Dangote’s wealth drops by $3.11bn, remain Africa’s richest man

The founder of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has retained its position as Africa’s richest man in the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

The Kano State-born businessman was ranked ahead of South African billionaire, Johann Rupert, Nicky Oppenheimer, Nassef Sawiris, Natie Kirsh, and Naguib Sawiris in the continent’s richest list released by the United States-based media organization on Friday.

Dangote is worth $15.6 billion as of Thursday although his wealth has depleted by $3.11 billion in the last six months.

Rupert and his family took second place on Africa’s richest list with a $13.3 billion net worth and a year-to-date increase of $2.51 billion.

Zenith, GTB, Fidelity, others under investigation for alleged data breach - NDPC

The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) says it is currently investigating 3 deposit money banks, one university and other suspects over alleged data breach.

The commission listed Zenith, Fidelity, Guarantee Trust Banks, Babcock University and Leadway Insurance, among others for the suspected infraction.

According to a statement issued by the commission’s Head of Media, Mr. Itunu Dosekun, on Thursday in Abuja, this was made known by the National Commissioner of NDPC, Dr Vincent Olatunji.

Unlawful data processing complaints

Olatunji said the investigation of these organizations came following complaints from data subjects, explaining that with the new Nigerian Data Protection Act (NDPA), the commission had been empowered with a legal framework to address issues of citizens’ data breach.

He said, “In the last few weeks, the NDPC has received complaints bothering on unlawful data processing, unauthorised access to personal data and violation of data subjects’ rights.

“Under Part 10 of the newly-signed NDPA Act 2023, a data controller with a turnover of N200 billion yearly may pay as high as N2 billion, which represents two percent of the gross revenue.

“Not only that, offenders also risk up to one-year jail term.

“We are currently investigating Guarantee Trust Bank, Fidelity, Unity, Zenith banks, Leadway Insurance and Babcock University, among others, for data breach.’’

Online money-lending banks to seek clearance from NDPC

Olatunji said that many micro-finance banks are yet to align their operations with the requirements of data privacy and protection.

He further revealed that loaning organizations would face the law with the new mandate of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).

Olatunji said the mandate required loan organizations t seek compliance and clearance from NDPC before granting approval to online lenders.

Notorious internet fraudster to spend 235 years imprison for N525million fraud

The Calabar Division of the Court of Appeal has upheld the conviction of a notorious international fraudster, Scales Olatunji who was convicted for internet fraud and money laundering charges by a Federal High Court, sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

EFCC Spokesperson Wilson Uwujaren in a statement on Tuesday said the court seated on Friday, June 23, 2023.

Justice Agatha Okeke had on June 27, 2022 found Olatunji guilty of forty-five count charges of internet fraud and money laundering preferred against him by the Uyo Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Commission, (EFCC) and sentenced him to 235 years imprisonment, without an option of a fine.

Zenith Bank’s Cfo, Mukhtar Adam, Emerges As Chief Financial Officer Of The Year At The All Africa Business Leaders Awards

The Chief Financial Officer of Zenith Bank Plc, Dr. Mukhtar Adam, has been named ‘Chief Financial Officer of the Year’ at the 11th All Africa Business Leaders Awards (AABLA) in partnership with CNBC Africa. The award ceremony took place at the King’s Ballroom, Sun City, South Africa, on June 23, 2023. This honour places Dr. Mukhtar alongside other celebrated professionals across Africa.

Expressing his gratitude for the recognition, Dr. Mukhtar thanked the judges and organisers of the award, expressing his appreciation for being deemed a fitting recipient of the ‘Chief Financial Officer of the Year’ for 2023. He dedicated the award to the Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia, CFR. Additionally, he expressed his gratitude to the management of Zenith Bank, his colleagues in Nigeria and the bank’s subsidiaries for fostering a positive work environment. Dr. Mukhtar also extended his thanks to the bank’s many customers.

Glo commits to 2023 Ojude Oba Festival

Nigeria's indigenous telecommunications solutions provider, Globacom, has committed to the sponsorship of the 2023 edition of one of Nigeria's biggest cultural events, the Ojude Oba Festival, which holds two days after the Eid-El-Kabir celebration in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State. 

Globacom has been the main sponsor of the cultural event for almost two decades, helping  to boost its profile and attract and local and international visitors to Ijebuland during the festival.

In a speech read by Mr. Sola Mogaji, who represented the company at a pre-event press conference held at the Awujale Palace, Ijebu Ode, Globacom noted that the theme of this year's edition of the festival: OJUDE OBA: A LESSON IN RELIGIOUS HARMONY, emphasised the importance of religion and unity in Nigeria. 

Glo empowers customers with Lucky Number

 

Nigeria's leading telecoms service provider, Globacom, has rolled out an opportunity for its active subscribers to daily win amazing cash prizes and airtime with a price draw game tagged Lucky Number.

The company in its statement said Lucky Number is an entertainment platform packaged to add excitement to the day-to-day activities of millions of Nigerians on the Glo platform and also provide them some level of empowerment.

The Lucky Number draw game automatically enters subscribers' numbers to sequentially match a randomly selected mobile number from the pool of active subscriber base. The winning number must be matched in the right sequence, from right to left, adding that the size of the prizes is dependent on the number of digits from the released Glo number.

Heritage Bank Head of IT diverts N49 Billion into separate accounts, disappears

 

Heritage Bank led by Akinola George-Taylor, one of Nigeria’s lending establishments is once more engulfed in the web of severe crisis shaking it to its very roots.

Fresh information from informed sources at the bank indicates that Heritage Bank appears to have seen better days as this is as ENigeria Newspaper reports that among the catalogue of issues currently hanging around the lender’s neck as the proverbial hangman’s noose includes, a serious boardroom crisis which has seen the edging out of allies of its former Managing Director and Chief Executive, Ifie Sekibo from the board of the moribund bank.

Tinubu Appoints Wale Edun, Dele Alake, Ribadu Others Special Advisers

 

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of the following as Special Advisers.

Among the new appointees are Mr. Dele Alake, Special Adviser, Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, Mr. Yau Darazo, Special Adviser, Political and Intergovernmental Affairs, Mr. Wale Edun, Special Adviser, Monetary Policies and Mrs. Olu Verheijen, Special Adviser, Energy

Others includes Mr. Zachaeus Adedeji, Special Adviser, Revenue, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, Special Adviser, Security, Mr. John Ugochukwu Uwajumogu, Special Adviser, Industry, Trade and Investment and Dr (Mrs.) Salma Ibrahim Anas, Special Adviser, Health.

Zenith Bank Fetes Customers With Massive Giveaways In The “Zenith Beta Life Season 3” Promo

 

Zenith Bank Plc has launched the third season of its hugely successful "Zenith Beta Life Promo" to reward its customers with gifts from June 1, 2023, to May 31, 2023. 

 

Within this period, twenty bank customers of Zenith Bank will be chosen through a bimonthly raffle draw, each receiving gifts valued at NGN150,000. Five lucky customers will also win a cash prize of NGN500,000 during the quarterly draws.

 

Railway services resume at triple-train crash site in eastern India

Normal rail traffic resumed on Sunday at the site where the triple-train crash had occurred in India's eastern state of Odisha, announced the Federal Ministry of Railways on Monday.

The restoration work was completed with continuous monitoring and both up and down lines were declared fit, said the Indian Railways in a statement.

Two passenger trains crashed into a stationary goods train in the Balasore district of Odisha on Friday evening. Around 1,175 people were injured in the accident, which is believed as the worst train accident over the past decade in the country.

Zenith Bank Maintains Position As 'Best Corporate Governance Financial Services' In Africa For The Fourth Consecutive Time

For the fourth consecutive year, Zenith Bank Plc has been named as the Best Corporate Governance 'Financial Services' Africa 2023 by the Ethical Boardroom. The award, which was published in the Spring 2023 edition of The Ethical Boardroom magazine, is in recognition of the bank’s adherence to global best practices and institutionalization of corporate governance, setting an industry-wide example of best practices in that field.

 

Speaking on the recognition, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of Zenith Bank Plc, Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, said: “I am extremely pleased that Zenith Bank has been awarded the Ethical Boardroom Corporate Governance Award as a regional governance champion for the fourth year running. No doubt, the bank’s board has pioneered the exemplary governance culture for which we are now renowned. Indeed, this recognition reflects our steadfast commitment, discipline and high ethos in the conduct of our business and dedication to the principles of good corporate governance. This award will motivate us to strengthen this culture internally and advocate for good governance at every forum”.