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Moruf Oseni’s Wema Bank Reports N1. 13bn Fraud Amid Weak System

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WEMA Bank Faces Legal Woes, Pays N61.350 Million in Penalties Amidst Regulatory Scrutiny

 

Depositors and stakeholders of Wema Bank Plc, led by Moruf Oseni, express deep concern over the safety of their investments and the stability of the institution amidst a surge in fraudulent activities reported in the financial year of 2023.

 

The disclosure of N1.136 billion in fraud cases within Wema Bank’s financial statement has heightened apprehension among investors and industry observers.

 

Financial analysts are deeply troubled by this revelation, as it indicates potential vulnerabilities in the bank’s security infrastructure, that is,the bank’s security system may be either weak, poor, not up to industry standard or operated by unqualified personnel.

 

The disclosed amount of fraud not only undermines depositor confidence but also raises questions about the efficacy of the bank’s risk management protocols and the qualifications of its personnel.

 

Furthermore, the impact of these fraudulent activities extends beyond immediate financial losses. With 1,195 recorded fraud cases, amounting to N1.136 billion, the bank faces challenges in fulfilling dividend payouts to its shareholders.

 

In the audited 2023 financial statement, the bank recorded 1,195 fraud cases to the tune of a whopping N1.136 billion, out of which N685.595 million was lost.

 

Despite claims that 97 percent of the fraud cases were perpetrated by external parties, the significant financial implications underscore the urgent need for Wema Bank to bolster its security measures and restore trust among its clientele.

 

Internet fraud was worth N203.724 million and N90.017 million was ferried away by fraudsters.

 

Fraudsters also attempted to steal N36.071 million via point-of-sale channels and N8.148 million through mobile banking but only succeeded in carting away N506, 000.

 

Scammers also attempted to steal N869,000 via automated teller machines and N27.39 million web frauds, but they were foiled.

 

SEE ALSO: Moruf Oseni’s WEMA Bank Faces Legal Woes, Pays N61.350 Million in Penalties Amidst Regulatory Scrutiny

 

“There is no fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the bank’s internal control system,” the management of the bank stated.

 

Moruf Oseni's Wema Bank Reports N1. 13bn Fraud Amid Weak System

 

A financial analyst, Bolu Oyedeji who spoke with THE WITNESS, noted that the bank’s high fraud cases 2023 leave much to be desired and exposed how vulnerable its system is. Oyedeji noted that the bank management must wake up and brace up its system, otherwise it will continue to lose investors’ confidence.

 

“Wema Bank needs to do something urgently to forestall this magnitude of fraud and assure its depositors that their funds are safe.

 

“The bank must adopt sophisticated cybersecurity measures to mitigate current cyber threats, engage professionals and educate customers on ways to avoid falling prey to fraudulent actors,” he noted.

 

Similarly, in the 2023 financial year, Wema Bank also incurred sanctions, paying penalties totaling N61.350 million, for contravention of cyber security framework law, section of bank and other financial institutions Act BOFIA, 2020, late rendition of returns; circulars on the CBN know your Customers among others.

 

On the cyber security framework, the apex bank asked the Wema Bank to pay N2 million while a total of N17.450 million and N20.00 million paid for contravention of the CBN circular on KYC and section 19 (3A) of the BOFIA 2020 respectively .

 

Wema Bank was made to pay a sum of N10 million, N8 million and N2 million for late rendition of the returns, breaches of Risk-Based Supervision (RBS) and regulatory breaches on CBN clearance respectively.

 

The bank also paid N1.9 million for late filing of 2022 audited financial statements with the Nigerian Exchange.

 

However, despite the fraud and security challenges, THE WITNESS reports that the bank during this period grew its revenue by 70.54 per cent to N226.91 billion on the back of interest income that went up by 71.83 per cent to N185.64 billion and fees and communications revenue that improved by 50.50 per cent to N24.96 billion.

 

The lender’s pre-tax profit rose by 195.6 per cent to N43.59 billion and post-tax profit leaped by 220.42 percent to N35.93 billion from N11.21 billion it recorded in 2022.

 

However, its net trading income dipped by 79.45 per cent to N822.49 million from N4 billion in 2022, underpinned by N1.15bn Treasury Bill loss it suffered in 2023.

 

SOURCE: The Witness

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#CHIVIDO24: See Loved Up Photos From Davido and Chioma’s Pre-wedding Photoshoot

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Naijanewsngr reports that Davido and Chioma have released their pre-wedding snapshots and videos, asserting that their wedding, which is scheduled for the 25th of June, 2024, is OFFICIAL.  Fans have tagged the wedding to be the final bus stop for a love that stood the test of time. They have asserted that the four year wait after the release of Davido's song 1 Milli where he featured his now Fiance, has been worth it.  See pictures and Videos from the Pre-wedding photoshoot;

 

Naijanewsngr reports that Davido and Chioma have released their pre-wedding snapshots and videos, asserting that their wedding, which is scheduled for the 25th of June, 2024, is OFFICIAL.

 

Fans have tagged the wedding to be the final bus stop for a love that stood the test of time. They have asserted that the four year wait after the release of Davido’s song 1 Milli where he featured his now Fiance, has been worth it.

 

See pictures and Videos from the Pre-wedding photoshoot;

#CHIVIDO24: See Loved Up Photos From Davido and Chioma's Pre-wedding Photoshoot

#CHIVIDO24: See Loved Up Photos From Davido and Chioma's Pre-wedding Photoshoot

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AREN’T THEY BEAUTIFUL!!

 

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Dangote Refinery to set up terminal in the Caribbean for export of petroleum products

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Dangote Refinery to set up terminal in the Caribbean for export of petroleum products

Dangote Refinery to set up terminal in the Caribbean for export of petroleum products

Dangote Refinery is planning to set up a terminal in the Caribbean to export petroleum products to countries in the North American region.

Aliko Dangote, the president and CEO of the refinery, made this disclosure on Wednesday at Afreximbank’s Trade and Investment Forum in The Bahamas.

The business mogul said the company can easily supply petroleum products to the region within 18 to 20 days.

According to Africa’s richest man, the company will sign a bilateral agreement with the region to construct the terminal for the exportation of its petroleum products.

“I know the price in the Caribbean in terms of petroleum products is very high. We produce it cheaply. We can always bring it here. We can set up a terminal and we’ll be able to fix their needs.

“We will have a bilateral agreement with them and also bringing in stuff from there is not more than 18 to 20 days maximum. And then we need to set up a terminal.

“Once we set up a terminal, they will have a very cheap oil. They will have cheap energy. And by having cheap energy, their own economy will grow faster,” Dangote said.

Dangote to also export Cement to the Region
In addition, the CEO of the $20 billion refinery mentioned that the conglomerate is not only seeking to invest in petroleum products in the region but also in cement.

Dangote stated that the company’s cement production capacity is nearly 52 million tons and will increase to about 62 million tons by the end of next year.

He added that the firm can meet the demand of the Caribbean market, creating a win-win situation for both parties.

“It’s not only about the oil. We now have a capacity of almost 52 million cement capacity. By the end of next year, we will be at 62 million of cement capacity. We are not only saying that we can bring in from Nigeria or from Africa.

“If they have limestones, we can also produce what can satisfy them. We’ve done that before in Africa and we should be able to free them up from the shackles of other people.

“If we the ingredients like the limestones etc, it’s a 28 months maximum. They can all be self-sufficient. It will be a win-win between us and them,” Dangote said.

What you should know
The Dangote refinery with a 650,000 barrel refining capacity has been described as the “game changer” of the oil and gas sector.
The refinery will be the largest in Africa and Europe once it begins full operation later next year.
According to reports, the $20 billion petroleum facility is expected to disrupt the $17 billion Africa-European market and reduce the continent’s dependence on imported petroleum products from Europe.
In addition, Dangote stated that the company is also eyeing the Brazilian market and other North American countries to supply refined products from the refinery.
“Our capacity is too big for Nigeria. It will be able to supply West Africa, Central Africa and also Southern Africa,” Dangote said in a panel discussion in Rwanda a few weeks ago.

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Dangote Refinery Mulls Lagos, London Stock Exchange Listings

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Dangote Refinery to set up terminal in the Caribbean for export of petroleum products

Dangote Refinery Mulls Lagos, London Stock Exchange Listings

The Dangote refinery is aiming for a dual listing on the London and Lagos bourses, a senior executive at the firm, Devakumar Edwin, has told Reuters.

Africa’s richest man and Chairman of the group, Aliko Dangote was earlier on Tuesday, quoted as saying he could try to list the company in Nigeria by the end of the year.

It is coming about six months after Dangote, also told the Financial Times of his intentions to publicly list the subsidiary of the Group, Dangote Petroleum Refinery on the Nigerian Exchange Limited.

At the time, Dangote stated that the company had resolved challenges about crude oil supply and was prepared for the listing.

The billionaire businessman already has some companies listed on the NGX, including Dangote Cement, Dangote Sugar Refinery and Nascon Allied Industries.

The refinery managers said there was need to approach the London Exchange because the Nigerian bourse may not have the capacity to handle it exclusively.

Asked to comment on Dangote’s statement to local media, Edwin told Reuters: “We have listed all our businesses. The NSE (Nigerian Stock Exchange) will not have adequate depth to handle exclusively the petroleum refinery. We would have to take it to LSE (London Stock Exchange) but also list in NSE.”

The refinery, Africa’s largest, built on a peninsula on the outskirts of the commercial capital Lagos at a cost of $20 billion, was completed after several years of delay.

It can refine up to 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) and will be the largest in Africa and Europe when it reaches full capacity this year or next.

Dangote has been trying to secure crude supplies for his refinery. He has interests in Dangote Cement, Dangote Flour Mills and Dangote Sugar, all listed on the Nigerian bourse.

In May, the company reached its first supply deal with TotalEnergies, after it put out a tender for 2 million barrels of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Midland crude every month for a year starting in July, according to tender documents.

The company since earlier in the year, has been refining diesel, jet fuel and other petroleum products and is expected to begin the production of petrol in June.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has said it recorded 310 cases of crude oil theft in the past week.

In its weekly update on the activities of the national oil company, the NNPC said that the cases were discovered between May 18 and May 24.

“Between May 18 and 24, 310 cases were recorded across the Niger Delta region by several incidence sources,” the NNPC stated.

In Grey Creek, Akwa Ibom state, it said a fuel station selling illegally refined fuels into cans and drums was uncovered in the past week, revealing that 122 illegal refineries were also uncovered in Bayelsa and Rivers states

According to the company, they were spotted in Tombia II, III, IV, and Umuajuloke, in Rivers state; Iduwini, Biogbolo, and Ajatiton, in Bayelsa state, while 65 illegal connections were discovered across several locations in Akuwa Odoka, Umuajuloke, and Watson Point, also in Rivers state as well as along Soku Sand Barth pipeline in the state.

It added that vandalised wellheads were discovered in Tombia IIII in Rivers state and Egbema in Imo state, where a pit filled with crude oil from a vandalised wellhead was discovered.

In Ndoni, Rivers state, NNPC said it uncovered a vandalised pipeline channelled to a nearby oil pit, while five illegal storage sites were spotted in sacks, pits, cans, and in a fuel station.

The NNPC stated that 20 vehicle arrests were made in Delta and Imo states while 48 infractions were reported at sea. Also, 39 wooden boats conveying stolen crude or illegally refined products were seized and confiscated across several creeks in Bayelsa and Delta states, it said.

NNPC said 48 of the incidents occurred in the deep blue water, 40 in the western region, 134 in the central region, and 88 in the eastern region.

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