E-Financial
Union Bank to Go Ahead with Sale of UK Subsidiary

Union Bank of Nigeria (UBN) Plc has restated its commitment to the sale of its United Kingdom’s (UK) subsidiary, Union Bank UK (UBUK) Plc, despite the delay in the transaction process.
Joe Mbulu, chief financial officer, Union Bank of Nigeria (UBN) Plc, said UBUK remains classified as “available for sale” as the sale process continues, although delayed due to the pandemic-induced lockdowns.
Union Bank had entered into a share sale and purchase agreement to divest its 100 per cent equity stake in UBUK more than a year ago. The delay had generated concerns within the investing public.
The Board of Union Bank had stated that the sale was in line with the bank’s strategy to geographically streamline its business operations to focus on growth opportunities in Nigeria.
According to the bank, following a competitive bid process, MBU BidCo Limited (MBU), an acquisition vehicle owned by MBU Capital Limited (MBU Capital), was selected as the preferred bidder. The completion of the sale is, however, still subject to regulatory approvals from the relevant regulatory authorities in Nigeria and the UK.
MBU Capital is an investment management firm founded in 2013 and based in Mayfair, London. MBU Capital has active interests in financial services, healthcare, education, real estate and technology. MBU Capital (UK) LLP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Emeka Emuwa, CEO, Union Bank of Nigeria (UBN) Plc, said the bank decided that as the banking landscape shifts towards digital and agency banking to drive financial inclusion, the Nigerian market presents robust long-term opportunities for it.
He pointed out that the divestment allows the bank to channel its focus and capital towards mining the Nigerian opportunities fully.
“Through the sale, we are better positioned to deliver greater value to the organisation and its stakeholders as well as continue to build the future of banking in Nigeria. The terms of the sale of UBUK delivers substantial value to our shareholders, while also entrusting its customers and trading partners to a high-quality financial services institution which will work with existing management to deliver a stronger and more profitable entity,” Emuwa said.
Mohammed Iqbal, founder and CEO, MBU Capital, said the investment group was delighted with the acquisition, describing it as a huge opportunity to build on UBUK’s strengths in international markets to create a new-style bank which is focused on the needs of UK and international SMEs and entrepreneurs.
According to him, many customers are seeking a bank which truly understands the needs of entrepreneurial, fast-growing businesses.
“We believe that our acquisition and vision for UBUK offers the potential for significant growth for the bank. We look forward to working with our new colleagues at UBUK to continue to service the needs of its clients. We also look forward to sustaining and deepening relationships with UBUK’s existing trading partners,” Iqbal said.
E-Financial
FIRS Decries Cross-border Tax Crimes

Dr Zacch Adedeji, Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), has stated that cross-border tax crimes had undermined effort of countries to raise revenue for development.
He added that cross-border tax crimes distorted fair competition because compliant companies pay a higher cost for business and appear less profitable.
He also challenged global leaders to tackle the rising cross-border crimes that have disrupted revenue mobilisation and economic growth. Adedeji threw the challenge while delivering a keynote address at the 42nd Cambridge International Symposium on Economic Crimes (CIDOEC) held at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.
The symposium has, for over four decades, been a crucible of ideas, a forge for strategies, and a platform where countries chart a collective course against the impact and threat economic crimes pose to countries and institutions.
The global meeting was attended by about 1,000 participants from more than 100 countries, including legislators, policy makers, law enforcement agencies, security and intelligence personnel, regulators, governance and compliance officers, and academics.
Special Adviser on Media to the FIRS boss, Dare Adekanmbi, in a statement, said Adedeji was represented by the Coordinating Director of Proceeds of Crime Management and Illicit Financial Flows and immediate past chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Professor Bolaji Owasanoye.
“This year’s theme ‘Cross-Border Crimes’ speaks directly to one of the most complex and corrosive challenges of our interconnected world. “In a global economy where capital can move faster than law enforcement, and where digital and legal arbitrage often outpace regulation, the fight against crossborder economic crime is, by necessity, both local and global, both urgent and pressing.
“Modern day cross border crimes remind us that borders and boundaries have become virtual and distance irrelevant to the perpetration of crime and the negative impact on victims,” said Adedeji, who is also the Special Adviser on Revenue to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
On corporate or natural citizens who evade, avoid, fraudulently manipulate tax obligations by exploiting the intricacies of international trade or international finance, the FIRS boss said they have become implicated in cross border crimes.
He said: “When corporate or natural persons earn income in one country but hide same in another country, when they deceive, conceal or falsify records, they undermine the integrity and fiscal aspirations of the two countries they are manipulating. “When they hide income and assets in secrecy in some jurisdictions to avoid home-country taxes, they are hurting the fiscal target of home country.”
E-Financial
NGX Suspends Three Firms over 2024 Financial Results

Nigerian Exchange (NGX) has suspended three insurance companies on the exchange for failure to release financial results for the 2024 fiscal year.
The affected underwriting firms are Regency Alliance Insurance Plc, International Energy Insurance Plc, and Universal Insurance Plc.
As a result of the embargo, shareholders and other investors will not be able to trade their stocks on the local stock market, according to a notice signed by Obioma Oge for the Head of Issuer Regulation Department of the NGX.
In the statement, it was disclosed that the effective date for the suspension of the three organisations was Monday, September 1, 2025.
It was in line with Rule 3.1, Rules for Filing of Accounts and Treatment of Default Filing, (Default Filing Rules), which provides that if an Issuer fails to file the relevant accounts by the expiration of the cure period, the exchange will: a) send to the issuer a second filing deficiency notification within two business days after the end of the cure period; b) suspend trading in the issuer’s securities; and c) notify the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the market within 24 hours of the suspension.
However, the embargo may be lifted if the trio released their outstanding financial statements for “the year ended December 31, 2024.”
E-Financial
SEC Launches Redesigned Website to Boost Transparency, Investor Safety

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Nigeria has officially launched its newly redesigned website, marking a significant step toward enhancing digital engagement, regulatory transparency, and investor protection.
The regulator, in a statement on Monday, said the upgrade introduces a modern design, enhanced functionality, and a streamlined user experience aimed at investors, market operators, and the general public.
According to the SEC, the new platform features improved navigation, consolidated resources such as regulatory guidelines and publications, and a mobile-friendly design.
“This comprehensive upgrade introduces a modern design, enhanced functionality, and a streamlined user experience,” SEC said.
“The restructured platform ensures critical information is better organized and more accessible for all stakeholders, including investors, market participants, and the general public.
“Key enhancements include an intuitive menu and site structure for finding information quickly.
“Consolidated Resources: Key documents, regulatory guidelines, and publications are now easier to locate. A responsive design optimized for desktop and mobile devices.
“The initiative underscores the Commission’s ongoing commitment to transparency, operational efficiency, and improved stakeholder engagement.”
According to Emomotimi Agama, director-general (DG) of SEC, the website redesign reflects “our dedication to continuous improvement in service delivery and communication”.
“This digital advancement is a significant step in building a more transparent and accessible Commission, enhancing our engagement with the capital market and the investing public,” Agama said.
Also speaking, Samiya Usman, executive commissioner for corporate services at SEC, said the focus went beyond aesthetics.
“By simplifying access and logically organizing content, we have created a powerful platform that supports our mission to develop and regulate a fair, efficient, and transparent capital market,” the commissioner said.
The SEC urged stakeholders to explore the website and use its features to access regulatory updates, news, and services.
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