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Judge Throws Out Evidence in Alleged $35m NCDMB Fraud Case

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The trial of Akindele Akintoye, alongside Platforms Capital Investment Partners Limited and Duport Midstream Company Limited continued on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 before Justice Ekerete Akpan of the Federal High Court, Abuja, with the court refusing to admit in evidence, a document tendered by Akintoye, containing his request to buy off the shares of Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB.

The defendants are facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on an amended six-count charge bordering on dishonesty and conversion of $35million belonging to NCDMB.

The application for the admission of the document was filed by counsel to the first and second defendant, E.O. Adekwu, SAN, on March 10, 2026, during his cross-examination of the Fourth Prosecution Witness, PW4, Isaac Yalah, but met a strong objection from the prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN,  who asked the court to dismiss the application and reject the document on the ground that it was a mere photocopy and not a certified true copy.

“I have an objection to the admissibility of this document, the ground is that, this document is a photocopy of an original and it is addressed to NCDMB which is a public institution and such document should have been certified. The only admissible document in law of a copy of a public document is a certified true copy.  We rely on Section 89 of the Evidence Act and Section 102 of the Evidence Act, and we also commend the case of Adeyefa against Bamgboye 2013,

10NWLR, part 1863 page 532. We also commend the case of Onwuzuruike against Edoziem 2016 6NWLR Part 1508, Page 205. We urge the court to discountenance it and dismiss it,” he said.

Delivering ruling on the admissibility of the document on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, Justice Akpan aligned himself with the position of the prosecution counsel and threw it out on the ground that it is a photocopy of a public document and not the original.

He adjourned the matter till May 18 and 19, 2026 for continuation of trial.

 

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NCAA fines Saudi Airlines ₦6 million for alleged violations

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The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has imposed a ₦6 million fine on Saudi Airlines for what it described as consumer-protection-related violations.

Michael Achimugu, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, disclosed this on Friday.

Mr Achimugu stated that the sanction became necessary after the airline failed to resolve several outstanding consumer issues, despite repeated interventions by the regulator and an extended period granted for compliance.

According to him, the NCAA had previously stepped in to support the airline in managing a situation at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja a few months ago that could have escalated into violence.

He noted that the authority had also given Saudi Airlines additional time to address pending complaints and comply with the regulator’s determinations, but the airline failed to meet its obligations.

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“The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has sanctioned Saudi Airlines to the tune of ₦6 million for consumer protection-related infractions,” Mr Achimugu said.

He explained that the enforcement action was taken to ensure compliance with Part 19 of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) 2023, which outlines the rights of air passengers and the responsibilities of airlines operating in the country.

The NCAA expressed hope that the sanction would encourage the airline to improve its operations in Nigeria and strengthen its commitment to passenger welfare.

Mr Achimugu emphasised that passengers travelling to and from Nigeria deserve to be treated fairly and with respect by all airlines operating in the country.

READ ALSO: NCAA Championships: Ogazi shatters records, Ajayi strikes gold as Nigerians shine in Eugene

He added that while the authority would continue to support Saudi Airlines and other carriers to operate efficiently, it would not hesitate to enforce regulatory standards where necessary to protect consumers.

Saudi Airlines had yet to respond to the NCAA’s sanctions as of the time of filing this report.


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Enterprise Life Assurance Meets Full Regulatory Capital Requirements, Boosts Liquidity

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BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—Enterprise Life Assurance (Nigeria) Limited has announced the full remittance of its statutory deposit of N1 billion to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), underscoring its robust financial health and compliance with regulatory mandates.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the company, Nelson Akerele, disclosed this during a recent media briefing while addressing the firm’s capital positioning and compliance with the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM).

According to Akerele, Enterprise Life—which entered the Nigerian market approximately five years ago alongside peers like Heirs General and Heirs Life—has progressively built on its foundational capital structure to satisfy current regulatory thresholds.

“We started with ₦8 billion,” Akerele stated, recalling the company’s entry as one of the four entities licensed in that licensing wave. “What we have as a statutory deposit right now, as I speak, is ₦1 billion, which has been fully remitted to the designated account assigned to us.”

Beyond meeting the statutory deposit mandate, the Enterprise Life boss revealed that the company has fully satisfied its Minimum Capital Requirement (MCR).

He attributed this seamless compliance to a deliberate operational strategy that favors liquid assets over heavy fixed investments.

Unlike traditional players with massive capital tied up in real estate, Enterprise Life has maintained an agile, cash-ready balance sheet.

“We are not heavy in terms of buildings and all that; our assets are held in liquid form—in cash and cash equivalents,” Akerele emphasized. “We are an extremely liquid company.”

This cash-heavy asset strategy positions the insurer to promptly meet its obligations, match underwriting risks effectively, and settle policyholders’ claims without the delays often associated with liquidating physical property.

The announcement comes at a critical time when NAICOM continues to emphasize stricter solvency and liquidity management across the Nigerian insurance ecosystem to boost public confidence in the sector.

The post Enterprise Life Assurance Meets Full Regulatory Capital Requirements, Boosts Liquidity appeared first on Business Today NG.

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