Connect with us

Banking

Otudeko Says First Bank Loan Fully Paid as Onasanya Moves to Clear Name

Published

on

Oba Otudeko Bisi Onasanya

In a determined effort to prove his innocence and clear his name, the former Managing Director of First Bank, Bisi Onasanya, last Thursday appeared before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke at the Federal High Court in Lagos.

Mr Onasanya, alongside former chairman of the financial institution, Mr Oba Otudeko; a Director at Honeywell Group, Mr Soji Akintayo, and a firm, Anchorage Leisure Limited, is refuting allegations of fraud related to a commercial loan transaction when he headed the lender.

Mr Onasanya’s appearance aligns with the commitment made by his lawyer, Mr Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), when the matter first came up in court on January 20, 2025.

Another counsel for Mr Onasanya, Mr Olasupo Shashore (SAN), argued that although the former banker is determined to defend his innocence and clear his name, he aligns with the argument of Mr Otudeko’s lawyers, led by Mr Wole Olanipekun (SAN), that the court should first hear the preliminary application challenging its jurisdiction before proceeding with the case.

Mr Olanipekun informed the court the case is civil in nature because it concerns a bank-customer relationship and should not be treated as a criminal matter by the court.

The counsel to Anchorage Leisure Limited, Mr Ade Adedeji (SAN), supported Mr Olanipekun that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seemed determined to harass and intimidate his clients, despite the loan being fully repaid since 2017 and all parties having agreed to close the matter.

“We filed a preliminary objection, but the EFCC has yet to reply. The loan, which is the subject of prosecution, has long been repaid since 2017, when the EFCC initially waded into the matter.

“There is clear evidence of repayment available and the continued pursuit of this case by the EFCC amounts to nothing but witch-hunting, intimidation, and harassment of the defendants. It is baffling why a matter that was resolved many years ago is suddenly being resurrected,” he argued.

He said an application dated February 10, 2025, had been made, requesting the court to quash or decline jurisdiction over counts 1 to 10, alleging abuse of judicial process and a lack of prima facie evidence.

However, EFCC prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), countered, stating that the allegations in the 13-count charge stemmed from a detailed investigation.

Following arguments from both parties, Justice Aneke adjourned the case to March 17, 2025, for ruling on the matter of jurisdiction.

Mr Fusika urged the court to allow his client to return home and appear in court on the next adjourned date, stating that Mr Onasanya had complied with the earlier assurance by presenting himself before the court as a mark of respect for the judicial process.

Justice Aneke granted the request, permitting Mr Onasanya to go home and return for the next hearing on the adjourned date.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Banking

VeendHQ Recoups N69m Overdue Loans Via Vida AI

Published

on

VeendHQ Vida AI

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The artificial intelligence (AI)-powered credit platform designed by VeendHQ, Vida AI, has been used to recoup about N69 million from a N172.5 million portfolio of loans that were more than 90 days overdue.

This feat was achieved through the platform in a pilot that highlights the growing role of technology in loan recovery and portfolio management.

VeendHQ disclosed that the pilot delivered a 40 per cent recovery rate on the overdue loan portfolio, boasting that this significantly outperformed traditional recovery benchmarks, where a 5 per cent recovery rate on a similar loan book would amount to about N8.6 million.

This achievement comes at a time when lenders are under increasing pressure to improve recovery outcomes while managing the cost, reputational risk, and operational burden associated with overdue loans.

For many credit providers, the challenge is no longer only how quickly loans can be approved, but how effectively repayment can be monitored and delinquent loans can be recovered after disbursement.

VeendHQ said the pilot demonstrates how Vida AI can support lenders beyond credit assessment, extending into repayment monitoring, collections, and recovery.

“Credit access is only one side of lending. The bigger challenge for many lenders is what happens after disbursement.

“Vida AI helps lenders make smarter decisions across the credit lifecycle, from approval to repayment and recovery,” the chief executive of VeendHQ, Mr Olufemi Olanipekun, stated.

VeendHQ said Vida AI’s recovery workflow enables lenders to upload overdue loan records, verify borrower information, assess repayment capacity, and trigger automated recovery actions. This gives lenders better visibility after disbursement and allows recovery teams to prioritise overdue portfolios more effectively.

“If lenders cannot recover efficiently, they become more conservative with lending. That affects consumers, small businesses, and the wider credit market. Better recovery infrastructure gives lenders more confidence to lend, manage risk, and keep credit flowing,” Mr Olanipekun added.

VeendHQ, a Nigerian fintech company building digital credit infrastructure, developed Vida AI as an AI -powered platform for lenders, merchants, and financial institutions. The platform supports credit assessment, identity verification, repayment collections, and loan management workflows.

With the recovery pilot, the company is positioning Vida AI beyond loan origination, as a tool for lenders seeking to improve repayment performance and manage overdue portfolios more efficiently.

Continue Reading

Banking

273 Wema Bank Customers Win N17.96m in 5 for 5 Rewards Promo

Published

on

wema bank SPV Bond

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The sum of N17.97 million has been won by at least 273 customers of Wema Bank Plc through its 5 for 5 Rewards campaign launched on May 2, 2026.

At the activation of the promo at Ikeja City Mall, Lagos, 81 customers were given N81,000 each, resulting in N6.56 million in rewards on launch day. Since then, the campaign has continued to reward customers through daily and monthly draws, with an additional 192 winners emerging within the first month.

Across the Youth segment, 37 students have received rewards worth N4.4 million, including 20 students who got N50,000 PocketMoni rewards and 17 university students who received N200,000 each in Tuition Support.

The Women segment also recorded strong participation, with 12 customers receiving N150,000 each through the #SelfCare category, while the Mass Market segment recorded the highest number of winners.

Within the first month, 120 customers received daily cash rewards, and 23 customers won N200,000 each in the monthly draw, bringing total rewards in the category to N5.2 million.

These have demonstrated the strong early impact of its refreshed customer rewards platform and reinforced its commitment to rewarding everyday banking.

“At Wema Bank, we believe loyalty should be rewarded in ways that are meaningful, transparent and accessible.

“The response to Season 5 of the 5 for 5 Rewards campaign has been encouraging, and seeing hundreds of customers benefit within just one month reinforces our belief that everyday banking should create everyday opportunities,” the chief executive of Wema Bank, Mr Moruf Oseni, stated.

“Beyond rewarding transactions, we are encouraging positive financial habits while delivering real value to our customers.

“This is only the beginning. With more reward categories, more winners and more opportunities still ahead, we remain committed to creating meaningful impact for our customers and ensuring more Nigerians experience the value of banking with Wema,” he added.

Customers can participate by opening or reactivating a Wema Bank account, funding it with a minimum of N5,000, maintaining an average monthly balance of N5,000, and completing at least five transactions every month using the ALAT app, Wema or ALAT cards, or *945#.

With over N170 million earmarked for rewards between May and December 2026, thousands more customers are expected to benefit as the campaign continues, reaffirming Wema Bank’s commitment to rewarding loyalty, promoting positive financial behaviour and delivering value beyond banking.

Continue Reading

Banking

AG Mortgage Bank N3.97bn Commercial Paper Closes June 18

Published

on

AG Mortgage Bank

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The N3.97 billion commercial paper issuance of AG Mortgage Bank Plc will close on Thursday, June 18, 2026.

The sale of the debt instrument by the real estate lender commenced on Wednesday, June 10, 2026.

It is under the N5 billion commercial paper issuance programme of the lending firm aimed to support its short-term working capital and funding requirements.

The company is selling the papers in two series, with Series 2 offered at a discounted rate of 19.2895 per cent for 270 days, and Series 3 at a discounted rate of 19.3651 per cent for 364 days.

The minimum subscription is N5 million, and subsequent additions of N1 million.

AG Mortgage Bank is a leading primary mortgage bank in Nigeria with over two decades of experience in providing affordable mortgage financing and housing finance solutions.

The bank has grown its asset base to over N33 billion and remains a key participant in major housing intervention programmes, including the National Housing Fund Scheme and other government-backed mortgage initiatives.

Supported by a diversified product offering, strong institutional credibility, and an experienced management team, AG Mortgage Bank continues to deliver solid financial performance.

For FY 2025, interest income increased by 28.1 per cent to N3.65 billion, while profit after tax rose by 130.0 per cent to N1.05 billion, reflecting strong earnings growth, operational efficiency, and prudent risk management.

Continue Reading

Trending