Hayatu Hadejia and Seltrix Limited have responded to the lawsuit filed against them by Abubakar Funtua, son of the late business mogul Isa Funtua, over the ownership of 9Mobile, telecom firm.

As per report by Premium Times, Funtua filed the suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja over the ownership and control of Emerging Markets Telecommunications Limited, which operates under the brand name 9Mobile.

Among other defendants, he sued Theophilus Danjuma, former Chief of Army Staff, along with his company, LH Telecommunication Limited.

Others joined in the suit are Seltrix Limited (named as the 1st defendant), the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr Hadejia, Teleology Nigeria Limited, and Mohammed Edewor, a director at Teleology Nigeria Limited.

The plaintiff asked the court to declare he is the beneficial owner of the 43 million ordinary shares held in trust for him by the 1st defendant, Seltrix Limited, in the capital of the 3rd defendant, Teleology Nigeria Limited.

Another prayer sought by the plaintiff is a declaration that the acquisition of the 43million ordinary shares purportedly transferred or surrendered to the 3rd defendant (Teleology Nigeria Limited) in breach of the 1st defendant (Seltrix Limited)’s duty as trustee of the plaintiff and in contravention of Clause 48 of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the 1st defendant (Seltrix Limited) is null, void and of no effect.

“That the purported registration of the transfer by way of surrender/gift of 43,000,000 ordinary shares held by 1st defendant (Seltrix Limited) in the capital of the 3rd defendant (Teleology Nigeria Limited) is unlawful, null and void,” the plaintiff stated.

But in a counter-affidavit sworn to and filed on behalf of Seltrix Limited, Hadejia described the plaintiff’s application as a reckless abuse of the court process.

He urged the court to dismiss the application and award substantial costs against the plaintiff.

Challenging Funtua, he demanded concrete evidence of any trusteeship arrangement involving him or Seltrix Limited concerning the alleged N43 million ordinary shares in the capital of the third defendant, Teleology Nigeria Limited, or any matter related to the suit.

Hadejia stated that the plaintiff’s motion, dated 27 January but filed on 28 January, was a fabrication designed to mislead the court.

Hadejia also denied holding in trust the controversial N43 million ordinary shares of Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services (EMTS)—the holder and operator of the 9Mobile telecommunications licence—on behalf of Mr Funtua.

Similarly, Teleology Nigeria Limited, Mr Edewor, Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Limited, LH Telecommunication Limited), and Mr Danjuma filed a joint notice of preliminary objection calling on the court to throw out the suit.

They sought an order dismissing the suit for lack of jurisdiction and another order declaring that the plaintiff’s action constituted an abuse of court process.

Credit: Premium Times

Zoho Corporation, a global technology company, today announced the launch of Projects Plus, a flexible, collaborative new platform providing data and intelligence-driven project management for mid-sized and large organisations.

Through native integration of four key Zoho applications—Projects, WorkDrive, Analytics, and Sprints—Projects Plus enables asynchronous collaboration, seamless file management, real-time business intelligence, and Agile or Waterfall workflows.

Zoho Projects has seen rapid growth, doubling its revenue in 2024, with 55% of new users migrating from Microsoft Projects and JIRA.

Projects Plus builds on this success by focussing on better data democratisation, AI-powered insights, hybrid project management, and collaborative work management.

As 18% of enterprise customers deployed both Zoho Projects and Zoho Analytics, Projects Plus directly addresses these needs by consolidating the two, and more, into a singular, efficient solution.

“The surge in digitalisation across the nation and the hybrid work culture have necessitated project management tools to be well ingrained in the overall software architecture of an organisation. With Projects Plus, which can be easily customised and integrated with other apps, we have brought together key tools like analytics, file management and collaboration, and the option to use blended project management methodologies, creating a value-packed offering not yet available in the market.

“Furthermore, Projects Plus synthesises the latest AI-driven tools, data-first analytics, and privacy-focused protections into software that anticipates the evolving needs of international enterprise organisations, expanding Zoho’s global reach,” said Kehinde Ogundare, Country Head, Zoho Nigeria.

Business Intelligence Leading to Project Democratisation

The shift toward Data-Driven Project Management (DDPM) is transforming how organisations make decisions. Instead of relying on intuition, businesses can now leverage real-time data and analytics to drive efficiency. Projects Plus captures insights across multiple dimensions—including time tracking, budgeting, task completion, and deliverability metrics—helping teams make smarter, data-backed decisions.

Predictive analysis plays a crucial role in this approach, using historical data to forecast risks, estimate project timelines, and anticipate resource needs. By analysing past trends, businesses can proactively plan and mitigate risks before they impact project success. Progress tracking has also evolved beyond traditional static tools like Gantt charts. With real-time dashboards, project managers now have dynamic, up-to-date insights that provide a comprehensive view of project status, allowing them to identify and address bottlenecks as they arise.

Additionally, quality control analytics ensure that every stage of a project meets predefined standards. By continuously monitoring data related to project deliverables, businesses can uphold high-quality outcomes, reducing errors and inefficiencies throughout the project lifecycle. With these enhanced analytical capabilities, Projects Plus enables organisations to shift from reactive project management to a more strategic, data-driven approach that improves execution and results.

Projects Plus integrates Zia, Zoho’s AI engine, to automate complex data analysis and provide predictive insights, helping project managers focus on strategic leadership. By analysing project performance data, businesses can identify inefficiencies and optimise processes, streamlining workflows to improve productivity. AI-powered insights also enable smarter resource allocation by identifying where resources are being underutilised or overburdened. This ensures that the right people are assigned to the right tasks, maximising efficiency across teams.

Forecasting and planning are also significantly enhanced through AI-driven analysis. With more accurate predictions about project timelines, costs, and potential risks, organisations can make proactive adjustments to avoid delays and cost overruns. This results in better project outcomes, improved resource management, and higher overall efficiency.

Pricing and Availability

Projects Plus is available immediately and priced at NGN7200 per user each month, when billed annually—27% lower than combining Projects, Sprints, Workdrive and Analytics when purchased separately. For regional pricing, go to https://www.zoho.com/projectsplus/

As the world marks International Women’s Day (IWD), Moniepoint Inc, leading digital financial services provider and Africa’s fastest growing financial institution, has announced the expansion of its “Women in Tech” program. This year, the program will increase its offerings from 10 to 15 internship roles, furthering its commitment to bridging the gender gap in the technology sector.

This announcement aligns with the 2025 IWD theme, “Accelerate Action,” which calls for urgent action to close the gender gap and promote equality across industries. The program is a vital part of Moniepoint’s ongoing efforts to elevate women in the technology space, particularly in Nigeria, where women remain underrepresented despite the country’s significant gender parity in population. Focusing on the need to Accelerate Action emphasizes the importance of taking swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality. It calls for increased momentum and urgency in addressing the systemic barriers and biases that women face, both in personal and professional spheres.

The technology sector is essential to driving growth and innovation, but the role of women within it remains limited. Recent statistics from the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reveal that while women make up nearly half of Nigeria’s population, they account for just 25% of the tech workforce, despite representing 22% of STEM graduates annually. These disparities highlight the need for more focused efforts to increase female representation and foster gender inclusion in the tech industry. The Women in Tech initiative aims to address these gaps by providing young women with hands-on experience, mentorship, and the opportunity to work on live projects that will shape the future of digital finance in Africa.

For this year’s edition, Moniepoint’s internship program will expand to include 15 women, increasing the number of roles available to participants. The initiative will provide successful applicants with the chance to join diverse teams, including Cloud Engineering, Backend Engineering, Technical Product Management, Data Engineering, Systems Administration, Technical Support, and User Experience.

Known as the “Dream 15,” these women will engage in a six-month internship, during which they will receive direct mentorship, a salary, work tools, branded merchandise, and the opportunity to be considered for full-time employment based on performance. This expanded program is a testament to Moniepoint’s dedication to offering young women the tools they need to succeed in technology, a field where they are still underrepresented but essential to its evolution.

Chinaza Nduka-Dike, Vice President of People Operations at Moniepoint Inc, expressed her enthusiasm about the program’s expansion, noting, “With the Women in Tech initiative, we are not just inspiring inclusion – we are actively creating sustainable pathways for women to thrive in the tech industry. This is a space where diversity fuels innovation, and through programs like this, we are empowering women to take on leadership roles, develop crucial skills, and shape the future of technology. The progress we’ve seen in past editions, where alumni have gone on to make significant contributions to the company and the wider tech ecosystem, fills us with pride, and we look forward to nurturing even more female talent in the years ahead. This initiative has been instrumental in our mission to power the dreams of millions while transforming the careers of talented women for the past four years. ”

Daniela Uzosike, a systems administrator and member of the third cohort of Moniepoint’s Women in Tech program, shared her excitement about the expanded opportunities for this year’s intake. “The opportunity to work with Moniepoint not only transformed my career but also allowed me to be part of a program that truly values the potential of women in technology. I’m thrilled to see the increase in roles this year, and I’m excited to see more women take part in this initiative, gain the experience they need, and shape the future of tech in Africa,” she said.

The Women in Tech initiative has consistently proven to be a transformative force, not just for individual participants, but for the broader tech community. By creating a space for women to access resources, gain mentorship, and build skills, Moniepoint is helping to close the gender gap in technology, ensuring that women are central to the growth and future of the sector.

The internship is open to women across Africa who are interested in starting a career in technology. Interested applicants can find out more about available roles and apply for the programme via the Women in Tech website, https://womenintech.moniepoint.com