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Ping Express Dispels Money Laundering Claims, Says Nigerians Are Treated Harshly for having Ineffective Anti-Money Laundering Policy

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Ping Express, a financial technology company that was alleged to have laundered $160 million to Nigeria has debunked claims.

The company denied the claims in a statement released on Tuesday and made available to Nigeria CommunicationsWeeks.

According to the statement, “Ping express debunked claims that the company or its past directors were involved in money laundering or fraud. In the last two and a half years, Ping Express, a financial technology company has been dragged through the US court system on unsubstantiated allegations, including money laundering.

“We deny any allegations that we participated in money laundering activities via our platform; and the court records are available and very clear.

“It is deeply saddening that a technology that was designed to help immigrants stay connected to their families could have been grossly misused by a few of the platform’s over 80 thousand customers.”

The Company did not steal from anyone and did not know or conspired with anyone to steal a dollar from anyone. The court documents and rulings are clear. No losses and no restitution were imposed on the company nor its founders and this validates that the US court recognized that no fraud was perpetrated within the company’s platform nor was fraud aided or abetted by its founders.

Ping Express served more than 80,000 hardworking and honest Nigerians in the US and more in other parts of the world. Ping Express operated in more than 28 countries including UK, Canada and several European countries and served immigrants from 27 African countries with consistent Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that were reviewed and approved by regulators. It is of importance to note that some of the Ping’s users that were queried by the DOJ were customers of the top 2 competition.

These users paid Ping directly from their personal bank accounts in the US. All its customers were verified and went through extensive screening before their transactions were processed. Internal limits, which were subject to review per the Company’s policy, are the basis for which we were non-compliant. In essence, customers have no hard limits per the Company’s policies (not external limits). Ping operated strict compliance standards, and ensured users paid from their personal bank accounts.

Unfortunately. the US government insisted that Ping didn’t consider and file enough suspicious reports on all its customers despite them paying from their personal bank accounts with monies already housed by American banks who in the dynamics that Ping know are the ones responsible for the flagging of the source of the monies in their customers’ accounts.

It was apparently expected that its owners will know every single Nigerian by name, creed, behavior and track record, as amusing as this sounds, it’s concerning and a pointer to many other things that has crystallized in this matter.

It is depressing to view the malicious and baseless claims being reported in the Nigerian media. It is shocking with malicious relish at which several Nigerian-based media have picked up on the story, seemingly driven by their worst sensationalist instincts, as they have embroidered the tale with outlandish plot elements that have a tenuous grip on reality.

They have maliciously reported so-called facts without taking some time to investigate or verify information read on other platforms; this is not in consonance with the time-tested norm in journalism practice, which is should still be relevant in today’s journalism.

This becomes a sample case for us all to find Company founders being held liable for internal control failures of their Company, especially when they had no personal relationship with its users. However, this is what the Ping former owners are faced with.

“We focused on making the simple task of helping a family much easier. We worked very hard with integrity to develop a system that disrupted the marketplace. Rather than join other companies in creating customer service and relations team outside Nigeria, we were passionate about Nigeria and built one of the first outsourcing unit in Nigeria, employing over 40 Nigerians. History is the best judge” Said Anslem Oshionebo

“Having led an extremely expensive and painful legal battle with the US regulators over the last 3 years, with the full support of my wife, it was simply time to make decision that was only in the best interest of my family. I stand proud of what we have achieved for the Nigerian and African community in US and other part of the world.” said Opeyemi Odeyale, former COO and co-founder of Ping Express.

 


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Ugo Onwuaso is an ICT enthusiast. He believes technology should be used for general good. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Lagos state University. Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

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CAC Flags Three Companies, Warns Nigerians

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Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has warned Nigerians against transacting with three fake Nigerian firms, citing fraudulent incorporation documents and registration numbers not issued by the commission.

CAC Flags Three Companies, Warns Nigerians

According to the CAC, these companies are using fake certificates of incorporation with two different RC numbers each, none of which exist in the commission’s official records.

The affected companies are SPEF Cooperative Society Ltd with RC Numbers 1265884 and 512862, UPIL Staff Cooperative Society Ltd with RC Numbers 1265837 and 553220, and PREM Staff Cooperative Society Ltd with RC Numbers 1265844 and 545901.

The CAC warns that any Nigerian conducting business with these entities does so at their own risk.

“Anyone that transacts any business with the above-mentioned companies does so at their own risk,” the commission warned.

The commission further advised potential partners and investors to verify registration details directly through its official portal before signing contracts or making payments.

Similarly, the CAC, in a bid to enhance its services, introduced an AI-powered business registration platform on July 3, designed to streamline incorporations.

This new system offers instant name reservations, automated business-name suggestions, and same-day registration using a National Identification Number (NIN).

Additionally, the commission plans to review its service fees starting August 1, aiming to make its services more efficient and cost-effective.

 

 

 

 

 

 


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AfDB to Introduce Systems Reforms to Prioritize Investing in Africa’s Youth

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The African Development Bank, in partnership with the International Labour Organization, has launched a transformative system to mainstream youth employment, skills development, and entrepreneurship across its investments.

The approach, called the Youth, Jobs and Skills Marker System, is aligned with the Bank’s latest Ten-Year Strategy, which places Africa’s young people at the center of development efforts to maximize the impact of every dollar invested, turning demographics into a dividend.

The Marker System ensures that Bank projects spanning diverse sectors, such as agriculture, transport, energy, water, and education, systematically incorporate components that enhance youth employability, foster entrepreneurship, and build market-relevant skills.

“The Youth, Jobs and Skills Marker System is about ensuring Africa’s young people have a real say and active role in building sustainable economies and creating jobs – not as passive recipients of youth programs,” said Dr. Beth Dunford, the Bank’s Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development. “This transformation of Bank practices and systems is a step toward making sure our investments have a positive impact on Africa’s young women and men.”

The integrated system has three focus areas:

Youth: Supporting youth-led micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises through targeted investments and operational integration.

Skills: Expanding access to practical, market-driven training and apprenticeships to enhance career prospects.

 Jobs: Ensuring Bank-funded projects create sustainable job opportunities, particularly by developing youth skills for employability and the promotion of youth-led businesses in priority value chains.

Each year, around 10 to 12 million young Africans enter the labor market, which offers only three million formal jobs annually. The Bank will prioritize youth entrepreneurship and mobilize private sector partnerships to strengthen industry-oriented skills training as well as job creation over the coming decade.

“[This initiative] is very important because it allows us to significantly contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #8 that includes decent work for all,” said Peter van Rooij, Director of Multilateral Partnerships and Development Cooperation at the International Labour Organization. “It also allows the International Labour Organization to influence the Bank’s work, to support their lending that is more geared toward more job creation and better jobs in a sustainable way.”

The Youth, Jobs and Skills Marker System is modeled on the success of the Bank’s Gender Marker System and its online dashboard, which categorize Bank projects based on their contribution to gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Similarly, the new system will feature an online platform enabling Bank staff and consultants to access real-time data for preparing country strategy papers, mid-term reviews, annual reports, project supervision, and reporting on youth-related skills, businesses and jobs outcomes.

The Bank has just launched a pilot version of the Youth, Jobs and Skills Marker System in readiness for the full implementation in 2026. This system will enhance data tracking, improve estimates of youth skills attainment and employment, strengthen labor market information systems, and support policymakers in making evidence-based decisions that drive meaningful change.

The International Labour Organization provided technical support for the system’s development with financial support from the Bank’s Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation Multi-Donor Trust Fund. The Youth, Jobs and Skills Marker System is the first deliberate action of its kind developed by a development finance institution worldwide.


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SEC Probes Ponzi Scheme Linked to FF Tiffany

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The Securities and Exchange Commission has revealed plans to commence investigation into the activities of an entity operating under FF Tiffany, allegedly running a fraudulent investment scheme that has defrauded citizens.

A statement by the SEC on Tuesday in Abuja said preliminary information revealed that the scheme, which promised investors unusually high and unrealistic returns, had resulted in the loss of several billions of naira.

The SEC said it viewed the activity as a threat to investor confidence and the overall integrity of the financial system.

The commission assured the public that it was working closely with law enforcement agencies and other relevant bodies to bring everyone involved in the unlawful operation to justice.

According to SEC, those found culpable will be prosecuted in accordance with the Investment and Securities Act and regulatory provisions.

SEC reiterated its earlier warnings to the general public to desist from engaging in Ponzi or unregistered investment schemes that promised guaranteed or exaggerated returns.

“These schemes are not registered with the SEC and do not offer investor protection under the law.

“The commission is currently investigating 79 schemes and will make a statement on its findings at the conclusion of the investigation,” the SEC said.

The commission encouraged investors to conduct due diligence and verify the registration status of any investment firm or product by visiting the SEC website or contacting the commission directly through official channels.

SEC said it remained committed to its mandate of protecting investors, ensuring fair practices, and maintaining confidence in Nigeria’s capital market.

 


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