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Contempt: Court Vacates Order Sentencing MD, Company Secretary of Fidelity Bank To Six Weeks In Prison
A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Ikeja , Lagos has vacated its ruling that convicted and sentenced the Managing Director and Company Secretary of Fidelity Bank Plc to six weeks in prison or a fine of Four Hundred Thousand Naira respectively for contempt.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr. Lateef Owolabi vacated the order in a Suit No: MIK/4726/22 between Justin Ahmed, (judgement creditor), Prince Enabulele Osazee, (judgement debtor) and Fidelity Bank Plc, (1st Garnishee/Applicant).
The court in an earlier ruling delivered on February 6, 2023, held that the Managing Director of Fidelity Bank, Nneka Chinwe Onyeali-Ikpe and the Company Secretary, Mrs. Unuigboje Ezinwa should be committed to six weeks’ imprisonment over alleged disobedience of a garnishee order of the court restraining the bank from allowing a judgement debtor access to his account.
However, at the resumed proceedings on the matter on Feb 15, 2023, the court vacated the committal order on the premise of facts presented before the court that the alleged acts of contempt were not deliberate but arose out of communication gap between the said parties and the erstwhile counsel. The court in its ruling also stated that the error or sin of the counsel should not be visited on a party or litigants. The court also noted that the monies which was the subject matter and fulcrum of the contempt proceedings has since been paid to the judgment creditor.
“From the materials presented before this court by the applicant, this application falls within the classic rule where the error or sin of the counsel should not be visited on a party or litigants. Moreover, the applicant has averred that the monies subject matter, the fulcrum of the contempt proceedings had since been paid to the judgment creditor. Having fully discharged this payment to the satisfaction of the judgment creditor, this court should not be seen to cry more than the bereaved”, Mr Lateef Owolabi held.
*The solicitor to the bank explained that Fidelity Bank, being a law abiding institution that will never or under any circumstance, directly or indirectly denigrate the integrity of the nation’s judiciary, had upon receipt of the garnishee order nisi on December 22, 2022, conducted a search immediately, and the result showed several accounts bearing similar names to the Judgment Debtor’s (Prince Enabulele Osazee).* To prevent the bank from erroneously restricting the wrong account, the bank filed an affidavit requesting additional account details to enable it ascertain the correct account(s) to restrict.
He further stated that, on January 16, 2023, the bank received the Judgment Creditor’s affidavit showing the account number of the Judgment Debtor. Armed with the correct account number, the bank immediately identified and placed a lien on the Judgment Debtor’s account. Unfortunately, during the intervening period, the judgement debtor had carried on depositing and withdrawing from his account.
In vacating the order on February 15,2023, the Chief Magistrate held that based on the materials before the court, the applicant has been able to tether the law to the facts to warrant the grant of the relief sought on their own strength and not based on lack of opposition.
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ZenithBankPlcreaffirmeditscommitmenttoadvancingtrade,investmentandeconomiccooperationbetweenCanadaandAfricaastheHeadlineConferenceSponsorofthe6thCanada-AfricaBusinessConference, held on Wednesday, 24 June 2026 at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.OrganisedbytheCanada-AfricaChamberofBusiness,theconferencebroughttogetherahigh-levelCanadian business delegation representing 31 companies, alongside senior government officials, businessleaders, investors, policymakers, diplomats and development partners. The gathering set out to strengthencommercial relations between Canada and Africa and to position Nigeria as a strategic gateway for Canadianbusinesses seeking opportunities across the continent.The Canadian delegation comprised companies and institutions operating across financial services, security,mining andcritical minerals,legal andprofessional services, infrastructure, technology, healthcare, educationand clean energy. Among those present were GardaWorld, Dentons, Baywood Group, Element, Trilliant andother leading Canadian enterprises exploring commercial opportunities and strategic partnerships in Nigeria.The Executive Director of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Akin Ogunranti, who delivered the keynote address on behalfof the Group Managing Director/CEO, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON, described the conference as a timelyplatform for deepening commercial partnerships between Canada and Africa amid shifting global economicrealities. He underscored Africa’s readiness to lead the next phase of global economic growth, stressing thatthecontinent now possessestheinstitutions,policy frameworks andpartnershipsrequiredtoturn its immensepotential into shared prosperity.“The question is not whether Africa is rich in potential. It is whether we can turn that potential into prosperityour people can feel. For the first time, the answer is yes, because of the machinery we are now building,” hesaid.RepresentingtheGovernorofLagosState,HisExcellencyMr.BabajideSanwo-Olu,thePermanentSecretary, Ministryof Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade andInvestment, Mr. Babatunde Onigbanjo,reaffirmedthe State Government’s commitment to fostering an enabling environment for investment and internationalpartnerships, and highlighted Lagos’ position as Nigeria’s commercial hub and gateway to African markets.“Canada bringstothe tableconsiderable expertise,capital, innovation,and astrong traditionof institutionbuilding.Africa,andindeedLagos,offerscale.Weoffertalent,creativity,marketopportunitiesandanincreasingly sophisticated business environment. Together, these strengths create a compelling foundationfor transformative partnership,” he said.Speaking at the event, the Deputy High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, Mr. Carlos Rojas-Arbulú, notedthattheconferencereflectsthegrowingmomentuminbilateralcommercialcollaborationbetweenbothcountries. He said: “The relationship between Canada and Nigeria is not new. It is rooted in diplomacy, trade,education,culture,migration,andshareddemocraticvalues.Buttoday,Ibelieveweareenteringanewchapter: one that is more ambitious, more practical, and more human.”
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TheChairoftheBoardoftheCanada-AfricaChamberofBusiness,PaulaCaldwellSt-Onge,highlightedNigeria’sgrowing economic significance,saying: “Nigeria’s growth isnot theoretical.It is alreadybeing built byNigerian entrepreneurs, investors, financial institutions, innovators and companies whose ambition reachesacross Africa and around the world.”She also acknowledged Zenith Bank’s role in advancing the conference’s objectives, stating: “Zenith Bank isnot only oneof Africa’s leadingfinancial institutions, it isthe capital behindwhat you seehere today, and itrepresents the skill, ambition, discipline, innovation and excellence that this conference seeks to showcase.”Theconferencefeaturedhigh-levelpaneldiscussionsonCanada-Africacommercialrelations,investmentopportunitiesacrossprioritysectors,andtheimplementationoftheAfricanContinentalFreeTrade Area(AfCFTA). The sessions brought together policymakers, business executives and industry experts to identifypracticalpathwaysforstrengtheningcommercialpartnershipsandacceleratingsustainableeconomicdevelopment.The conference is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s attractiveness as a destination for Canadian investment,while opening new opportunities for technology transfer, private sector collaboration, job creation and long-termeconomicgrowth.ItalsoreinforcesNigeria’spositionasastrategichubforbusinessesseekingtoaccess opportunities across Africa under the AfCFTA, supporting the country’s ambition to expand its role inregional and global trade.
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HabariPay Launches Maiden “HabariPay Impact Report 2025”, Showcasing Its Journey, Business Evolution, and Contributions to Digital Payments
HabariPay Limited, the fintech subsidiary of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (“GTCO” or the “Group”), has unveiled its maiden HabariPay Impact Report 2025, providing stakeholders with a comprehensive account of the company’s evolution, innovation journey, business performance, and impact on the digital payments landscape.The report captures HabariPay’s transformation from a newly established fintech venture into one of Nigeria’s leading payment infrastructure providers, highlighting the milestones, strategic decisions, and investments that have shaped its growth. It showcases the company’s contributions to enabling digital commerce, supporting businesses, strengthening payment infrastructure, and expanding financial access through technology-driven solutions.The HabariPay Impact Report 2025 also highlights the company’s strong financial and operational performance, the growth of the Squad platform, and the development of infrastructure that powers payment acceptance, switching, transfers, merchant services, and value-added solutions. The publication further explores the role of innovation, talent development, and ecosystem partnerships in driving the company’s success.Speaking on the launch of the report, the Managing Director of HabariPay, Eduofon Japhet, said: “As a technology-driven company, we believe that impact extends beyond financial performance. It is reflected in the businesses we enable, the merchants we support, the infrastructure we build, and the opportunities we create for the next generation of innovators. The HabariPay Impact Report 2025 captures this journey and demonstrates our commitment to creating sustainable value for customers, partners, and the broader economy.”She further added: “The HabariPay Impact Report 2025 represents more than a reflection on our achievements; it is a testament to the deliberate investments we have made in building sustainable payment infrastructure, empowering businesses, fostering innovation, and creating long-term value for our stakeholders. As we look ahead, we remain committed to expanding our capabilities, deepening our impact, and shaping the future of digital payments through technology-driven solutions that are secure, scalable, and inclusive.”The report also showcases HabariPay’s investments in innovation through initiatives such as the Take on Squad Hackathon and the Squad Hackademy, both of which are helping to develop future technology talent and accelerate the creation of practical solutions to real-world challenges.Looking ahead, the publication outlines HabariPay’s vision for the future, including continued investment in payment infrastructure, merchant solutions, digital innovation, and intelligent technologies that will shape the future of financial services.
To access the HabariPay Impact Report 2025, please click the below: https://squadco.com/impact-report/About HabariPayHabariPay Ltd is the fintech subsidiary of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO), one of the largest financial services institutions in Africa with direct and indirect investments in a network of operating entities located in 10 countries across Africa and the United Kingdom.Licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), our goal is to support SMEs, micro merchants, large corporations, and other fintechs (Tech Stars) with the tools they need to thrive in an evolving digital economy and expand beyond their current market reach. HabariPay’s solutions include Squad, a full-scale digital payments toolkit to make in-person and online payments simpler, HabariPay Storefront, an e-commerce website to facilitate online purchases, Value-Added Services to help merchants access cost-effective and flexible airtime and data bundles to run their businesses, as well as a switching infrastructure that enables tech-focused businesses to optimise cost and make transactions more efficient.HabariPay’s contributions to Accelerating Digital Acceptance in Africa have not gone unnoticed–it received Mastercard’s Innovative Mobile Payment Solution Award at TIA 2022 for its innovative payment solution, SquadPOS.
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ZENITHBANKPARTNERSLAWMA,LASWATOCOMMEMORATEWORLDENVIRONMENT DAY 2026 WITH TWO-PHASE LAGOS CLEAN-UP
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