Business

EFCC’s raid on our headquarters embarrassing – Dangote

Published

3 years ago

January 7, 2024

Advocate News Nigeria

• Aliko Dangote

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Dangote Industries Limited has opened up on the last week visit by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to its headquarters in Lagos, describing it as embarrassing.

While pledging it was ready to assist the Commission in its investigations, the indigenous conglomerate in a statement disclosed that it received a letter from the EFCC on December 6, 2023, requesting details of all the foreign exchange allocated to it by the Central Bank of Nigeria from 2014 to the present.

Describing the request from EFCC as not being peculiar to Dangote Group, the Company management said, “We understand similar letters were sent to 51 other Groups of companies requesting for same information spanning the same period.”

According to the statement, Dangote Group responded to the EFCC to acknowledge receipt of the letter whilst seeking clarification on the subsidiaries or companies within the Group that they required information on. It also requested additional time to compile and properly present the extensive documentation spanning ten years.

“However, the EFCC did not provide the clarification sought and did not honour the request for an extension, and insisted on receiving the complete set of documents within the limited timeframe.

The management of Dangote Group stated that “despite this constraint, we assured the EFCC of our commitment to providing the information and pledged to share documents in batches as we complete the compilation.”

According to Dangote Group, “On 4 January 2024, our team delivered the first batch of documents to the EFCC. However, officers of the EFCC did not accept the documents, insisting on visiting our offices to collect the same set of documents directly.

“Whilst our representatives were still at the EFCC’s office to deliver the documents, a team of their officers proceeded to visit our offices to demand the same documents in a manner that appeared designed to cause us unwarranted embarrassment. Worthy of note is the fact that the officials did not take any documents or files from our Head office during their visit as these were already in their office.

“We must emphasize that, to our knowledge, no accusations of wrongdoing have been made against any company within our Group. At present, we are only responding to a request for information to assist the EFCC with their ongoing investigation.”

Stating its resolve to continue to play its key role in stimulating the domestic economy, Dangote Group declared, “as a law-abiding and ethical corporate citizen, we remain committed to providing the EFCC with all necessary information and cooperation. We have already delivered the first batch of documents and are actively working to compile and submit the remaining documents, in good time, to aid their investigation.

“Our Group is a key contributor to the national GDP, the largest employer in the private sector, one of the largest groups listed on the Nigerian Exchange, and one of the highest taxpayers in the country. We remain steadfast in our belief in Nigeria’s commitment to the rule of law and its dedication to fostering an environment conducive to investment and value creation for both local and foreign investors.”

The Company then called for the understanding and patience of all stakeholders and promised to inform them of any further developments.

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Business

AFRAA welcomes Enugu Air, strengthens Nigeria’s Domestic Aviation growth

Published

4 days ago

August 20, 2026

Advocate News Nigeria

Enugu Air

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The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) has admitted Enugu Air as Member, extending the Association’s membership base in Nigeria’s fast-growing domestic aviation market and reaffirming AFRAA’s commitment to supporting the continued development of African carriers across the continent.

This was announced by AFRAA in Nairobi on Wednesday, making Enugu Air the 50th Member of the association, joining the AFRAA airline fraternity, collectively representing more than 85 per cent of total international traffic carried by African airlines.

Speaking on the occasion, AFRAA Secretary General, Mr. Abdérahmane Berthé, said, “We are delighted to welcome Enugu Air into the AFRAA fraternity.

“As a state-backed carrier serving Nigeria’s rapidly expanding domestic market, Enugu Air represents the kind of homegrown investment that is vital to building resilient air connectivity across our continent.

“We look forward to supporting the airline through the IOSA certification process and to its continued growth within the AFRAA membership, as we work together to advance the cause of unified African skies.”

Reacting to the development, the CEO of Enugu, Capt Tolu Ita, described the admission into AFRAA as a major milestone in the airline’s short history.

“We are honoured to join the AFRAA fraternity. This membership underscores Enugu Air’s commitment to safe, reliable, and affordable air travel for Nigerians while contributing to the vision of a unified African aviation market.

“We look forward to collaborating with fellow AFRAA members and leveraging the association’s support as we grow our network and pursue IOSA certification,” Tolu stated.

Founded on July 7, 2025, Enugu Air commenced commercial operations with a fleet of Embraer E170/E190/E195 aircraft.

The airline, which has its headquarters in Enugu and operates from the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, currently serves nine domestic destinations including Enugu, Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano and Benin City.

As part of the airline’s growth strategy, Enugu Air plans to expand further across Nigeria and, in subsequent phases, to launch regional and international routes across Africa, Europe, and beyond.

As part of its growth strategy, Enugu Air plans to expand further across Nigeria and, in subsequent phases, to launch regional and international routes across Africa, Europe, and beyond.

The admission of Enugu Air aligns with AFRAA’s strategic priorities and strengthens the voice of the association. Nigeria, as Africa’s most populous nation and one of its fastest-growing economies, remains central to the realization of a truly integrated African aviation market.

Meanwhile, founded in Accra, Ghana, in April 1968, and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, AFRAA’s mission is to promote, serve African Airlines and champion Africa’s aviation industry.

The association envisions a sustainable, interconnected and affordable air transport industry in Africa, where African airlines become key players and drivers of African economic development.

AFRAA membership cuts across the entire continent and includes all the major intercontinental African operators.

The association’s members represent over 85% of total international traffic carried by African airlines.

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Business

NRS releases guidelines on Cryptocurrency, virtual assets taxation

Published

3 weeks ago

August 3, 2026

Advocate News Nigeria

Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji

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The Nigeria Revenue Service has issued comprehensive guidelines on the taxation of virtual assets, providing a regulatory framework for the taxation of cryptocurrency and other digital asset transactions in line with the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025, and the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025.

The new guidelines are aimed at taxpayers, Virtual Asset Service Providers, Peer-to-Peer marketplace operators, tax practitioners and individuals engaged in virtual asset activities, as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to expand the country’s tax base and strengthen compliance within the rapidly growing digital economy.

In a public notice issued on Monday, the NRS said it had formally released the Guidelines on the Taxation of Virtual Assets.

According to the agency, the document establishes a clear administrative framework governing tax obligations for virtual asset transactions in Nigeria.

“The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) wishes to inform taxpayers, Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), Peer-to-Peer (P2P) marketplace operators, tax practitioners, and all persons engaged in virtual asset activities that it has issued the Guidelines on the Taxation of Virtual Assets.

“The Guidelines provide a clear administrative framework for the taxation of virtual assets in Nigeria. They set out the applicable tax obligations including registration, reporting and record-keeping obligations, valuation principles, and the tax treatment of virtual asset transactions in accordance with the provisions of the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025, and the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025.”

The NRS said the initiative forms part of broader reforms designed to improve certainty in tax administration as digital assets become increasingly integrated into the country’s financial system.

“The issuance of these Guidelines is part of the Service’s commitment to providing clarity, certainty, and consistency in the administration of Nigeria’s tax laws as they relate to the rapidly evolving virtual asset ecosystem. The Guidelines are intended to promote voluntary compliance, enhance transparency, and support the development of a fair and efficient tax framework for digital asset transactions.”

The agency urged all affected stakeholders to study the new provisions and ensure full compliance with their tax obligations.

“All affected taxpayers and stakeholders are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the provisions of the Guidelines and ensure full compliance with the applicable tax obligations.”

It added that the guidelines are available for download on its official website.

The release of the guidelines marks another step in Nigeria’s evolving regulatory approach to digital assets. In recent years, Nigerian authorities have moved from largely restricting cryptocurrency-related activities to establishing clearer legal and tax frameworks for the sector.

The guidelines also follow the enactment of the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025, and the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025, which introduced sweeping reforms to the country’s tax system, including provisions covering emerging sectors such as virtual assets.

The reforms are expected to improve tax administration, increase government revenue and provide greater regulatory certainty for businesses and investors operating in Nigeria’s digital economy.

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Business

Court dismisses suit by Bayelsa traditional ruler challenging Shell’s divestment,pollution

Published

1 month ago

July 17, 2026

Advocate News Nigeria

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The Yenagoa Division of the Federal High Court on Friday dismissed a suit challenging the divestment of Shell from onshore assets.

The suit filed by King Bubaraiye Dakolo, traditional ruler of Ekpetiama in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa also sought redress and remediation of cumulative pollution of Dakolo’s domain for 40 years.

Dakolo alleged that the divestment by Shell did not follow the stipulated guidelines in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.

However, presiding judge, Justice Ayo Emmanuel in a ruling dismissed the case for being filed out of time adding that under the statute, any objections to divestment on guy to be filed within three months.

Emmanuel also held that the traditional ruler lacked the ‘locus standi’ to institute the case as he had no role in the divestment.

The judge further stated that the plaintiff failed to explore and exhaust the conflict resolution mechanism mechanisms by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission,

The judge noted that the failure according to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA)asked the suit invalid.

“Plaintiff’s failure to satisfy the mandatory statutory conditions precedent under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) strips this Court of jurisdiction.

“The Plaintiff further contended that the injuries complained of constitute a “continuing injury, thereby creating a continuous cause of action that escapes the limitation periods.

“However, looking closely at the pleadings, the Plaintiff joins historical grievances stretching back decades with specific events that allegedly took place around 2024. A continuous injury means a recurrence of the legally wrongful act itself, not the continuous persistence of the injurious effects of a singular past act.

“From the facts presented, the alleged causes of action against the public officers (the 4th, 5th, and 6th Defendants) arose well outside the mandated 3-month period prescribed by POPA.

“Furthermore, the claims touching on tortious liability are caught by the 5-year limitation threshold under Section 16 of the Limitation Law of Bayelsa State,” Emmanuel ruled.

Reacting, Counsel to the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Lawrence Edet who spoke for the defendants thanked the court for dispensing justice to their favour.

Counsel to Dakolo said that they will pursue the case beyond the trial court and will be heading to the court of appeal.

Environmental justice group, Social Action in its reaction to the judgement expressed regret that the court had to ignore the quest for environmental justice and technicalities.

Dr Prince Edegbuo
Resource Justice Manager at Social Action said: “It is very very unfortunate that a matter as important as this that is gaining international traction in home countries where these international companies come from and the activities being condemned but our legal system finds it convenient to discard a case that has caused so much hardship and suffering on the people.

“The pollution had devastated the environment and denied people of their livelihoods and even affected the reproductive health of the people, it is heartbreaking that the Federal High Court struck out this case.

“We will meet at the Appeal Court, we will not relent, we shall continue to support the Ekpetiama people in this litigation, this is just the court of first instance,” he said.

Ekpetiama community is in the neighbourhood and part of host communities to the Gbarain-Ubie gas plant and Gbarain oilfields.

Listed as defendants in the suit No. FHC/YNG/CS/81/2025, are Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, Shell Petroleum N.V, Shell UK PLC.

Others are Attorney General of the Federation, The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Minister of Petroleum Resources and Renaissance Energy Africa Ltd.

It will be recalled that Renaissance Energy Africa, a consortium of indigenous oil firms in March 2025 acquired the onshore and shallow waters oil and gas assets hitherto operated by SPDC, following the divestments by Shell UK PLC, the parent company to SPDC.