Conoil Business News

Nigeria’s Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, on Central Bank of Nigeria’s Debtor List

Atiku Abubakar is on the list with 600 other wealthy Nigerians

Atiku Abubakar is on the list with 600 other wealthy Nigerians

Nigeria’s former vice-president and opposition leader Atiku Abubakar is included in a list of major bank debtors released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

This list says Atiku Abubakar owes N111 million ($730,000; £450,000) and names 600 others who owe a total of $2.5 billion.

The non-repaying of these debts is a major factor in the recent government takeover of several banks.

The scale of the debt has created a scandal in Nigeria. The latest move by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) marks the end of its forensic audit of Nigeria’s 24 financial institutions.

The scandal emerged in August as the government stepped in to take control of five banks – sacking their management teams.

Four chief executives were arrested – they are now being prosecuted on multiple fraud charges.

A fifth chief executive, Erastus Akingbola, former CEO of Intercontinental Bank, is on the run – he is thought to be in the UK.

The list of debtors to Bank PHB, Equitorial Trust Bank, Spring Bank, Wema Bank, and Unity Bank was made available on Wednesday evening.

Other powerful people on the list include: Read the rest of this entry »

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Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Publishes List of Debtors/Non-Performing Loans for Bank PHB, Spring Bank, Unity Bank, Wema Bank, and Equitorial Trust Bank (ETB)

Central Bank of NigeriaThe Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday made good its threat to publish names of non-performing debts – owed mostly by politicians, entrepreneurs, and shareholders/directors – whose companies secured loans totaling N450 billion from five banks. View the latest list.

The banks – Bank PHB Plc, Equitorial Trust Bank (ETB), Spring Bank Plc, Wema Bank Plc, and Unity Bank Plc – were those found wanting in the last round of the audit exercise embarked on by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

This culminated in the sacking and replacement of the managing directors and executive directors of the first three banks said to be in “grave situation” two weeks ago.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) asked the two other banks to recapitalize by June 2010.

The chief executives of the five banks are said to be having challenges in their debt recovery drive. Consequently, the bank CEOs pressurized the CBN into publishing the latest list in a bid to compel the bank debtors to pay up. Read the rest of this entry »

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Nigerian Billionaires: Mike Adenuga

Mike Adenuga
Globacom
Estimated Net Worth: $6 billion

Mike Adenuga

Mike Adenuga

Mike Adenuga, oil baron, bank executive, and telecoms magnate, is, quite literally, larger than life — at least to newly arrived visitors to Ghana, who face huge billboards carrying the likeness of the founder of Globacom, Mr Adenuga’s expanding mobile network as they make their way into Accra.

Mike Adenuga has shrugged off speculation that his wealth is built on relations he enjoyed with Nigeria’s military rulers in the late 1980s and early 1990s to build a diverse portfolio and a substantial personal fortune. His relationship with the government has not been without its moments of difficulty. He found himself under investigation in 2006 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). After being arrested for two days, Mr Adenuga then spent several months out of the country.

Friends insist that Mike Adenuga was the victim of a political battle between Vice President Atiku Abubakar and then president Obasanjo, with whom Mr Adenuga had also enjoyed good relations. Government investigators claimed there were separate issues relating to the payment of contractors and allegations of tax evasion. Like Aliko Dangote, Mike Adenuga has shown an ability to take opportunities presented and create genuine companies with real capacity.

According to Encomium magazine, Mike Adenuga’s net worth is $6 billion.

Interestingly, Forbes Magazine’s billionaire lists fail to include Mike Adenuga because Forbes bases individuals’ net worths on the quoted and verified values of companies and individual shares the individuals own. Given that a lot of Nigerian billionaires’ assets include privately-held companies, Forbes’ estimates should be regarded as minimum net worth estimates. Read the rest of this entry »

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