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Court Orders Tony Elumelu’s UBA To Pay N39.1m

Court Orders Tony Elumelu’s UBA To Pay N39.1m, $53,078 Illegally Withheld Customer Funds

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Court Orders Tony Elumelu’s UBA To Pay N39.1m, $53,078 Illegally Withheld Customer Funds—-For Tony Elumelu’s chaired United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA), it has become a case of “one day, one trouble” as the bank staggers from one issue to another.

Recall that just weeks ago, the Lagos State Police Command arrested four UBA officials for allegedly stealing £138,924 (over ₦270 million) from international airlines’ accounts. According to police investigations, the suspects reportedly conspired to siphon funds from domiciliary accounts into private accounts, subsequently redistributing them to multiple beneficiaries.

Just last week, the bank faced yet another controversy following an alarm raised by one of its customers, Ibhahe Hope Ehieribo. Ehieribo, a U.S.-based Nigerian, accused UBA of unlawfully clearing ₦106,309,534.87 from his savings account. The withdrawal, he said, was allegedly based on false claims that he had died while living abroad. Following public outcry and pressure on social media, UBA returned the full amount to Ehieribo.

This latest judgment adds to the mounting legal troubles surrounding UBA.

Delivering judgment on April 28, 2025, Justice Dehinde Dipeolu ruled that UBA must pay the specified sums, along with pre-judgment interest at 20% and post-judgment interest at 10% per annum, to the court-appointed Liquidator of the company.

The court also mandated that UBA produce certified statements of the company’s accounts spanning from November 2, 2021 — the date of the company’s winding-up commencement — to the date of the judgment.

The ruling followed an application filed by the Liquidator in the winding-up suit marked FHC/L/CP/1577/2021: Nduka Nwabuwa & 3 Ors v. Addy Finance & Investments Ltd. The Liquidator’s legal counsel, T.Y. Salman, accused UBA of unlawfully withholding the company’s funds despite existing court orders restraining withdrawals since March 30, 2022, and the formal appointment of a provisional liquidator on July 5, 2022.

According to court records, UBA’s own affidavit in previous proceedings confirmed that the accounts of Addy Finance with the bank held balances of N30,455,571.65, N8,652,845.56, and $53,078.04 at various dates. Yet, UBA allegedly failed to remit the funds or provide full disclosure to the Liquidator.

Justice Dipeolu sharply criticized UBA for failing to comply with its fiduciary obligations and attempting to rely on garnishee and interim forfeiture orders obtained after the winding-up proceedings had commenced—orders which the court declared null and void under Section 577 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020.

The court also flagged multiple instances of dubious conduct by the bank: “Filing a sworn affidavit in November 2023 denying the existence of the funds, while simultaneously disbursing over N27 million to select creditors without informing the court or the Liquidator;

“Making secret settlements, including payments of N16 million to UBA staff, without involving the company, the Liquidator, or the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC“;

“Failing to serve key documents (notably Exhibit ATO 6) on the Liquidator until after these transactions had been completed.

The judge held that as custodian of the accounts, UBA bore the burden of proving the non-existence of the balances.

The bank’s failure to do so, combined with its actions during the liquidation process, amounted to professional misconduct.

The court also criticized the conduct of UBA’s legal representatives during the case.

While granting most of the Liquidator’s reliefs, the court declined one request, citing vagueness in its formulation.

As UBA continues to reel from controversy to controversy, industry watchers say the court’s latest ruling raises renewed concerns over corporate governance, transparency, and internal controls at one of Nigeria’s largest financial institutions.

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Manchester City Found Guilty of 114 Financial Charges as Sanctions Remain Undecided

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Manchester City Found Guilty of 114 Financial Charges as Sanctions Remain Undecided—-An independent commission has reportedly ruled against Manchester City on all but one of the Premier League’s financial charges, but sanctions are yet to be decided as the club prepares to appeal.

Manchester City have reportedly been found guilty on 114 of the 115 financial charges brought against them by the Premier League, according to reports from The Athletic and The Times, in a major development that could have significant consequences for English football.

The verdict comes more than three years after the Premier League formally charged Manchester City following a lengthy investigation into the club’s finances.

An independent commission is understood to have reached its decisions on the allegations, which cover several seasons dating back to the 2009-10 campaign. City have consistently denied wrongdoing throughout the case.

However, no sanction has yet been decided.

Reports indicate that Manchester City are expected to appeal the findings, meaning the long-running case is now moving into another stage. Sky Sports reports that the process is moving towards an appeal, while the Premier League has declined to comment because the proceedings remain private and confidential.

What Were Manchester City Accused Of?

The Premier League’s original case against City included allegations that the club failed to provide accurate financial information over a nine-year period.

The charges included alleged failures to accurately report revenue, operating costs and sponsorship income, as well as allegations concerning payments made to players and managers.

The Premier League also accused City of breaches relating to UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations and its own Profitability and Sustainability Rules.

A separate set of allegations concerned the club’s alleged failure to cooperate with the Premier League’s investigation.

The case was formally referred to an independent commission in February 2023 after a Premier League investigation that lasted several years.

City Maintain Their Position

Manchester City have repeatedly rejected the allegations and continue to maintain their position that the process has not yet been completed.

Following reports of the verdict, a City spokesperson said the Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements still to be completed and subject to strict confidentiality. The club also reiterated its previous position from February 2023.

The Premier League has also refused to publicly confirm the reported findings.

A league spokesperson told Reuters: “It’s a confidential process, we’re not commenting at all.”

Sanctions Yet to Be Decided

Despite the reported guilty findings, Manchester City have not been punished at this stage.

The exact sanctions, if any, will depend on the next stage of the proceedings. Possible punishments discussed during the case have included financial penalties and sporting sanctions, but no specific punishment has been confirmed.

That means there is currently no confirmed points deduction, relegation, expulsion or stripping of previous titles.

Any such outcome would have to come through the formal disciplinary process and could also be affected by City’s expected appeal.

Appeal Could Extend the Case

The reported verdict is therefore not necessarily the final word on the matter.

Manchester City are expected to challenge the findings, with Sky Sports reporting that the inquiry is moving towards the appeal stage.

The original hearing lasted 12 weeks, concluding in December 2024, after which the independent commission spent considerable time considering the extensive evidence.

The case has become one of the most significant financial disputes in Premier League history, with the outcome potentially affecting the club’s sporting and financial standing.

For now, the key development is the reported 114 guilty findings from 115 charges.

But with sanctions still undecided, the verdict not publicly released by the Premier League and an appeal expected, Manchester City’s lengthy financial case is far from over.

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Unlocking Website Potential: How Emdash Theme Can Transform Your Online Presence

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In today’s digital landscape, a strong online presence is no longer optional – it’s essential for success. Your website serves as the virtual storefront of your business, and first impressions matter. A poorly designed or outdated website can deter potential customers and damage your credibility. This is where selecting the right WordPress theme becomes crucial, and I’ve found Emdash to be a particularly powerful and versatile option.

Emdash theme stands out for its clean design, user-friendly interface, and extensive customization options. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or a novice user, Emdash makes it easy to create a professional-looking website that reflects your brand identity. Its responsive design ensures that your website looks great on any device, from desktops and laptops to tablets and smartphones. In a world where mobile browsing is increasingly prevalent, this is a non-negotiable feature.

One of the most significant advantages of Emdash is its flexibility. It offers a wide range of pre-built templates and layouts, which can be easily adapted to suit your specific needs. Whether you’re building a blog, an e-commerce store, or a portfolio website, Emdash provides the tools you need to get the job done. The theme is also highly customizable, allowing you to change colors, fonts, and other design elements to match your brand aesthetic.

Beyond its aesthetic appeal, Emdash is also designed with performance in mind. It’s optimized for speed and SEO, ensuring that your website loads quickly and ranks well in search engine results. This is crucial for attracting organic traffic and improving your online visibility. A slow-loading website can frustrate visitors and lead to high bounce rates, which can negatively impact your search engine rankings.

Furthermore, Emdash boasts excellent documentation and customer support. If you ever run into any issues or have questions about the theme, you can rely on their comprehensive documentation or reach out to their support team for assistance. This is a valuable asset, especially for those who are new to WordPress or website development.

In my experience, Emdash has been a game-changer for many of my clients. It has allowed them to create stunning websites that effectively showcase their products and services. It’s a theme that strikes the perfect balance between design, functionality, and ease of use. If you’re looking for a WordPress theme that can help you transform your online presence, I highly recommend giving Emdash a try. You can find more information about the this theme at https://emdashtheme.org.

In today’s digital landscape, a strong online presence is no longer optional – it’s essential for success. Your website serves as the virtual storefront of your business, and first impressions matter. A poorly designed or outdated website can deter potential customers and damage your credibility. This is where selecting the right WordPress theme becomes crucial, and I’ve found Emdash to be a particularly powerful and versatile option. Emdash theme stands out for its clean design, user-friendly interface, and extensive customization options. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or a novice user, Emdash makes it easy to create a professional-looking website that reflects your brand identity. Its responsive design ensures that your website looks great on any device, from desktops and laptops to tablets and smartphones. In a world where mobile browsing is increasingly prevalent, this is a non-negotiable feature. One of the most significant advantages of Emdash is its flexibility. It offers a wide range of pre-built templates and layouts, which can be easily adapted to suit your specific needs. Whether you’re building a blog, an e-commerce store, or a portfolio website, Emdash provides the tools you need to get the job done. The theme is also highly customizable, allowing you to change colors, fonts, and other design elements to match your brand aesthetic. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, Emdash is also designed with performance in mind.

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