Connect with us

Featured

Oando Crisis: London Tribunal Asks Tinubu, Boyo to Pay Volpi N208bn

Published

on

Amid accusations by aggrieved shareholders of attempts to suppress the report of the ongoing forensic audit of its operation, Oando PLC Chief Executive, Wale Tinubu, and his deputy, Mofe Boyo, have been asked to pay Ansbury Investments Inc. about $680 million (about N207.9 billion @ N305.8/dollar).

Ansbury was incorporated in Panama as part of a family trust by an Italian-Nigerian businessman, Gabriele Volpi.

The three-member London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) presided by David Midon on July 6 gave the partial award against the two embattled top officials of Nigeria’s indigenous oil company.

In the ruling, affirmed by two other co-arbitrators, Marco Frigessi di Rattalma and Harry Matovu, the tribunal upheld Mr Volpi’s application that Ocean and Oil Development Partners (OODP) was indebted to Ansbury by about $600 million (about N183.5 billion).

OODP Limited, incorporated in the British Virgin Islands, controls 55.96 per cent equity in Oando PLC through a holding company, Ocean and Oil Development Partners (OODP) Nigeria Ltd.

The company was established at a time Oando PLC was preparing to acquire ConocoPhillips’ upstream oil and gas assets in Nigeria.

According to a copy of the tribunal ruling sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday by counsel to Ansbury Investment, Andrea Moja, the court also held that Whitmore Asset Management Limited was liable for another debt of $80 million (N24.5 billion).

Whitmore, incorporated in the British Virgin Islands as a single purpose investment vehicle, belongs to Messrs Tinubu and Boyo.

Court documents seen by PREMIUM TIMES showed initial agreement signed on June 17, 2013 gave 60 per cent equity in the venture to Ansbury and 40 per cent to Whitmore.

However, the source of dispute was whether there was a legally binding agreement for Ansbury to transfer 20 per cent share of its equity in the venture to Whitmore, such that OODP BVI equity would change to 60 per cent for Whitmore and 40 per cent for Ansbury.

Besides, the court was confronted with the decision whether the parties made a legally binding agreement to convert an outstanding loan of $150 million (plus interest) into shares in Oando E&P Holdings Limited.

In its ruling, the court said the draft amended loan agreement as well as the draft “Put and Call Option Agreements” never became effective.

“Whitmore is in breach of the repayment obligation in the First Loan Agreement,” the tribunal ruled. “The alleged oral agreement to switch the parties’ respective shareholdings in OODP BVI is not binding on the parties. The alleged oral agreement to extend the term of the loans to 1 January 2020 is not binding on the parties.”

Mr Moja said the final award was expected to follow in the next few days whereby the tribunal would make definite pronouncements on accrued interests on the debts owed and legal expenses.

He said the tribunal’s ruling is in respect of a debt Mr Tinubu is owing, and does not affect Mr Volpi’s status in Oando as its majority shareholder.

He said in line with the tribunal processes, details of the award have since been communicated to all the parties concerned since July 9. The ruling is, however, subject to appeal.

How Crisis Started

In 2012, Ansbury said it invested about $700 million in OODP BVI, by acquiring a 61.9 per cent stake in the firm, with Withmore Limited holding 38.10 per cent.

According to Mr. Volpi, Mr Tinubu approached him to invest in the company at a time Oando PLC was mobilising $1.5 billion to acquire assets in ConocoPhillips’ upstream oil and gas in Nigeria.

Similarly, OODP BVI, which controls 99.99 per cent equity in OODP Nigeria, holds 55.96 per cent of the stakes in Oando.

When the dispute broke out in 2017, Ansbury said it equally petitioned the Nigerian capital market regulatory authorities, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in May accusing the management of Oando PLC of mismanagement, “insider dealings, manipulation of the company’s shareholding structure and huge indebtedness”.

The petition culminated in the forensic audit of Oando PLC operations ordered by SEC in October 18, 2017.

But, the exercise did not take off several months after following the suspension from the office of the former Director General of SEC, Mounir Gwarzo.

Although Abdul Zubair was appointed acting DG to succeed Mr Gwarzo, he was redeployed on April 13 and replaced by Mary Uduk, whom critics say was brought by the minister to do her bidding.

Months after the audit by KPMG commenced, aggrieved shareholders under the platform of Proactive Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PROSAN) accused the management of the company, a fortnight ago, of working with the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun and Mrs Uduk, to frustrate the release of the audit report.

The shareholders blamed the long delay in releasing the audit report on Mrs Adeosun and Ms Uduk’s alleged clandestine activities “to shield Oando management from criminal prosecution”.

“We are calling on the Acting Director-General of SEC to immediately release the report of the forensic audit conducted on the company since last year although we believe the result will be compromised since they have failed to suspend the management of the company while the so-called forensic audit lasted,” National Coordinator of PROSAN, Taiwo Oderinde, said on Sunday in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES.

Oando Speaks

When contacted, the spokesperson of Oando, Alero Balogun, said on Monday that she does not have the authority to react to the debt issue.

She, however, Oando or Mr Tinubu’s lawyers would do so at the appropriate time.

Ms Balogun denied the allegation by Oando shareholders that the management was sitting on the forensic audit report.

“We (Oando PLC) are not sitting on any audit report. We went to court to challenge the audit, because we said SEC would not be fair. We lost. Now the the audit has begun and they are saying it is taking too long. We are also waiting for the report of the audit like every other person,” she said.

When PREMIUM TIMES contacted the minister for her response to the allegation she was frustrating the audit, her spokesperson, Oluyinka Akintunde, said his boss had no comment on the allegation.

Mr Akintunde directed this reporter to SEC, which he explained was the agency that ordered the forensic audit.

When this reporter contacted the acting director general of SEC for her response, the acting spokesperson of the commission, Efe Ebelo, assured that Ms Uduk would respond to PREMIUM TIMES’ enquiry.

About a day later, no response has been received from the regulator.

The firm conducting the audit, KPMG, also declined comment on the status.

A representative of the firm, who answered the telephone when the company’s official telephone was called, said KPMG is not obliged to speak to the media on any of its clients’ briefs.

Premium Times

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Featured

Glo Boosts Lagos Security with N1bn Donation to LSSTF

Published

on

By

In a landmark gesture underscoring its enduring commitment to national development and public safety, communication giant, Globacom, has donated ₦1 billion to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), to strengthen security infrastructure across Nigeria’s commercial capital. The contribution stands among the most significant private-sector interventions from the telecommunications industry to the Fund in recent years and reinforces Globacom’s position as a responsible and patriotic corporate citizen.

The donation follows Globacom’s participation in the LSSTF-organised Private Sector Breakfast Meeting with CEOs, hosted by the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Friday, January 30, 2026. The high-level forum emphasised deeper collaboration between government and business on security, innovation and economic resilience—an agenda Globacom has consistently supported through sustained social investment.

Expressing appreciation, the Executive Secretary/CEO of the Fund, Dr Ayo Ogunsan, described Globacom’s gesture as “a powerful demonstration of corporate citizenship and a strategic investment in the stability of Lagos State.” He noted that the LSSTF was established to bridge funding gaps in security infrastructure and therefore relies heavily on voluntary contributions from corporate bodies and well-meaning partners.

According to Dr Ogunsan, the ₦1 billion donation will significantly enhance the Fund’s capacity to address critical priorities for 2026, including multipurpose security helicopters and drones, Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), water cannons, digital communication equipment and Smart CCTV systems.

These assets are central to proactive policing, rapid response and intelligence-led operations across the state.

Reacting to the development, a senior executive of Globacom described the donation as an extension of the company’s long-standing belief in Nigeria’s future. “At Globacom, we see security not as a government burden alone, but as a shared responsibility. When people feel safe, enterprise grows, creativity flourishes and hope becomes practical,” the official said. “Our support for the LSSTF is about protecting the everyday dreams of millions of Lagosians.”

Globacom’s intervention is consistent with its long-standing approach to social responsibility—practical, timely and aligned with national priorities. Over the past decade, the company has supported relief efforts for flood-affected communities, assisted displaced persons, advanced youth skills through structured training programmes, and invested in education, culture and digital inclusion. These initiatives reflect a philosophy of giving that privileges institutional impact over personal acclaim.

Dr Ogunsan also urged Lagosians to support organisations that invest in the safety and development of the state. “When companies step forward to secure our environment, residents should reciprocate by patronising them. Their support directly impacts the protection of lives, property and economic activity,” he said.

By strengthening the LSSTF, Globacom is investing directly in the conditions that enable commerce to thrive—safety, confidence and stability. With this support, the Fund is poised to scale its interventions further, reinforcing Lagos State’s position as the country’s safest and most vibrant commercial hub.

As Lagos continues its journey toward global competitiveness, Globacom’s partnership with the LSSTF stands as a model of how the private sector can help secure shared prosperity.

In an industry built on signals, Globacom’s clearest signal remains trust—earned through consistency, conscience and action.

Continue Reading

Featured

Ex-AfDB Chief Akinwumi Adesina Launches Investment Platform to Drive Capital to Africa

Published

on

By

Africa appears to have found a deal and investment channel that will help lure scarce capital into a continent that houses 12 of the world’s 20 fastest-growing economies, as rising protectionism and geopolitical tensions weaken capital flows.

The Global Africa Investment Summit (GAIS), a transformative platform co-founded by Akinwumi Adesina, former president of the African Development Bank, is set to bridge African governments, global CEOs, and institutional investors to accelerate the continent’s shift from aid dependency to investment-driven growth.

With the fastest young demographic in the world and a population of nearly 1.3 billion, Africa is punching below its weight as fragmented markets, under-prepared public assets, and a reliance on aid rather than scalable private investment pose the biggest constraint to growth.

“Africa must unlock its vast sovereign assets to generate wealth,” Adesina said in a statement ahead of the summit scheduled to be held in Angola later this year.

“The Global Africa Investment Summit, as a market maker, is the globally trusted platform to unlock mega deals and assets by connecting Africa to global capital.”

Africa’s Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) continues to lag behind both developed and developing economies, representing only 6 percent of global FDI in 2024, according to the United Nations Trade and Development World Investment Report.

GAIS aims to boost Africa’s lagging foreign direct investments by providing investors the enormous opportunities abound in the continent some of which includes the continent’s population projected to double by 2030, with a rapidly growing middle class.

Its consumer market is growing, from $1.4 trillion in 2015 to an expected $2.5 trillion in 2030, opening investment windows for FDIs.

According to the organisers, strategic sectors, including critical minerals, metals, rare earths, energy, agriculture, and digital infrastructure, are primed for investment.

Global leaders including President of Ghana John Mahama, William Ruto of Kenya, Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania, Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, Daniel Chapo of Mozambique, former UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki Moon, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair, Africa’s richest man and President, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, and Robert Gumede, founder and chairman Guma group have all backed the need for Africa to harness its potential for economic growth.

BusineesDay

Continue Reading

Featured

ADC Knocks Senate over Rejection of Electronic Transmission of Results, Says APC Afraid of Transparent Polls

Published

on

By

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the APC-led Senate of being afraid of free and fair elections after rejecting key electoral reforms meant to strengthen transparency and integrity in Nigeria’s voting process.

This was contained in a statement signed and released by the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Bolaji Abdulahi on Wednesday.

The party criticized the Senate’s rejection of electronic transmission of election results, saying it signals yet another effort by the APC to manipulate future elections.

Other rejected reforms included the electronic download of voter cards from the INEC website, a reduction in election notice periods, and a shortened timeline for the publication of candidates from 150 days to 60 days.

“The proposed provisions were intended to provide safeguards against electoral abuse and restore voter confidence.

“But the Senate’s action amounts to tampering with the law, creating opportunities for rigging and imposing logistical challenges on INEC that could weaken future elections,” the statement read.

The ADC accused the APC of exploiting its majority in the National Assembly to entrench malpractice, warning that the party’s fear of free and fair elections is driving legislative manipulations.

“By rejecting reforms meant to improve election conduct, the APC has shown its desire to cling to power by all means,” the statement added.

The opposition coalition urged Nigerians to hold the APC accountable and called on the Conference Committee on the Electoral Act to reject the Senate’s submissions.

It also appealed for amendments that reflect democratic principles and the will of the Nigerian people.

Continue Reading

Trending