designed to mislead the public. He explained that it was made to look genuine by using official government logos and formatting.
The message reportedly instructed owners of private, commercial, and corporate vehicles to pay an unspecified fee either online or through approved banks and agencies. It also included a website that was wrongly presented as an official government platform.
Adekanmbi stressed that the website mentioned is not connected to the government and warned Nigerians not to make any payments based on such information.
He said the NRS has not introduced any new vehicle tax and that any official policy or tax change would be properly announced through verified government channels.
The agency urged citizens to ignore the fake message and avoid falling victim to possible fraud. It also advised Nigerians to always confirm such information through trusted and official sources before taking any action.
The NRS further encouraged the public to follow its official communication platforms to stay informed about genuine tax policies, updates, and government directives.
General News
NCC to Intensify Crackdown on Illicit Network to Protect Copyrights

National Copyright Commission (NCC) has reaffirmed that piracy remains a major threat to the nation’s creative economy, vowing to intensify its nationwide crackdown on illicit networks to protect intellectual property.

Pic credit…soundcloud.com
Dr. John Asein, director-general of the NCC, disclosed this in a statement to mark the 2026 World Book and Copyright Day.
The commission noted that piracy remains a major threat, undermining legitimate enterprise and eroding the economic value of creative works.
Asein lamented that inadequate distribution systems and limited access to books also constrain the growth of readership.
He described the event as an important occasion, which showcased the enduring value of books as foundations of knowledge, instruments of cultural preservation, and drivers of national development.
He described the theme for this year’s celebration, ‘Read Books, Respect Copyright,’ as a call on Nigerians to embrace reading as a lifelong habit, while recognising that respect for copyright is essential to sustaining creativity and rewarding authors.
The commission noted that Nigeria’s book industry has evolved significantly, from the post-independence emergence of indigenous publishing to today’s digitally driven ecosystem.
“Nigerian authors continue to gain global recognition, while publishers are expanding capacity. However, challenges persist,” he said.
The commission commended the National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy, describing it as a bold step toward repositioning intellectual property as a driver of economic transformation.
The policy, according to him, provides a roadmap for revamping the book sector for the benefit of authors and publishers, and is accessible at ippolicy.ng.
The NCC also reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive access through the Marrakesh Treaty, as reflected in the Copyright Act, 2022, enabling accessible formats such as Braille and audio texts.
It urged Nigerians to respect copyright and purchase books only from authorised sources.
General News
Fusewall Holdings Acquires 100% Stake in Coloplus, Expands Telecom Infrastructure Footprint

Fusewall Holdings, founded by Azeez Amida, has announced the acquisition of a 100 percent equity stake in Coloplus Worldwide Service Limited, in a move aimed at strengthening its position in Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure space.

Fusewall Holdings
The deal marks a significant milestone in Fusewall’s broader strategy to build an integrated and future-ready platform across key sectors, particularly within the country’s fast-evolving digital economy.
The transaction was led by Amida, whose role in structuring and executing the deal was described as pivotal. According to the company, his leadership helped align stakeholders and navigate complex negotiations to ensure a successful close while positioning the business for long-term growth.
A spokesperson for Fusewall Holdings said the acquisition represents “a deliberate step forward” in the company’s expansion strategy, noting that the focus remains on building platforms that combine operational efficiency, resilience, and scale.
Coloplus brings a substantial operational footprint to the deal, including access to about 900 partner locations and roughly 20 owned sites. This combination of reach and infrastructure control is expected to give Fusewall a strategic advantage as it scales operations nationwide.
Fusewall said it plans to deploy capital, strengthen governance structures, and enhance operational execution as part of the integration process. The move is expected to improve service delivery, boost infrastructure reliability, and support expansion into underserved and high-demand areas.
The acquisition also aligns with the company’s broader ambition to help bridge Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure gap by expanding connectivity, improving network resilience, and advancing digital inclusion.
Fusewall Holdings said the deal reflects its commitment to disciplined execution and long-term value creation as it continues to grow its footprint in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
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