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Economy

EFCC Drops N3bn Subsidy Fraud Case Against Eterna, Others

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eterna plc

By Dipo Olowookere

The N3.1 billion subsidy fraud case instituted against Eterna Plc; Managing Director of the firm, Mr Mahmud Tukur; Abdullahi Alao; Ochonoghor Alex; and Axenergy by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has been dropped.

Counsel to the EFCC informed Justice H. O Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja on Friday, February 14, 2020, that having reviewed the facts of the case, it will be extremely impossible to further lead evidence in the matter against Eterna and Mr Tukur.

In December 2015, the EFCC had arraigned the defendants before Justice Lawal Akapo for allegedly diverting the money obtained from the federal government for the purpose of importing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol. They were also accused of forging 30 documents to defraud government in fuel subsidy.

In November 2017, during hearing before Justice Oshodi, Eterna and others claimed they imported and discharged PMS sometime in September, 2011 at a tank farm in Lagos, First Deep Water Discovery Limited, for which they were paid the sum of N626 million subsidy.

They also said they received the sum of N595 million from the government after claiming to have imported and discharged PMS at the same tank farm in Lagos sometime in October, 2011.

However, the witness, in his testimony, told the court how the accused, without any fuel importation, allegedly forged over 30 documents and submitted same to the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) to obtain the subsidy for importation of PMS in 2011.

Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, the witness said: “The owner of the vessel, MT Deepwater EX MT Valle Di Castiglia, and the claimed tank farm of discharge, First Deep Water Discovery Limited, denied the usage of their vessel for the transaction and also confirmed forgery of documents submitted by Eterna to PPPRA.

“The EFCC had access to Lloyds List Intelligence and search conducted for the movement of MT Valle Di Castiglia revealed that the vessel was at the Republic of Turkey all through the period that Eternal claimed to have taken PMS from it with MT Deepwater. So, how can a vessel that was in Turkey give products to another vessel in offshore Cotonou?”

Giving further evidence on both MT Fulmar Ex MT Emirates Star and MT Panther EX MT Emirates Star, the witness said the modus operandi employed by the defendants to defraud the government was alteration of bills of loading dates resulting in higher costs of importation.

He said: “The claimed MT Emirates has a bill of lading dated 28 April, 2011 which gave Eterna a loading cost of about N151.

“However, investigation revealed that the actual mother vessel for the transaction is MT GonHild Kirk, which had a bill of loading with the date of April 3, 2011, with landing cost of about N141.

“The government, acting on forged importation documents indicating MT Emirates Star, paid Eternal about N3.3 billion instead of N2.9 billion. Thus, Eterna was overpaid about N300,000,000.”

He added that search on LLyods Intelligence on Emirates Star indicated that the vessel sailed out of Doven Strait, United Kingdom and arrived New York, USA within the period that the Eterna documents claimed that the vessel was discharging its products into MT Fuliman and MT Panthern.

But in a notice to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) this week, Eterna confirmed that this case has been struck out by the court after the prosecuting team stopped pushing the matter.

“Eterna Plc is pleased to announce that the criminal case instituted in 2012 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Eterna Plc, Mahmud Tukur and several other persons has been struck out,” the disclosure said.

Dipo Olowookere is a journalist based in Nigeria that has passion for reporting business news stories. At his leisure time, he watches football and supports 3SC of Ibadan. Mr Olowookere can be reached via [email protected]

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Economy

Nigeria Offers Three-Year Retail Bonds for 15.396%

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FGN Retail Bonds

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

Low-income earners and other retail investors willing to lock in their funds in government securities have been given another opportunity to purchase the FGN savings bonds.

The Debt Management Office (DMO), which sells the debt instrument on behalf of the Nigerian government, is calling for subscription for the January exercise.

It is the first for 2026 and according to the agency’s programme, the retail bonds would be sold in the first week of each of the months of this year.

The organisation is offering the bonds in two tenors of two years and three years, with the former being sold at a coupon of 14.396 per cent per annum and the latter at 14.396 per cent annum.

Subscription for the exercise opened on Monday, January 12, 2026, and will close on Friday, January 16, 2026, a circular from the DMO confirmed.

Business Post reports that interest on the bonds would be paid to bondholders every quarter till maturity.

Investors can purchase the retail bonds at a unit price of N1,000 subject to a minimum subscription of N5,000 and in multiples of N1,000 thereafter, subject to a maximum of N50 million.

The bonds are backed by the full faith and credit of the Federal Government of Nigeria and charged upon the general assets of Nigeria

They qualify as securities in which trustees can invest under the Trustee Investment Act. They also qualify as government securities within the meaning of Company Income Tax Act (CITA) and Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) for exemption for pension funds, amongst other investors.

The bonds further qualify as a liquid asset for liquidity ratio calculation for banks.

After they are sold to investors, they would be listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited to allow for trades for early exit if the holder intends to liquidate before maturity.

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Economy

The Hidden Economic Power of Fast Digital Payouts in South Africa

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Money sitting in limbo doesn’t do anyone any good. That’s the simple truth driving South Africa’s big change toward faster digital payment systems. When funds take days to clear, people can’t spend them, businesses can’t reinvest them, and the whole economy slows down while everyone waits.

Because of this, payment speed has become one of the most important factors in how South Africans choose which platforms to trust with their money.

The reality is, South Africa sits at an interesting crossroads. Better financial infrastructure than most African countries, yet millions of people still don’t have decent access to traditional banking. That creates tension and opportunity simultaneously.

And this is why digital payments are changing faster than predictions suggested. When someone can receive money in minutes instead of days, everything changes. They spend sooner. They save smarter. And they actually trust the platforms handling their cash.

Why Payment Speed Matters So Much

Here’s the thing about payout speed. It signals reliability in ways that marketing never can. When a platform pays you fast, you believe it actually has money and knows what it’s doing. Slow payouts make people nervous. They start wondering if something went wrong or if the company is struggling financially.

This pattern shows up everywhere you look. Retail e-commerce sites have figured out that processing refunds quickly reduces complaints and keeps customers coming back. Mobile money services compete hard on transaction speed. The online gaming sector has caught on, and especially online casinos that rely heavily on trust.

The fastest payout casinos in South Africa have built strong user bases specifically because they process withdrawals fast, rather than making people wait around for days. When real money is on the line, nobody wants to wait.

Mobile Payments Changed Everything

Mobile payments in South Africa have absolutely exploded over the last few years. Statista reckons the digital payments market will keep growing substantially through 2028. Smartphones have basically become the bank for millions of South Africans who used to deal entirely in cash or stash money with informal savings groups.

This shift is way bigger than most people realise. Mobile platforms process transactions almost instantly. Traditional banks often made people wait for things to clear. Mobile money cuts through most of that.

Someone selling vegetables at a street market can get paid, confirm the money arrived, and use those funds for their next purchase within minutes. That kind of speed keeps money circulating and stimulates activity at the ground level.

Fintech Companies Are Pushing Hard

South African fintech startups have figured out that speed wins customers. Digital lending platforms now disburse loans within hours of approval. Gig economy payment systems have moved toward instant payouts for drivers and delivery workers who genuinely cannot afford to wait until the end of the month.

Every sector that touches consumer finance has felt the pressure to get faster.

This competition works out well for regular users. When platforms have to compete on speed, they invest in better technology. They streamline their verification processes. They partner with payment processors that can actually move money quickly.

The result is an environment where slow payouts increasingly signal that something is outdated or unreliable.

Government Benefits and Remittances

The South African government has been testing faster ways to get social grants and benefits to people. The fact is, digital payment infrastructure has made public fund distribution way more efficient across several African countries.

When grants hit accounts instantly instead of making people physically collect them, recipients save time, and honestly, they’re safer too.

Cross-border remittances are another area where speed makes a huge difference. South Africa has loads of migrant workers who send money home to their families regularly. Traditional remittance channels used to take days and hit you with hefty fees.

Digital alternatives now offer same-day transfers at much lower costs. That efficiency means more money actually reaches the families who need it instead of getting eaten up by fees and delays.

The Psychology Behind Quick Payments

There’s something deeper going on with fast payouts beyond just convenience. Speed builds trust in ways people don’t always consciously recognise. When you get paid quickly, you feel confident that the platform is legitimate and financially stable.

Delays create doubt. You start questioning whether something went wrong or whether the company might be in trouble.

This trust compounds over time. Users who experience fast, reliable payouts become loyal customers. They recommend platforms to their friends. They deposit larger amounts because they know withdrawing won’t be a nightmare.

Platforms that master payout speed build user bases that competitors find very hard to steal.

What Happens Next

The direction seems pretty clear. Payment speed across all sectors of South Africa’s digital economy will keep getting faster. Infrastructure investments from fintech companies and government institutions should reduce friction even more.

As more South Africans get smartphones and access to mobile banking, demand for instant transactions will only grow.

The platforms that succeed will be the ones treating payout speed as essential rather than optional. Whether they’re processing e-commerce refunds, gig worker payments, or gaming withdrawals, the operators that move money fastest will capture the market. South Africa is proving that speed is how users measure whether a platform deserves their trust.

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Economy

Strategic Crypto Investing Today: Investor SJMine With AI-Powered Market Intelligence

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SJMine

The crypto market is no longer being dictated by speculation and trends of trading in the short run. With the evolution of digital assets, investors demand more structured, data-driven and technology-supported strategies that are more stable, transparent, and have long-term potential. With all these changes, platforms with built-in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and high-end hashing infrastructure are altering the way crypto participation operates.

SJMine is at the heart of this change. Created to empower the modern investors, SJMine offers an up-to-date and polished crypto-investing experience of automation, smart analytics, and adaptable investment design to enable users to strategically engage in the digital economy.

A New Standard for Strategic Crypto Participation

The investors of today require a higher level of access to digital assets than just a basic one. They desire systems that are capable of responding to market signals, adapting the conditions of the network, and functioning on a large scale. To satisfy this need, SJMine implements AI-based market intelligence within its operations.

The platform dynamically manages the allocation of hashing and computing performance by the use of continuous data analysis. This smart automation provides freedom to the users to control hardware, technical measurements, or manually react to market changes. Rather, the investors have access to a professionally managed environment whereby technology labors tirelessly behind the scenes to bring about consistency and efficiency.

How SJMine Redefines Investor Experience

SJMine is a building that is planned to be very accessible and sophisticated. The platform eliminates any technical obstacles in tradition and supports infrastructure at an enterprise level. The cloud computing system allows it to perform smoothly and its AI-based systems would make sure that the resources are used optimally at any given time.

Key strengths of the SJMine ecosystem include:

  • AI-Driven Optimization: Intelligent algorithms analyze performance data and adjust operations dynamically.
  • High-Performance Hashing Systems: Advanced infrastructure supports efficient blockchain participation.
  • User-Friendly Interface: A clean, intuitive dashboard provides real-time insights into earnings and contract status.
  • Sustainability Focus: Optimized energy usage and modern data centers support responsible long-term operations.
  • Transparent Returns: Clearly defined contract terms with visible daily earnings.

This mixture is what renders SJMine appropriate to simple new investors as well as sophisticated investors who want efficiency and scalability.

Flexible Contracts Built for Diverse Investment Goals

SJMine has diverse flexible contracts that can be used to meet various budgets and investment schedule. Long-term strategic decisions or short-term plans are well developed with simple and predictable results.

Below is an overview of the flexible contract plans available on SJMine:

Contract Amount Contract Duration Daily Earnings Total Income (Principal + Profit)
$15 1 Day $0.60 $15 + $0.60
$100 2 Days $4.00 $100 + $8.00
$600 6 Days $7.68 $600 + $46.08
$1,200 10 Days $16.32 $1,200 + $163.20
$3,200 22 Days $45.44 $3,200 + $999.68
$9,000 30 Days $147.60 $9,000 + $4,428.00

For the most accurate and up-to-date contract information, investors are encouraged to refer directly to the official SJMine website: http://sjmine.com.

Getting Started: Simple Registration with a Welcome Bonus

SJMine puts a lot of emphasis on ease of access, and the process of onboarding is quick and simple. It can take a few minutes before new users start getting acquainted with the platform.

How to register on SJMine:

  1. Visit the official website at http://sjmine.com
  2. Click on Register and create your account by entering basic details
  3. Complete the verification process and log in to your dashboard
  4. Register now and receive a $15 welcome bonus, allowing you to experience the platform with minimal initial risk
  5. Select a contract that matches your investment strategy and activate it

AI-Powered Market Intelligence: The Core Advantage

SJMine is a unique company with its AI-based market intelligence that is constantly analyzing the performance of the blockchain and the conditions of the network. This dynamic flexibility leads to better utilization of resources, minimization of inefficiencies, and a more intelligent, and sturdier approach to investing in the crypto market of the current era that is rapidly changing.

Conclusion

SJMine is a new view of strategic crypto investment in a world where intelligent automation is the new competitive advantage. The platform provides a modern and visionary solution to the current investors by integrating AI-related analytics, cloud computing infrastructure, flexible contract choice, and user-friendly design.

SJMine is an attractive proposal to invest in with confidence in the new technology-driven approach provided that investors are willing to abandon the old paradigm and shift to a smarter approach to crypto economy investment.

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