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E-Financial

SEC Threatens to Sanction Firms for Unapproved Alteration

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Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will henceforth impose sanction on any capital market operator or company that alters approved transaction document without approval of the Commission, according to a circular from by apex capital market regulator.

SEC Threatens to Sanction Firms for Unapproved Alteration

SEC stated in the circular that any request for any change in an approved transaction document must be duly made to the Commission for its prior approval before effecting any such change, warning that altering approved transaction document without prior approval will attract sanctions.

According to the Commission, where any change is made to a transaction document after same has been approved or cleared by the Commission without the prior approval of the Commission, the relevant parties shall be sanctioned in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission.

“The Commission expects strict compliance with this directive,” SEC stated.

SEC noted that in addition to the complete filing directive of the Commission, all requests for amendments to transaction documents after approval or clearance by the Commission shall attract additional processing fee.

According to SEC, any request for a change, alteration, or amendment of documents after approval and clearance has been granted shall attract a processing fee of N1 million.

Also, the apex capital market regulator has clarified that “light refreshments” at annual general meetings (AGMs) are not considered as part of gifts prohibited under its rules banning distribution of gifts at AGMs.

Rule 602(4) of SEC states that ‘’public companies shall not distribute gifts to shareholders, observers and any other person at Annual General Meetings/Extra-Ordinary General Meetings’’.

The Commission stated that it considered it necessary to clarify that ‘’light refreshments’’ are not prohibited and do not fall under category of gifts prohibited by Rule 602(4).

With several cases of disruptions due to distribution of gifts at AGMs and alleged unethical behaviours by companies, SEC had issued new rules banning distribution of gifts and engaging any caucus of shareholders in group meeting prior to any of the general meeting.

Any company that violates the two rules shall be liable to a penalty of not less than N10 million.

Providing justification for the proposed rules, SEC stated that public companies spend a significant amount of money on corporate gifts at AGMs and EGMs and this has a great impact on their profitability.

SEC noted that few of the companies are making reasonable profits and even fewer can afford to pay dividends, adding that if the amount budgeted for gifts at AGMs or EGMs can be reserved for other relevant operational or administrative expenses, it would positively impact on the companies’ earnings per share.

“Furthermore, it has been observed that some companies arrange meetings with select groups of shareholders ahead of general meetings to discuss proposed resolutions and agree on strategies which are often detrimental to the interest of other shareholders,” SEC stated. Such meeting is known as pre-AGM meeting.


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E-Financial

UBA Expands to More African Cities, Stamps Footprint  in Saudi Arabia

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United Bank for Africa (UBA) has announced strategic expansion into more African countries even as it plans to open a new office in Saudi Arabia, marking a significant milestone in its mission to connect Africa with key global markets.

UBA Expands to More African Cities, Stamps Footprint  in Saudi Arabia

Oliver Alawuba, GMD/CEO, UBA group,

This emerged during the Group’s Half Year Business Review held at its global headquarters in Lagos, where Oliver Alawuba, group managing director/CEO, UBA group, met with senior executives overseeing UBA’s 24-country footprint.

The meeting reaffirmed the bank’s pan-African strategy while outlining bold new steps into global markets.

Alawuba highlighted UBA’s continued growth outside Nigeria, with more than 51.7% of Group revenues now generated from its ex-Nigerian operations.

He described the Saudi expansion as a move that positions UBA to support cross-border trade, attract investment flows, and better serve the African diaspora.

“UBA’s vision is clear—we are building a truly global institution anchored in Africa, but serving customers across continents. Our entry into Saudi Arabia signals confidence in new opportunities and commitment to supporting economic connectivity between Africa and the Middle East,” he said.

The Saudi expansion adds to UBA’s international presence, which currently includes the United Kingdom, United States, France, and the United Arab Emirates. Alawuba also disclosed that the bank is upgrading its operating licence in France to further strengthen its European operations.

“In Europe, UBA has operations in the United Kingdom and is upgrading its licence in France, expanding its capacity to serve cross-border trade, investment flows, and the African diaspora, complementing our over 40-year presence in New York,” Alawuba noted.

Since launching its pan-African journey with an entry into Ghana in 2004, UBA has expanded rapidly across 20 African countries, establishing itself as a leading driver of financial inclusion, innovation, and regional integration.

 

 

 

 

 

 


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E-Financial

Ecobank Plans to Raise $250m Capital Through Private Placement

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Ecobank Transnational Incorporated announced its plan to raise up to $250m in Additional Tier 1 capital through a private placement of contingent convertible notes.

In a statement filed on the Nigerian Exchange Limited recently, the capital raise was approved by shareholders at the company’s Extraordinary General Meeting held in Lomé, Togo. The private placement offer was launched on July 9 and will run for ten days.

“Following the approval of the shareholders at its Extraordinary General Meeting held on May 28, 2025, in Lomé, Togo, to raise up to $250m in additional Tier 1 capital qualifying instruments via a private placement of contingent convertible notes, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated announces the launch of the AT1 effective July 9, 2025, for ten days. Renaissance Capital Africa has been appointed as the transaction adviser to ETI.”

The move is an initiative aimed at strengthening Ecobank’s capital adequacy, enhancing financial resilience, and supporting its long-term growth ambitions across its diversified pan-African banking platform.

Additionally, Madibinet Cisse, Ecobank’s Company Secretary, said, “This proposed capital raise represents a critical step in our efforts to fortify the bank’s financial foundation and support sustainable growth across Africa.”

It would be recalled that Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, the parent company of the Ecobank Group, has raised an additional $125m through a Eurobond tap, bringing the total size of its 2029 notes to $525m.

 


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E-Financial

EFCC Recovers Funds Lost to CBEX Fraud

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Ola Olukoyede, chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has announced that the body has recovered lost funds from the CBEX fraud scheme.

EFCC Recovers Funds Lost to CBEX Fraud

Olukoyede did not announce the amount recovered, but he assured Nigerians that the EFCC is taking action against the promoters of the scheme.

The EFCC Chairman emphasised that the suspects found are facing prosecution.

“We have found a lot of people culpable. Those who promoted that scheme are within our jurisdiction and have been arrested. So, at this moment, they are being prosecuted. And we can also say that money has been recovered, even though the process is still ongoing for us to finally forfeit it,” he said.

Olukoyede also urged Nigerians to exercise caution when investing their resources into online platforms.

“Ponzi schemes remain one of the most pervasive threats facing unsuspecting investors. The CBEX case is a clear example. We all remember the outcry that followed the collapse of the scheme, but these unfortunate situations are preventable. Nigerians must begin to conduct due diligence before committing their resources to such platforms,” Olukoyede said.

He also stressed that the body remains committed to fishing out the culprits and recovering the lost funds.

“It was only when the bubble burst that people wanted EFCC to perform magic and recover their money. In the case we investigated in Lagos, which we dubbed Operation Flush, we arrested a large number of foreigners involved in various cybercrimes, including CBEX. I want Nigerians to know that as of today, we have secured close to 150 convictions. Some of them are already serving their jail terms. And when they are through with that, we are going to send them back to where they came from. So we are monitoring them,” he added.

He urged the public to stay vigilant, assuring them that the body will see the case to the end.

“We are no longer the EFCC that drops cases halfway. Whatever we start, we will finish. Nigerians should trust us and believe in our capacity to do justice. Some of these cases are complex and may require cross-border investigations, but we are up to the task,” he said.


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