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Economy

FBH Holdings N350bn Capital Raising Suffers Setback as Board Cancels AGM

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Nnamdi Okonkwo

By Dipo Olowookere

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of FBN Holdings Plc, the parent company of First Bank of Nigeria, has been postponed till further notice.

The board confirmed the indefinite postponement of the embattled company’s annual shareholders’ gathering in a notice to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited on Monday.

The AGM was earlier scheduled for Thursday, August 22, 2024, but was rescheduled to Tuesday, September 3, 2024, until it was cancelled on Monday.

FBN Holdings, chaired by billionaire businessman, Mr Femi Otedola, has been enmeshed in a leadership tussle for a while, and there are strong indications that this could hamper the capital raising plans of the company for its flagship banking subsidiary, First Bank, which must increase its capital base to N500 billion as a result of the new minimum capital requirement of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The banking sector regulator in March 2024 gave players in the industry two years to raise their capital base and in the category First Bank belongs, it must have at least N500 billion because of its presence outside the shores of the country.

The board had planned to obtain the approval of the shareholders of the company to source N350 billion from the capital market, but this might be delayed until the leadership crisis is sorted.

“Notice is hereby given that the 12th AGM of the members of FBN Holdings, fixed to hold virtually on August 22, 2024, and rescheduled to Tuesday, September 3, 2024, at 10 am to consider and if thought fit, approve the accounts, declare a dividend, authorise the company to undertake a capital raise of up to N350 billion and other ancillary matters is hereby cancelled.

“Further information will be provided in due course, as appropriate,” the statement signed by the acting Company Secretary, Mr Adewale Arogundade, said.

Business Post reports that FBN Holdings, which has a former chief executive of Fidelity Bank, Mr Nnamdi Okonwo, as its chief executive, has been embroiled in controversies surrounding the ownership of its controlling stake and an alleged N40 billion fraud case that led to the dismissal of about 120 members of staff of the organisation.

It was alleged that a manager on the operations team, Mr Tijani Muiz Adeyinka, diverted N40 billion over two years, leading to the involvement of the police, who questioned some employees of the bank.

“Several employees were questioned by the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and detained at the Lion’s Building for at least six hours, one person with direct knowledge of the incident said.

“Those employees needed to post bail before they were released. Restrictions have been placed on all their accounts except their First Bank accounts,” Tech Cabal said in a report.

As for the ownership tussle, a firm known as Barbican Capital Limited, owned by the former Chairman of the lender, Mr Oba Otudeko, claims it has a 15.01 per cent stake in the company, seeking to displace Mr Otedela, who claims to be the single largest shareholder of FBN Holdings.

Barbican Capital has filed a lawsuit against FBN Holdings, challenging the reduction of its shareholding from 13.61 per cent in December 2023 to 8.67 per cent.

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Economy

NGX RegCo Cautions Investors on Recent Price Movements

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NGX RegCo

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The investing public has been advised to exercise due diligence before trading stocks on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited.

This caution was given by the NGX Regulation Limited (NGX RegCo), the independent regulatory arm of the NGX Group Plc.

The advisory became necessary in response to notable price movements observed in the shares of certain listed companies over recent trading sessions.

On Monday, the bourse suspended trading in the shares of newly-listed Zichis Agro-allied Industries Plc. The company’s stocks gained almost 900 per cent within a month of its listing on Customs Street.

In a statement today, NGX RegCo urged investors to avoid speculative trading based on unverified information and to consult licensed intermediaries such as stockbrokers or investment advisers when needed.

It explained that its advisory is part of its standard market surveillance functions, as it serves as a measured reminder for investors to prioritise informed and disciplined decision-making.

The notice emphasised that the Exchange will continue to monitor market activities closely in line with its mandate to ensure a fair, orderly, and transparent market.

“NGX RegCo encourages all investors to base their decisions on publicly available information, including a thorough assessment of company fundamentals, financial performance, and risk profile,” a part of the disclosure said.

It reassured all stakeholders that the NGX remains stable, well-regulated, and resilient, saying the platform continues to foster an environment where investors can participate with confidence, supported by robust oversight and transparent market operations.

“Our primary responsibility is to maintain a level playing field where market participants can trade with confidence, backed by timely and accurate information.

“This advisory is a routine communication, reinforcing that sound fundamentals, not speculation, remain the foundation for sustainable investment outcomes. We are fully committed to preserving the integrity and stability of our market,” the chief executive of NGX RegCo, Mr Olufemi Shobanjo, stated.

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Economy

Stronger Taxpayer Confidence, Others Should Determine Tax Reform Success—Tegbe

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four tax reform bills

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The chairman of the National Tax Policy Implementation Committee (NTPIC), Mr Joseph Tegbe, has tasked the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) to measure the success of the new tax laws by higher voluntary compliance rates, lower administrative costs, fewer disputes, faster resolution cycles, and stronger taxpayer confidence.

Speaking at the 2026 Leadership Retreat of the agency, Mr Tegbe said, “Sustainable revenue performance is built on trust and efficiency, not enforcement intensity,” emphasising that the legitimacy and predictability of the system are more critical than punitive measures.

He underscored that the country’s tax reform journey is at a critical juncture where effective implementation will determine long-term fiscal outcomes.

The NTPIC chief stressed that tax policy must serve as an enabler of governance, and should embody simplicity, equity, predictability, and administrability at scale.

These principles, he explained, foster voluntary compliance, reduce operational friction, and strengthen investor confidence. He warned that ad-hoc adjustments or policy drift could undermine reform momentum, unsettle businesses, and deter investment, which thrives on predictable rules rather than shifting announcements. Structured sequencing, clear transition mechanisms, and continuous feedback between policymakers and administrators are therefore critical to sustaining reform credibility.

Mr Tegbe further argued that revenue reform cannot succeed in isolation. Achieving sustainable gains requires a whole-of-government approach, leveraging robust taxpayer identification systems, integrated financial data, efficient dispute resolution, and harmonised coordination across federal and sub-national levels. This approach, he said, reduces leakages, eliminates multiple taxation, and reinforces confidence in the system.

He noted that the passage of four new tax laws marks only the beginning of a broader reform agenda, describing the initiative as a systemic recalibration of Nigeria’s fiscal architecture, rather than a routine policy update.

He further asserted that the true measure of success will be the credibility of implementation, not the design of the laws themselves.

The NRS, he noted, functions as the nation’s “Revenue System Integrator,” with outcomes reflecting the strength of an interconnected ecosystem that encompasses policy clarity, enforcement consistency, digital infrastructure, dispute resolution efficiency, and intergovernmental coordination.

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Economy

NUPENG Seeks Clarity on New Oil, Gas Executive Order

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NUPENG

By Adedapo Adesanya

The National Union of Natural and Gas Workers (NUPENG) has expressed deep concern over the Executive Order by President Bola Tinubu mandating the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to remit directly to the federation account.

In a statement signed by its president, Mr William Akporeha, over the weekend in Lagos, the union noted that the absence of detailed public engagement had naturally generated tension within the sector and heightened restiveness among workers, who are anxious to know how the new directive may affect their employment, welfare and job security, especially as it affects NNPC and other major operations in the oil and gas sector.

It pointed out that the industry remained the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, contributing significantly to national revenue, foreign exchange earnings, and employment.

The NUPENG president affirmed that any policy shift, particularly one introduced through an Executive Order, has far-reaching consequences for regulatory frameworks, Investment decisions, operational standards, and labour relations within the sector.

According to him, “there is an urgent need for clarity on the scope and objectives of the Executive Order -What precise reforms or adjustments does it introduce? “Its implications for the Petroleum Industry Act -Does the Order amend, interpret, or expand existing provisions under PIA?

“Impact on workers and existing labour agreements-Will it affect job security, conditions of service, Collective Bargaining agreements or ongoing restructuring processes within the industry? “Effects on indigenous participation and local content development -How will it affect Nigerian companies and employment opportunities for citizens?”

He warned that without proper consultation and explanation, misinterpretations of the Executive Order may spread across the industry, potentially destabilising operations and undermining industrial harmony that stakeholders have worked hard to sustain.

“Though our union remains committed to constructive engagement, national development and stability of the oil and gas sector, however, we are duty-bound and constitutionally bound to protect the rights and welfare and job security of our members whose livelihoods depend on a clear, fair and predictable policy framework,” Mr Akporeha further stated.

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