Monthly Archives: January 2020

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Connect Nigeria holds business fair in Lagos

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 >By Funmi Falobi<

 All is set for the 8th edition of the annual ‘Connect Nigeria’ business fair. The fair, which shall attract stakeholders and industry players from the Information Communication Technology (ICT),  Artificial Intelligence (AI), Agritech, Fintech and many other businesses holds at the Tafawa Balewa Square, TBS, between March 6-7, 2020, with the theme, ‘2020 Vision.’

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday in Lagos state, the Managing Director, Connect Nigeria, Mr. Emeka Okafor, said the business fair, the largest Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) gathering in Nigeria shall be a conference and business exhibition simultaneously.

“We strongly believe that if we are to get to where we need to be, thousands of businesses in Nigeria need to be viable. We rely on oil but because of changes in the world, we need to depend on other things.

This business fair will bring together businesses around the world and let them know how business is done in Nigeria and how young people can learn. It will help SME to learn how to grow and afford start-ups to raise fund,” he said.

He declared that this edition would have the hackathon section, the first of its kind in the business fair since inception. “Founder’s Institute from San Francisco would be in attendance”, he added. 

On his part, Walter Bossman, Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer, Allianz Insurance, one of the partners at the business fair said the event would give opportunity to businesses especially the SME to learn how insurance would be of great importance and beneficial to them.

 “We know people have their perception about insurance in Nigeria but we are interested in SME and we could see potentials in it. SME has always been neglected and it’s very critical to growth. Being the fastest growing insurance in Nigeria right now, we focus on SME sector to tell them how to manage their risk. We have a lot of fire incidents in markets in Nigeria, we need to meet the market people and sell our products which are affordable to protect their property,’ he said.

Connect Nigeria
L-R: Uzor Anekwe, Head, Business Development Unit, Connect Nigeria, Bossman, Okafor, Masade and Ibine at the Connect Nigeria press conference in Lagos.

 Similarly, Corporate Communication Manager, AITEO, Mr. Odianosen Masade, explained that the energy company has been supporting SME through its corporate social responsibility services including empowering youths and its host community adding, ” we are beneficial of Nigeria growth and we teach younger ones on business. “

 While commending the effort of Connect Nigeria in entrepreneurial development, Abiola Ibine, Team Lead, LPG Expansion Programme, Ibile Oil & Gas Corporation, said the corporation, owned by the Lagos state government, is interested in doing business in an environment that is climate friendly by enlightening business owners on the need to be mindful of climate change.

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Fraud: FG’s case against Kenneth Amadi, Eunisell ex-employee, resumes Jan 29

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>By Our reporter<

Hearing in the fraud case between the Federal Government and Kenneth Amadi, a former employee of Eunisell Limited, resumes on January 29, 2020. The case was to have begun on January 8, but was shifted because courts were on break.
Amadi is alleged to have obtained the sum of N2.9 billion belonging to his former employer, Eunisell Ltd under false pretences with intent to defraud.pix11
The offenses are contrary to section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other fraud-related offences Act, CapA6, laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.
It would be recalled  that when the matter was called for hearing on November 27, 2019, at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, the 1st defendant was absent, while the 2nd defendant, IDID Nigeria Ltd. was represented by an employee.
Chief State Counsel from the Department of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, A.K Aliyu had informed the court that attempts were made to serve the charge on the 1st Defendant through his counsel but the lawyer from the office of the learned silk declined to accept service. However, the Defendant’s Counsel, Emeka Etiaba (SAN) told the court that they were not opposing arraignment and trial, adding it was an error of communication on the part of the junior colleague regarding the issue of acceptance of service. He then accepted the charge and court summons of behalf of the 1st Defendant

The charges against the Defendants include receiving and obtaining by false pretence, with intent to defraud, the sum of N2, 900, 000, 000 belonging to Eunisell Ltd, omitting to make full and true entry thereof in the books and accounts; suppression of data in respect of the financial transfer to Eunisell Ltd, and converting same without authority to create sufficient deposits to promote the credibility of his own company (IDID Nigeria Limited).

Meanwhile, an Abuja High Court recently dismissed a libel case filed by Kenneth Amadi, against Eunisell Limited and two others. Justice Jude Okeke, of The High Court of Justice, held that the libel or the publications having not been made out the other reliefs predicated on the defamation by way of general and special damages as claimed have no basis to stand.