Business

N40 billion stolen at First Bank was done by its manager of electronic products team, Tijani Muiz Adeyinka, the person responsible for handling transfer reversals. – Deji-Dare Akinmejiwa

Published

12 months ago

June 20, 2024

The final decision on reversals laid with him alone, instead of a team. Instead of ensuring reversals were done properly, he started diverting funds to a Zenith account owned by his wife. Over 2 years, he managed to steal N40 billion, which he later scattered to 1,190 accounts & used some to buy crypto. As I type this, Mr Adeyinka & his sweet baby boo have vanished. The scam was burst when a customer insisted on resolving non-reversal of funds.

DETAILS:
A First Bank employee identified as Tijani Muiz Adeyinka is now on the run after diverting N40 billion at the bank’s head office team in Iganmu, Lagos.

He allegedly diverted those funds to 98 bank accounts classified as first beneficiaries, including his wife’s.

The bank, with a market capitalization of ₦829 billion, reported the incident to the Nigerian Police Force on March 25, 2024, and obtained multiple court orders to freeze accounts connected to the stolen funds.

As reported by Tech Cabal, Tijani Muiz Adeyinka, the employee implicated in the scandal, held a managerial position in the electronic products team at First Bank’s headquarters in Iganmu, Lagos. Adeyinka, now a fugitive, allegedly diverted approximately ₦40 billion (around $29 million) over two years.

He purportedly exploited his role to misappropriate funds by directing customer reversal requests to a merchant account under his control. His ability to finalize transactions without additional approvals allowed the scheme to go unnoticed.

The fraud came to light following a customer complaint, prompting an internal review by the bank’s control unit, which uncovered numerous suspicious transactions. In response, First Bank alerted the police and pursued legal measures to mitigate the financial loss.

First Bank took proactive steps by obtaining three court orders between April 4 and April 8, 2024, to freeze hundreds of accounts suspected of receiving the diverted funds. Among the affected accounts were 98 classified as first beneficiaries, including one belonging to Adeyinka’s wife, as well as numerous second-tier accounts.

Court documents revealed that Adeyinka routed funds to his wife’s account at Zenith Bank, which then dispersed the money across 34 additional accounts. These accounts subsequently channeled the funds to 1,190 other accounts, creating a complex network of transactions to obscure the origin of the stolen funds.

In a statement to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police dated May 10, 2024, the bank affirmed its collaboration with law enforcement agencies to uncover the circumstances surrounding the fraud and apprehend all individuals involved.

“We hereby bring to your notice the discovery of fraudulent transactions into various transactions within and outside the bank and request your good offices to set up the machinery of investigation in place with a view to unravel the circumstances surrounding the said fraud and get the culprits apprehending to face the wrath of the law,” read a letter dated May 10, 2024, from First bank to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police.

Business

Lagos loses N4trn yearly to traffic congestion, moves to regulate tanker operations

Published

2 days ago

June 13, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The Lagos State Government has disclosed that the state suffers economic losses amounting to approximately N4 trillion each year due to persistent traffic congestion

This was revealed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Mr Sola Giwa, during a recent interview on TVC News.

He identified unregulated parking and the chaotic activities of tankers and articulated vehicles along key logistics corridors as major contributors to the problem.

In response, the government has announced the enforcement of an Electronic Call-Up (E-Call-Up) system, scheduled to take effect from Monday, June 16, 2025.

The initiative targets tankers and articulated vehicles operating along the Lekki-Epe corridor

Giwa explained that all truck operators entering Lagos to load or offload goods will now be required to register and book their movements through the E-Call-Up platform.

The system is designed to coordinate truck activities, eliminate indiscriminate roadside parking, and reduce traffic disruptions.

“Under the new system, tanker operators will be required to upload their Authority to Load, ATL, and pre-book assigned parking slots before arriving in Lagos.

The platform will also collect relevant cargo and travel data, supporting better logistical planning and enforcement.

Seven dedicated truck parks have been approved along the Lekki-Epe axis. These facilities will be equipped with restrooms, kitchens, electricity, and other basic amenities to support driver welfare and operational efficiency.

Giwa stated that the policy is the outcome of more than two years of stakeholder engagement and is a key part of the state’s broader efforts to reform its transportation system and build a more efficient and resilient urban environment.

Business

Arnold Ekpe: Nine things you need to know about new Chairman of Dangote Sugar

Published

3 days ago

June 12, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc recently appointed Mr Arnold Ekpe as the new Chairman of its Board, effective 16th June 2025.

Ekpe’s appointment comes after the retirement of Alhaji Aliko Dangote as Chairman of the company on Wednesday.

Dangote’s retirement brought an end to a 20-year leadership of the company.

His retirement will take effect starting from June 16, this year, according to a statement issued yesterday by Company Secretary Temitope Hassan.

However, Ekwutosblog brings you seven things you need to know about Dangote’s replacement, Arnold Ekpe:

1. Ekpe is a seasoned finance professional with more than thirty years of experience in the corporate sectors and banking.

2. He was born in Aug. 1953 in Nigeria, and went to King’s College, Lagos, where he graduated in 1972 and later traveled to abroad for his tertiary education.

3. Ekpe attended the University of Manchester and earned a First Class Honours degree in Engineering as a Shell Scholar (1973–1976).

4. He later obtained an MBA from Manchester Business School (1977–1979).

5. Ekpe started his career in 1977 with Schlumberger SA as a Wireline Logging Engineer.

6. He joined Alcan Aluminium Nigeria as Executive Assistant to the CEO in 1979.

7. Ekpe then entered the banking industry in the early 1980s, starting at International Merchant Bank (an affiliate of First Chicago) as Head of Strategy.

8. He later became Group CEO of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, a role he held until his retirement in 2012.

9. He has served as an Independent Non‑Executive Director at Dangote Sugar Refinery since 2024.

Business

‘No deal collapsed’ – Nigerian Govt breaks silence on forward crude oil sale

Published

3 days ago

June 12, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The Federal Government has debunked reports suggesting the collapse of a proposed forward crude oil sale involving the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL.

This was as the government stated that no final decision has been made on the matter.

According to a statement by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Finance, Mohammed Manga, on Wednesday in Abuja, the government said it was aware of recent media speculation surrounding the deal, stressing that such commentary is premature and inaccurate.

“While market speculation is not uncommon in the context of ongoing economic reforms and transactions, no final decision has been announced by the Government.

“Commentary suggesting the collapse of any such initiative is unfounded,” the statement read.

The statement maintained that the forward sale of crude oil-an arrangement often used to secure financing by pledging future oil production-remains under consideration as part of a broader strategy to stabilise Nigeria’s economy.

“The government remains focused on deploying a range of innovative, transparent, and fiscally responsible financing strategies to optimise Nigeria’s oil assets, improve external liquidity, and strengthen macroeconomic stability,” Manga said.

The Federal Government expresssed its commitment to deploying innovative, transparent, and fiscally responsible financing strategies to optimize Nigeria’s oil assets, improve external liquidity, and strengthen macroeconomic stability.

The move is said to be part of the government’s ongoing economic reforms aimed at promoting economic growth and development.

The Finance Ministry also reassured stakeholders that any decisions regarding forward crude oil sales will be made with careful consideration and transparency.