General
Tony Elumelu’s Love for Women
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
For those who very close to serial entrepreneur and advocate of Africapitalism, Mr Tony Elumelu, one thing he loves and hold very dear to his heart is his love for women.
Most of them are not surprised at this because the handsome business mogul holds his mother, wife and five charming and intelligent daughters in high esteem.
This, he has extended to workplace, giving women who work with him a chance to fly without limitations. He is not in the school of thoughts of those who say women belong to the kitchen or the ‘other room.’
To him, whatever good and brilliant thing a man can do, a woman do better and recently, he handed over the leadership of Transcorp Plc, where he is the Chairman, to a woman, Owen Omogiafo, because of his strong believe in her ability to take the company to greater heights.
Omogiafo was appointed as President/GCEO of Transcorp with effect from March 25, 2020, succeeding Mr Valentine Ozigbo, who is retiring to pursue a career in public service, having served Transcorp for close to a decade.
Omogiafo is currently the MD/CEO of Transcorp Hotels Plc and has over two decades of corporate experience in organisational development, human capital management, banking, change management and hospitality. She holds a B.Sc. in Sociology & Anthropology from the University of Benin, an M.Sc. in Human Resource Management from the London School of Economics and Political Science and is an alumnus of the Lagos Business School and IESE Business School, Spain.
She is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, UK and a Certified Change Manager with the Prosci Institute, USA. She has received multiple awards and been named as one of Africa’s top 100 Female CEOs.
Furthermore, in his characteristic self, Mr Elumelu, impressed with the exploits of Omogiafo at Transcorp Hotels, worked towards the appointment of another woman to take charge of the hospitality firm, leading to the appointment of Dupe Olusola as the new MD/CEO of Transcorp Hotels Plc.
Olusola is currently the Group Head, Marketing, at United Bank for Africa Plc and has over 21 years of corporate experience including being the former MD/CEO of Teragro Juice Concentrate Plant, while Helen Iwuchukwu, currently the Group Company Secretary of Transcorp Plc, has been appointed as an Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer of the company.
Another woman that was recently appointed was Okaima Ohizua, who will be an Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer of Transcorp Power Ltd. She is currently Executive Director, Customer Services at Transcorp Hotels Plc and has over 25 years working experience and has been key to the continued service transformation at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, since joining the Board and Management in 2013.
A graduate of law from the University of Benin and the Nigerian Law School, Okaima also holds an Advanced Management Program certificate from the Pan-African University – Lagos Business School.
According to The Capital, these gender-sensitive appointments are not peculiar to just Transcorp.
At UBA and other companies that Mr Elumelu has controlling or considerable stakes, the story is the same. Women like Foluke K. Abdul-Razaq, Owanari Duke, Erelu Angela Adebayo and Angela Aneke serve as non-executive directors at UBA, while Noellie Tiendrebeogo, Sarata Kone, Chioma Mang, Nkechi Arizor and Adesola Yomi-Ajayi serve as chief executive officer, UBA in Burkina Faso, Cote D’Ivoire, Gabon, Liberia and New York respectively. Amie Ndiaye Sow and Abiola Bawuah are the Regional CEO 1 and 2, West Africa.
Back home, Bola Atta, Dupe Olusola and Patricia Aderibigbe are Group Heads, Corporate Communication, Marketing and Human Resources respectively. Emem Usoro is the Directorate Head Abuja & North Central Bank.
At Africa Prudential, Mrs Eniola Fadayomi, MFR, serves as Chairman while Uzoamaka Oshogwe, is the Managing Director/CEO, Afriland Properties. Likewise, at Avon Healthcare Limited, Dr Awele Vivien Elumelu, his beautiful wife, is the chairperson while Adesimbo Ukiri is the Chief Executive Officer.
At the Tony Elumelu Foundation, the leading African philanthropy committed to empowering African entrepreneurs, Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu serves as CEO. Appointed in 2018, Ugochukwu is the first African to become the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation.
According to Mr Elumelu, “These appointments demonstrate our commitment to nurturing talent and rewarding success. We have a deep pool of highly qualified and dedicated employees, who can be challenged with more responsibility in attaining our corporate vision.”
“We remain committed to diversity and inclusion; are delighted by the depth and quality of experience that this leadership team brings to our group. These appointments further indicate our internal succession capacity and strong corporate governance practices,” he further said.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has rejected the judgment of the Federal Capital Territory High Court (FCT) Abuja, in the N5.5 billion defamation lawsuit filed against the organisation by two officials of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Justice Yusuf Halilu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on Tuesday ordered SERAP to pay N100 million in damages to the DSS officials for alleged defamation.
The court also directed the organisation to issue public apologies, pay N1 million in litigation costs, and a 10 per cent annual post-judgment interest on the damages until fully paid.
Reacting in a statement signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP said: “This judgment is totally unacceptable to us. It is a travesty and a serious blow to civic space in Nigeria. It reflects a troubling pattern under the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of using defamation laws to punish legitimate criticism and suppress accountability.”
SERAP added, “We have instructed our lawyers, Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, to immediately appeal this judgment.”
The statement read in part: “This case represents a textbook example of judicial harassment and a strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP), designed to intimidate civil society and deter legitimate human rights advocacy.
“The Tinubu government is misusing both the DSS and the judicial system to target activists, journalists, and ordinary Nigerians who are peacefully exercising their fundamental human rights.
“Rather than deploying state institutions to intimidate critics, the government should be protecting those working to expose corruption, including allegations involving the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
“We strongly disagree with the judgment, which fails to reflect the evidence presented before the court and disregards Nigeria’s constitutional guarantees and international human rights obligations.
“This judgment sends a dangerous message and creates a chilling effect on freedom of expression, civic participation, and anti-corruption work.
“Strategic lawsuits against public participation undermine the rule of law by diverting judicial processes from their proper purpose—justice—to repression.
“Courts have a duty to prevent the misuse of legal proceedings and to safeguard the rights to freedom of expression and association.
“The judgment raises serious concerns regarding compliance with international human rights law. Judicial authorities must ensure that defamation laws are not weaponised to silence dissent or suppress legitimate advocacy.
“We are committed to pursuing all available legal avenues, including appeal, to ensure that the rule of law is upheld and that fundamental rights are protected. We stand resolute. We will continue to defend civic space, promote transparency, and advance accountability in Nigeria.
“Our work—particularly in promoting transparency, challenging corruption, and addressing illicit financial flows—is carried out in the public interest and in accordance with the law.”
SERAP further stated: “The Tinubu government has continued to fail to investigate the allegations of corruption our organisation raised against the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
“We call on Nigerian authorities to uphold their constitutional and international human rights obligations, including the duty to protect human rights defenders and ensure that security agencies operate lawfully, transparently, and accountably.”
The lawsuit arose after SERAP, on September 9, 2024, alleged that DSS officials unlawfully entered its Abuja office following the organisation’s call on President Tinubu to investigate corruption allegations in the NNPC Limited and reverse fuel price increases.
By Adedapo Adesanya
President Bola Tinubu has written to the Senate seeking confirmation of the nomination of Mr Joseph Tegbe as the Minister of Power in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The request, read by the President of the Senate, Mr Godswill Akpabio, during plenary on Tuesday, was conveyed in a letter addressed to the Senate.
President Tinubu, citing Section 147(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which empowers the President to nominate ministers subject to Senate confirmation, urged lawmakers to give the request prompt consideration.
Last week, Mr Tinubu nominated Mr Tegbe as the Minister of Power, following the resignation of Mr Adebayo Adelabu to pursue a governorship ambition in Oyo State under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 polls.
In the same vein, President Tinubu sought confirmation of two other nominees: Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye as Minister of State, as well as Mr Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as the chief executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
“The nomination has been transmitted to the Senate for screening and confirmation in accordance with the Constitution,” a statement by presidential spokesperson Mr Bayo Onanuga read in part.
Like his predecessor, Mr Tegbe is from Oyo State. He is a fiscal and economic reform expert with over 35 years of experience spanning the public and private sectors.
A former Senior Partner and Head of Advisory Services at KPMG Africa, he led wide-ranging initiatives in fiscal policy reform, institutional transformation, and governance in that firm.
Mr Tegbe has also advised key government institutions and private sector organisations on strategic reforms, regulatory frameworks, and investment structuring.
Until his nomination, he served as the Director General and Global Liaison for the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), and was responsible for strengthening bilateral development cooperation between Nigeria and the People’s Republic of China.
Key priority for Mr Tegbe, if confirmed, will be to institute and execute policies that can help fix one of Nigeria’s most crucial sectors.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Justice Halilu Yusuf of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, has awarded N100 million in damages against the Incorporated Trustees of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
In his judgment, Justice Yusuf held that two operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) were right to institute a defamation suit against SERAP.
In the suit, filed in the names of the two DSS officials, Ms Sarah John and Mr Gabriel Ogundele, the claimants accused SERAP of making a false allegation that they invaded its office in Abuja on September 9, 2024.
The court also ordered the organisation to tender a public apology to the two operatives, to be published in two national newspapers and broadcast on two television stations.
In addition, the court awarded N1 million against SERAP as the cost of litigation.
The judgment further stipulated a 10 per cent interest on the damages until the sum is fully paid.
The case follows a dispute that began in September 2024 when SERAP alleged that DSS officers “unlawfully invaded” its Abuja office.
In a post on its X account, the group said, “Officers from Nigeria’s State Security Service are presently unlawfully occupying SERAP’s office in Abuja, asking to see our directors.”
It added, “President Bola Tinubu must immediately direct the SSS to end the harassment, intimidation, and attack on the rights of Nigerians.”
The DSS, however, denied the claims.
It said the visit by its officers was routine and meant to engage the organisation’s new leadership.
The officers later sued, insisting that “no invasion occurred” and that the claims damaged their reputation and led to disciplinary action.
However, SERAP maintained its position.
In a later statement, it said, “We stand by our statements of defence and statements on oath,” insisting that DSS officers “unlawfully invaded our Abuja office.”
During court proceedings, witnesses reportedly said no physical assault took place.
SERAP’s Deputy Director, Mr Kolawole Oluwadare, told the court the claims were based on information from a staff member.
Counsel to the DSS officers, Mr Oluwagbemileke Kehinde, urged the court to grant all reliefs, arguing that the claimants had “substantially proved their case.”
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