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Capital Market Alert: SEC Orders Immediate Asset Freeze on 13 Sanctioned Parties

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Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). File/photo: Nairametrics

Kelechi Mgboji

Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has directed the immediate freezing of assets belonging to 13 individuals and entities alleged to be linked to terrorism financing within the capital market.

The directive, issued early Monday ahead of market reopening, follows the inclusion of the affected persons on the Nigeria Sanctions List by the Nigeria Sanctions Committee.

According to the SEC, the action is backed by the provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, which empowers authorities to freeze without prior notice all funds, assets, and economic resources connected to designated individuals or organisations.

Affected individuals and firms

The sanctions list includes 10 individuals—among them Abdurrahaman Musa Ado, Bashir Ali Yusuf, Ibrahim Ali Alhassan, and Muhammad Ibrahim Isah—as well as three companies: Alin Yar Yaya General Enterprises, Are Nigeria Limited, and Suhailah Bashir General Enterprises.

Compliance directives to market operators

The SEC has instructed all Capital Market Operators (CMOs) and stakeholders to:

  • Identify and freeze all accounts linked to the listed individuals and entities immediately
  • Report frozen assets and attempted transactions to the Nigeria Sanctions Committee
  • File Suspicious Transaction Reports with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU)
  • Monitor and block any future dealings involving the sanctioned parties

The commission stressed that the freeze extends to jointly owned assets, funds held through intermediaries, and proceeds derived from such assets.

Background to the sanctions

Regulatory disclosures indicate that several of the individuals were previously convicted by an Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal in 2019 for financing terrorism linked to Boko Haram. The offences reportedly involved raising funds in Dubai and transferring them to Nigeria to support extremist activities, with sentences ranging from 10 years imprisonment to life.

The listed companies are  connected to individuals already convicted of terrorism-related crimes, highlighting the use of corporate entities as channels for illicit financial flows.

Broader implications

The SEC describes asset freeze as a preventive measure aimed at disrupting financial support systems for terrorism, rather than a punitive action.

It warned that non-compliance could attract severe penalties, including civil and criminal sanctions, as well as reputational damage for institutions involved.

The directive also applies beyond traditional financial institutions, extending to designated non-financial businesses and professions, signaling a wider enforcement net across Nigeria’s financial system.

What this means

The move underscores Nigeria’s tightening stance on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing measures. Market operators are now expected to strengthen real-time monitoring systems, ensure rapid name screening, and act swiftly on compliance requirements.

Analysts say it aligns with global financial integrity standards and reflects ongoing efforts to curb illicit financial flows, particularly as Nigeria seeks to maintain credibility in international financial markets.

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Senate Clears Customs of ₦62.2BN Under-remittance Allegation

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BY JAMES OBIOMA—The Senate Public Accounts Committee (SPAC) has officially cleared the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) of a N62.2 billion under-remittance allegation originally raised by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation in its 2019 audit report.

The clearance followed an investigative session on Tuesday, 16 June 2026, during which the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, successfully defended the Service by proving that the alleged shortfall was a misclassification of revenue by auditors.

The original query, read by a representative of the Auditor-General under the direction of SPAC Chairman, Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo, had alleged that out of N691.242 billion generated by Customs in 2017, only N629.23 billion reached the Federation Account, leaving a balance of N62.2 billion.

Defending the Service’s financial integrity, CG Adeniyi explained that the multi-billion naira deficit was completely non-existent.

“The under-remittance of N62.2 billion levelled against Customs in the 2019 audit report was wrongly arrived at through misclassification of levies collected,” Adeniyi stated. “While most of the levies are to be collected and remitted into the federation account, others like the ones on local production of wheat, textiles and wines, etc do not go into the federation account, the totality of which accounted for the alleged unremitted N62.2 billion.”

Following identical, convincing clarifications on the first three major queries, a member of the committee, Senator Babangida Hussaini, wondered why the issues had not been ironed out sooner. He noted that as a former civil servant, such straightforward technicalities should have been resolved at the preliminary audit level rather than escalating to a full Senate investigation.

The post Senate Clears Customs of ₦62.2BN Under-remittance Allegation appeared first on Business Today NG.

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Polaris Bank debunks death reports in Lagos branch fire incident

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Polaris Bank Limited has debunked reports claiming that over 34 persons died in a fire incident at its Broad Street branch in Lagos, describing the claims as false and misleading.

The bank issued the disclaimer in a post on X on Thursday, insisting that there were no casualties or fatalities in the fire incident.

A fire broke out on Thursday afternoon at a multi-storey building housing a Polaris Bank branch on Broad Street, Lagos Island.

The bank said the fire incident, which originated from a customer’s vehicle parked on the third-floor car park, was contained following the activation of its emergency response procedures and the prompt intervention of firefighters.

“A fire incident occurred today at the car park of our Broad Street Branch, Lagos, originating from a customer’s vehicle parked on the 3rd-floor car park.

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“The fire was swiftly contained following the activation of our emergency response procedures and the prompt intervention of firefighters,” the bank stated.

READ ALSO: CBN, Polaris Bank refute liquidation rumors

Polaris Bank said it has commenced investigations to determine the cause of the fire incident, noting that reports claiming that over 34 persons were feared dead are false and misleading.

“We confirm that there were no casualties or fatalities. Reports claiming that over 34 persons were feared dead are false and misleading.

“Investigations into the incident are ongoing. We thank emergency responders, our staff, customers, and stakeholders for their support,” the bank said.

Polaris Bank urged the public to rely only on credible news platforms and its official channels for accurate information and to disregard false reports circulating online.

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