Godman Akinlabi, Leadership coach has launched the Godman Akinlabi Enterprise Development Fund to bridge capital access gap for entrepreneurs.

This initiative followed a recent report by the International Trade Centre (ITC) that the vast majority of Nigerian SMEs remain underfunded, with only 15 percent able to access formal credit.

Akinlabi who unveiled the fund in commemoration of his 50th birthday celebration in Lagos, stated that the fund, initially endowed with N50 million would financially empower faith-based entrepreneurs, drive innovation, and champion sustainable business practices.

He disclosed further that the fund was a realisation of a long-held vision to raise leaders who will build profitable enterprises, transform industries, and inspire tangible change.

“I believe true leadership is not just about personal success but about creating platforms for others to thrive. This Fund is that platform: a vehicle to empower courageous, faith-driven entrepreneurs to break barriers, innovate boldly, and redefine the future of business,” he added.

The fund will offer seed capital ranging from N250,000 to N2,000,000 for small and early-stage businesses, as well as growth capital of up to N5,000,000 for enterprises with proven potential. Beneficiaries will also receive mentorship and strategic guidance to ensure they are well-equipped to navigate business growth.

“By equipping individuals with resources, mentorship, and opportunities, we are not only creating economic prosperity but also fostering a legacy of leadership and positive impact that will reverberate across generations,” he reckoned.

Also held on the sidelines of the launch of the fund was an exclusive leadership lecture featuring renowned thought leader, Leke Alder.

Akinlabi remarked that the lecture underscores the importance of visionary leadership, ethical governance, and strategic innovation in creating a sustainable and prosperous future.

As the case between Citadel Oracle Concept Limited and Zinox Technologies returns to court, a document from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has put a lie to the claim under oath by Benjamin Joseph, CEO of Citadel, that he was not aware of the contract executed by his company at FIRS.

It will be recalled that Joseph, in his statement on oath in suit No: LD/4335/2014 in the High Court of Justice, Lagos State, dated 28th June, 2019, averred that his company, Citadel, did not execute any contract with FIRS and that he was not aware that a contract had been awarded to Citadel.

In his deposition under oath, Joseph claimed that Citadel “did not at any time execute any contract for the FIRS and neither did the 2nd defendant (Princess O. Kama) who is its agent in respect of the contract it bid for with the FIRS deliver/release any documents to the Claimant (Citadel) indicating that the contract it bid for, or any other contract was awarded to it by the FIRS or any other body.”

However, a letter from the FIRS addressed to the chamber of Afe Babalola & Co dated 11th February 2014 (FIRS/PD/GDS/2559) and signed by one Idrissa Kogo, Head Legal Department, stated: “Contrary to your client’s claim that they knew nothing about the execution of the contract awarded to them and that they did not receive any payment for the execution of the contract, our record reveals otherwise.

“Your client instructed FIRS through a letter dated 13th December 2012 to deal with Princess O. Kama (Your client’s agent) in relation to the contract. Through three separate letters dated 20th December 2012, your client instructed FIRS to pay to the client’s account with Access Bank plc.

“Please note that FIRS acted in compliance with your client’s instruction and with due diligence,” the FIRS letter stated.
The FIRS letter was a response to inquiry by Afe Babalola Chamber, lawyers to Citadel Oracle Concept Ltd and its MD, Mr. Benjamin Joseph, at that time.

Spokesman for Zinox, Mr. Chimezie Orisakwe, when contacted, confirmed the letter, stressing that the document from FIRS was actually in response to inquiries by the chamber of Afe Babalola SAN, who was Joseph’s first lawyer.

“Mr. Joseph had been presenting the story in a manner that portrays him as the victim in a business relationship, but it was apparent that he did not give full disclosure to the chamber of Afe Babalola, who had to write the FIRS to get a proper brief on the matter.

“I want to believe that the disclosure from FIRS which rubbished all the depositions of Joseph and exposed him as a perjurer must have informed the withdrawal of the highly respected Afe Babalola from the case. Interestingly, this letter has already been filed in Suit No. LD/4335/2014, the civil case at the Lagos State High Court.

“More curious is that Mr. Benjamin Joseph, in his Witness Statement on Oath in the said civil case, admitted that he gave the corporate documents of Citadel Oracle Concept Ltd and a letter of authorisation to Princess Kama, his staff, dated 13th December 2012, in respect of the FIRS contract.

“This, therefore, contradicts his present claim that his corporate documents were forged to open the bank account”, Mr. Orisakwe added.

The Zinox spokesman expressed shock that Femi Falana would include Zinox in his purported fiat/charges, even when the company has nothing to do with the transaction or allegations.

He said: “Zinox has never been invited by any investigative agency, including the police and the EFCC, on the so-called allegations.

“There is no report either by the police or the EFCC or any investigative agency where the name of Zinox was mentioned as a suspect.

“There is no judgment or ruling of any court where Zinox was mentioned as having anything to do, whatsoever, with the transaction or the allegations, the basis of the fiat/charges.

“Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh, the Chairman of Zinox, has never made any statement to the police in the course of any investigations and has never been mentioned in any court proceedings or judgment as part of any investigations relating to these allegations.”

Orisakwe cited instances in which Mr. Joseph lost the case and its allied suits. In a petition/case Mr. Joseph reported since 2013 and for which the Inspector General of Police charged him for false information in charge no.CR/216/16, the Zinox spokesman said Mr. Joseph was unable to prove his case.

He recalled that in another case filed by the EFCC at his instance against his partner, Princess O. Kama, in charge no. FCT/HC/CR/244/2018, Honorable Justice Danlami Z. Senchi of the FCT High Court (as he then was), dismissed as false all the allegations made by Benjamin Joseph, and imposed the sum of N20 million as damages against him for false petitioning in relation to these same allegations.

The Zinox spokesman alleged that the current charges said to have been filed by Falana on the basis of a fiat from the Attorney General is the third in a row as he had earlier filed charge no.CR/469/2022, which was struck out by Honourable Justice C. O. Oba of the FCT High Court, by an order dated 8th November 2022.

“He filed the same charges before Honorable Justice A. S. Adepoju of the FCT High Court, and the charges were, once more, struck out by the Honourable Court on 19th March 2024, with Honorable Justice Adepoju holding that: ‘This matter was brought in dead, extinct and should be confined into the dustbin of history…I hold that the instant suit is an abuse of the process of court and it is hereby struck out accordingly,’ Orisakwe said.

He expressed shock that a “learned Senior Advocate in the person of Femi Falana, would, yet, proceed to file the same charges before Honourable Justice A. O. Ebong of the FCT High Court in charge no. FCT/HC/CR/985/24 in November 2024.”

According to the Zinox spokesman, “It is very clear that the deliberate intention for instituting this new charge by Femi Falana SAN, to include the name of Zinox and its Chairman and other persons who were never part of the investigations, is to embarrass them, harm their reputation, and thereby damage their businesses.”

Meanwhile, when the case came up on 9th January 2025, the lawyers to Zinox and Technology Distributions filed Preliminary Objections boldly challenging the jurisdiction of the court over the case and the appearance of Falana, on the ground that the purported Fiat was legally wrongful and defective, and ought not to have been granted to Mr. Femi Falana SAN, in the first place.

This, thus, robs the court of jurisdiction because the case is brought on the basis of the Fiat, and if it is shown that the Fiat is defective and invalid, the court cannot exercise its jurisdiction over the case.

In the light of this development, Mr. Falana asked the court for an adjournment to enable him respond to the Preliminary Objections. The court consequently adjourned the case to 3rd March 2025, to hear the Preliminary Objections and any other pending application.

From a legal perspective, the issue of jurisdiction must first be determined by the court before any other step can be taken in the case, including the plea of the defendants.

This was the reason for the absence of the defendants in court on the said 3rd March 2025, especially as the individual defendants were yet to be served the court papers.

United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Africa’s global Bank, has distributed over N41.8m in prizes to over 100 lucky customers in its just concluded UBA Legacy Promo series.

The promo which began last year, was specially designed by the bank to celebrate UBA’s rich legacy spanning over 75 years, as well as its long-standing commitment towards rewarding its loyal customers in a grand style.

The campaign, which was opened to several categories of Account holders including Bumper Account holders, Savings account, Kiddies & Teens Account holders as well as Nextgen account holders, also saw lucky customers winning other consolidation prizes including educational grants.

The winners were announced during the Grand Finale draw of the promo which held at the UBA Head-office, Marina, Lagos last Thursday and was witnessed by members journalists and representatives of relevant regulatory bodies including the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), among other stakeholders.

In the Savings Account category, ten loyal customers walked away with N1,000,000 each. The lucky winners are: Olonade Funmilayo, Abdullahi Yunusa, Anibueze Augustine Chidozie, Ibironke Adedayo, Gilbert Godswill Pepple, Ekonmene Daniel Leghemo, Oligbo Francis Azuka, Liafeez Adebowale, Abiodun Bolanle Felicia, and Adamu Bappayo.

When contacted over the phone, one of the winners, Mr. Oligbo Francis Azuka, who won N1,000,000 in the savings account category expressed his surprise and excitement, stating that it was totally unexpected. He was however grateful to the bank for the gesture, adding: “I am deeply grateful and surprised by this reward from UBA. I honestly, didn’t expect this. I really appreciate the fact that UBA recognizes me. I am very grateful,” he stated.

The Bumper Category saw 10 people who emerged winners of N1,000,000 each. They are: Emem Christian Thompson, Lateefat Omotayo Waheed, Victoria Oluwaferanmi Adebusoye, Nkechinyere Agnes Okolo, Ibrahim Rabiu, Hammed Akande Idowu, Modester Chiadikobi Nwoke, Ajisafe Folashade Success, Thelma Ndubisi Enajiyerin, and Sunday Obaje.

20 lucky customers also received N500,000 each. They are: Ojo Goroye Banjo, Sandra Christopher Effiong, Femi Henry Idehen, Rashida Oiza Momohjimoh, Umar Usman, Joshua Chidera Nweke, Racheal Erhieyovwe, and Fatima Muhammed. Others include Ogbonna Edward, Eziuche Goodluck Chinyere, Lydia Bawa, Obiajulu Augustine Agwazia, Sale Barde, and Sikiru Morakinyo; Tajudeen Kareem Opeloyeru, Regina Queen Abeekaa, Isaac M. Ponfa, Mary Amos, Emmanuel Isa, and Amaechi Okoro.

Also in the bumper category another twenty customers got N250,000 each, while 10 lucky customers each won N100,000 each during the live draws.

In the NextGen category, Emmanuel Olakotan Oke, Sharon Oluwafunmilayo Ibitoye, Fortunate Izegboya Ijewemen, Anozie Janerose Chinelo, Maryam Zaharaddeen, Oluwakamikun Faidat Taiwo, Daniel Ayomikun Olawale, Ayomide Goodness Olowodara, Dennis Ogina Gbele, and Ofeoritse Jessica Waya each received N180,000 pocket money for a year.

The Kiddies and Teens category, also saw 20 young customers receiving N200,000 each in educational grants.

UBA’s Group Head, Retail and Digital Banking, Shamsideen Fashola, who spoke at the event, emphasized the significance of the promotion in strengthening the relationship between the bank and its community.

He said, “UBA Legacy Promo is our way of saying thank you to our loyal customers who have trusted us over the years. As we celebrate 75 years of impact, we remain committed to deepening financial inclusion and providing innovative and customer-focused products and services. Our goal is to make banking more rewarding and life-changing, improving lives and building stronger communities.”

Over the past six months, from July till December 2024, UBA has through a series of draws; cluster, monthly, and quarterly draws, rewarded over 600 customers with prizes totaling more than ₦200 million. This remarkable initiative has created over 60 millionaires, highlighting the bank’s commitment to enriching the lives of its customers and promoting savings culture, as UBA continues to reaffirm its dedication to launching more impactful initiatives, ensuring customer satisfaction and financial well-being remain at the forefront of its operations.

United Bank for Africa is one of the largest employers in the financial sector on the African continent, with 25,000 employees group wide and serving over 45 million customers globally. Operating in twenty African countries and the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France and the United Arab Emirates, UBA provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and implementing cutting edge technology.