Banking
Court Freezes N19bn Belonging to Ex-Bank PHB MD Atuche
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has frozen the assets and funds worth N19.2 billion belonging to Mr Francis Atuche, a former Managing Director of the defunct Bank PHB Plc.
The funds are domiciled in 24 different banks in Nigeria, including Citi Bank Limited; Ecobank Nigeria Limited; First Bank of Nigeria Plc; First City Monument Bank (FCMB); Globus Bank Limited; Fidelity Bank Plc; Keystone Bank Limited; Lotus Bank Limited and Mainstreet Bank Plc.
Others are Polaris Bank Plc; Platinum Mortgage Bank Limited; Providus Bank Limited; Stanbic IBTC Nigeria Limited; Standard Chartered Bank; Sterling Bank Plc; Wema Bank Plc; Zenith Bank Plc; Unity Bank Plc; Titan Trust Bank Limited, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and others.
On August 17, 2021, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed an ex parte application to freeze the assets and money and on Tuesday, August 1, it was approved by Justice Lateefat Okunnu.
Recall that in June 2021, Justice Okunnu sentenced Mr Atuche to six years imprisonment, while the former Chief Financial Officer of Bank PHB, Ugo Anyanwu, was sentenced to four years for stealing and conspiracy to steal to the tune of N25.7 billion.
The judge, while sentencing the duo, had ordered them to make restitution of the sum of N25.7 billion to the federal government to replace the funds stolen from the public to bail out the bank.
While filing an order to freeze the assets and funds of the ex-Bank PHB MD, counsel to the EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), informed the court that 15 persons, as well as 22 firms, were used by the convicted former banker and Anyanwu to launder the funds.
Pinheiro listed the individuals to include Anthony Atuche, Emeka Patrick Atuche, Paul Okobi, Felix Oyiana, Moruf Kazeem Adisa, Olatunji Abiodun, Daniel Enebeli, Aina Olugbenga, Augustine Nwabueze, Omonua Benedict, Oliver King Nduaaron, Dr. Chris Ike Ogbechie, Mr. Murat Bektaslar, Attah Omataikpo Olukemi and Thomas Etuh.
The EFCC counsel further stated that the firms, in which Mr Atuche has an either direct or indirect interest are Aqua Harvest Limited, Hubmart Stores Limited, Hubmart Limited, Sapphire Capital Management Limited, Homeland Real Estate Company Limited, Malechi Foods Limited, Homeland Meridian Partners Limited, Promise Investment Limited and Temple Cottage Hotel Limited.
Others are Wegas Properties Project Limited, Buckhead Construction Limited, Claremount Management Services Limited, Afco Associates Limited, Platinum Capital Limited, Ghazali Yakubu Investment Limited, The Financial (Services) Company Limited, Venture Resources Limited, Elizabeth-A Company Limited, Signature Partners Limited, Purplepay Technologies Limited, Oakwood Asset Management Limited and Conesto Nigeria Limited.
Justice Okunnu granted the 12 prayers of the applicant and held that, “An order is made restraining the first defendant (Atuche) whether by himself or acting through the persons or entities listed or such other persons including but not limited to his family members or agents, from removing, alienating, disposing of, dealing with or diminishing the value of assets, proceeds of economic and financial crimes or otherwise in the name of the first defendant.”
The judge also held that “the assets or funds included those held indirectly by or for Atuche’s benefit, whether solely or jointly held, that are located in Nigeria or worldwide.”
Justice Okunnu further ordered the freezing of any bank account being run and operated by Mr Atuche “personally or jointly, whether in his personal name or otherwise or with the Bank Verification Number (BVN) 22295357230 in any of the respondent banks to the tune of N19,178,253,050, pursuant to the restitution order made by this honourable court on June 16, 2021.”
Mr Atuche and his privies, including his lawyers, were also barred from presenting to the above-listed banks “any mandate or instruction for the withdrawal of any money and/or funds standing to the credit of any of their accounts to the tune of N19,178,253,050.”
Justice Okunnu, who also restrained the banks from honouring any such instruction from Mr Atuche and his privies, further held that, “A mandatory order of injunction is made directing the named respondent banks to file within 48 hours of service of this order of this honourable court on them returns of the Statements of Account of the first defendant (personally or jointly) whether in his personal name or otherwise or with the Bank Verification Number: 22295357230 and the accounts of persons and entities listed in the aforementioned Schedules A and B maintained with them.
“A further order is made directing service of the order made herein on persons affected thereby including, in particular, the persons and entities listed in Schedules A and B. by way of advertisement in either The Punch or Thisday or The Guardian newspaper.”
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The proposed acquisition of South African financial institution, Bidvest Bank by a Nigerian lender, Access Bank Plc, has hit a brick wall.
Access Holdings Plc, the parent company of the Nigerian bank, had announced on December 12, 2024, its intention to completely takeover Bidvest Bank.
Talks regarding the 100 per cent stake acquisition began between the two banks and January 26, 2026, was fixed as the long-stop date by which all conditions required for the completion of the deal.
However, the day has come and gone with the conclusion of the transaction still hanging, according to Access Bank in a statement on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
The company disclosed that certain conditions, including regulatory requirements, were not fully met as of the expiration of the long-stop date.
While Access Bank thanked the board and management of Bidvest for their patience and support throughout this process, it noted that the brick wall experienced in the transaction “reflects the complexities and extended timelines associated with multi-jurisdictional regulatory and transactional processes.”
However, the chief executive of Access Bank, Mr Roosevelt Ogbonna, said the organisation remains “constructively engaged with stakeholders on this transaction towards finding a potential path to closure.”
“This initial outcome does not diminish our confidence in South Africa’s financial ecosystem,” he declared, pointing out that the lender remains “focused on building Africa’s most respected financial institution, strengthening our trade finance capabilities and delivering long-term value to customers, partners and communities across all our markets.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Bank of Industry (BoI) has secured regulatory approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to offer Non-Interest Banking (NIB) services, marking a major expansion of its financing framework.
The approval was disclosed in a statement by the BoI Managing Director, Mr Olasupo Olusi, on Sunday, February 8, 2026.
The move is expected to strengthen the bank’s role in promoting sustainable industrial development and improving access to finance for underserved and high-impact business segments across Nigeria.
With the approval, BoI is authorised to commence non-interest banking operations, providing ethical, asset-backed financing options that prohibit interest and promote risk-sharing.
The initiative aligns with growing demand for alternative financing structures that support inclusive growth and social development objectives.
Mr Olusi described the approval as a significant milestone in the bank’s growth and long-term development agenda, adding that it positions BoI to deepen its contribution to Nigeria’s industrialisation drive through tailored financial solutions.
“This development marks a significant milestone in the Bank of Industry’s growth and long-term development agenda,” Olusi said.
“It positions the bank to further advance Nigeria’s sustainable and inclusive industrial development through tailored financial solutions for underserved and high-impact business segments.”
“Under this framework, BoI will be able to finance assets and raw materials for customers using approved non-interest banking products,” he added.
Mr Olusi noted that the approval underscores the CBN’s confidence in BoI’s governance and commitment to responsible financing.
He said the licence would allow the bank to scale its operations, introduce innovative financing solutions, deepen support for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and reach a new category of borrowers who were previously unable to access BoI’s funding.
Reconstructed in 2001 from the former Nigerian Industrial Development Bank (NIDB) Limited, BoI was originally incorporated in 1959 to transform the country’s industrial sector by providing long-term, low-interest financing and advisory support to various enterprises.
The introduction of a non-interest banking window is expected to broaden BoI’s financing toolkit and attract new pools of ethical and faith-based capital.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Group Chief Economist and Managing Director for Research and Trade Intelligence at the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Mr Yemi Kale, has been pencilled down to deliver the keynote address at the second Ecobank Customer Forum.
The programme, themed Strengthening Regional Integration for Economic Transformation, will take place at the Ecobank Pan-African Centre (EPAC) in Lagos.
The forum, organised by the bank’s Fixed Income, Currencies and Commodities (FICC) Business (Treasury), is designed to examine critical issues shaping Nigeria’s and Africa’s economic outlook in 2026, with particular focus on trade, financial markets, foreign exchange liquidity and regional integration, especially as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement enters a strategic phase of implementation.
The Regional Treasurer for Ecobank Nigeria Limited, Mr Olumide Adebayo, said the one-day programme reinforces the lender’s role as a trusted financial partner and customer-focused institution, with the intention to foster dialogue, support informed decision-making, and deeper regional economic integration across Africa.
According to him, the seminar will open with welcome remarks by the Managing Director/Regional Executive of Ecobank Nigeria, Mr Bolaji Lawal, who will underscore the bank’s commitment to supporting customers and driving inclusive growth through strategic dialogue, innovation and pan-African collaboration.
The keynote address, titled The Future of Trade in Africa: Harnessing the AfCFTA for Economic Transformation, will be delivered by Mr Kale and will provide insights into Africa’s trade prospects and the transformative potential of the AfCFTA.
The forum will feature two high-level panel discussions: Balancing the Risk between Interest Rate and Exchange Rate: Business Expectations and Outlook in 2026, and Export Proceeds, Oil Receipts and Remittances in 2026: Exploring Options that Best Support FX Liquidity and Flows in Nigeria.
The event would be moderated by Messrs. Aruoture Oddiri, Host and Producer of Global Business Report on Arise News and Barnabas Vajeh of Ecobank Nigeria Limited.
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