Business
Customers Drag Glo Manager to EFCC, Allege N60m Recharge Card Fraud
By Ayodele Olalere
Some customers of the Globacom Nigeria limited have petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over an alleged over N60m Glo recharge cards fraud against one of telecommunication regional managers, Olugbenga Bakare.
The customers, Alege Saheed Abiodun (N19,437,750), Sebiotimo Razak Remilekun (N1,665,000), Nwankno Uchechukwu Bestrand (N6,616,750), Samson Odeyemi (N9,250,000), Salami Monsurat Tejumola (N18,616,450), Yusuff Oluwakemi (N1,372,500), and Ewedairo Oluwatoyin Olamide (N3,778,070), through their lawyer, Komolafe Richard, in a petition to the anti-graft agency, dated March 11, 2019, and signed by their lawyer, alleged that Bakare, who is the regional manager of Globacom Nigeria Limited in one of its offices at Stanbic IBTC, Akowonjo, Road, Egbeda, Lagos State, collected a sum of N65million from them with the promise to help them purchase recharge cards from his office.
The money was allegedly collected since December 8, 2018 but the recharge cards have not yet been delivered to the customers.
The petition reads: “We are solicitors to the following peopke listed below whom we shall refer to our clients on whose behalf we write this petition against Mr. Olugbenga Bakare the regional manager of Globacom Nigeria Limited with office address at Stanbic IBTC, Akowonjo Road, Egbeda, Lagos State.
“Mr Olugbenga Bakare, who is the regional manager of Globacom Nigeria Limited, collected the above money from our clients with a promise to help them purchase Glo recharge cards in his office, where he is acting as the regional manager of Globacom Nigeria Limited.”
“All these payments were paid through the bank transfer to Mr. Olugbenga Bakare to the account number 2044472024 FCMB bank since December 8, 2018, with a promise that he will transfer same to Globacom account. Since December 8, 2018, he has not fulfilled the promise of helping our client to purchase the recharge card, neither did he return the money till this moment, and all effort to collect the money back, has proved abortive. We hereby seek the intervention of the office of the EFCC to help all our clients in collecting their money back for this is a case of obtaining by false pretence.”
When contacted, Mr. Olugbena Bakare, however, said efforts are being made to settle the matter.
Technology company, Globacom, on Monday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, presented Kia Picanto cars to two lucky winners in its ongoing loyalty reward promo, Festival of Joy. Sixty-five more winners went home with other exciting prizes including power generating sets, sewing machines and grinding machines.
One of the winners of Kia Picanto cars, 44-year-old Mr. Adeola Olatayo Silas, a Quantity Surveyor was short of words as he kept exclaiming, “wow,wow!” when he saw the sleek car on display. After recovering from the initial shock, he explained that he had always been a fan of Globacom who always hoped to win a prize in the company’s numerous giveaway promos. “I am so delighted my desire has today become a reality”, he said.
In the same vein, the other car winner, Mr. Seun Okeowo, 39, a Media practitioner, said he was conversant with Festival of Joy and had desired to win. He prayed God to grant Globacom the grace to go from height to height as it continues to spread joy across the country.
One of the winners of a power generator, Pastor Oluwole Abayomi, who resides in Akure said he didn’t believe when he received the call from Globacom. “In fact, my brother told me to be careful as it could be a ploy to kidnap me”, he said while praying for more prosperity for the company.
A sewing machine winner, Oluwole Babatunde Olusegun, an Ibadan-based teacher, said his next target is to win a car. “Meanwhile, this sewing machine has come in handy as my wife and children will learn fashion designing with it”, he said. Waheed Azeez, a 51-year-old trailer driver who won a grinding machine, disclosed that his wife would run a mill with it.
The Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Lawal, who was the Special Guest at the event gave kudos to the Chairman and management of Globacom for putting the promo in place for Nigerians. He said he had witnessed Globacom’s good gestures many times and wished other companies could emulate the brand. ” Globacom is a pride of Nigeria, nay Africa. It has continued to offer affordable and quality products and services for the benefit of Nigerians as it has empowered several people through its loyalty reward promotions like Festival of Joy, ” he added.
“The network is not just attracting customers but also giving back to them. This shows that it means well not only for the customers but also for Nigerians”, he added.
Globacom’s Head of Business West, Mr. Abdulazak Ande, explained that to participate in the Festival of Joy promo, new and existing subscribers should dial *611#, opt into the promo and keep recharging to meet the threshold for the various prizes. He added that new subscribers can participate immediately by purchasing a new SIM, registering it and dialing *611#.
The event was witnessed by representatives of the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Engr. Akinwale Akanbi; brand influencers including comedian Seyi Law, Nollywood stars like Odunlade Adekola, Tunde Usman a.k.a. Okele, Bimbo Thomas and Toyin Abraham Ajeyemi as well as content creator, Kiekie.
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery, on Saturday, announced a reduction in its ex-depot price of petrol from N950 to N890 per litre.
It said the price adjustment is in response to favourable developments in the global energy sector and a significant decline in international crude oil prices.
A statement from Dangote Petroleum Refinery, issued by the Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, explained that the latest move follows a similar decision on January 19, when a modest price increase was implemented due to rising crude oil costs.
He aaid with recent global market trends indicating a decline, Dangote Refinery has once again adjusted its pricing structure, providing relief to Nigerians.
The statement also noted that the price reduction would significantly lower the cost of petrol across the country, generating a positive ripple effect throughout the broader economy.
“Dangote Petroleum Refinery firmly believes that this reduction from N950 to N890 will result in a meaningful decrease in the cost of petrol nationwide, thereby driving down the prices of goods and services, as well as the overall cost of living, with a positive ripple effect on various sectors of the economy,” the statement noted.
The refinery has also called on marketers across the country to ensure that the benefits of the reduced price are passed on to the Nigerians while reiterating its support for the economic revival spearheaded by President Bola Tinubu, whose administration is focused on making Nigeria self-sufficient in refined petroleum products and positioning the country as a leading oil export hub.
“This collective initiative will contribute to the wider economic recovery plan led by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is dedicated to making Nigeria self-sufficient in refined petroleum products and positioning the country as a leading oil export hub,” it added.
Leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, has announced its selection as one of the partner banks for the Nigeria Youth Economics Engagement and De-Radicalization Programme (NIYEEDEP)”.
NIYEEDEP (Nigerian Youth Economic Engagement and De-Radicalization Programme), is an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, in collaboration with the Nigerian Senate, through its committee on Sports Development. The primary aim of the initiative is to empower Nigerian Youths for economic growth and Development, nation-building, poverty alleviation and security.
Situating the NIYEEDEP partnership within the Bank’s strategy, Osita Ede, Divisional Head, Product Development, Fidelity Bank Plc explained, “We are delighted to partner with the Federal Government on this noble cause especially as it aligns with brand ethos of helping individuals to grow, inspiring businesses to thrive, and empowering economies to prosper. We believe that Nigeria’s youthful population is a blessing and initiatives like this will go a long way in unlocking the value in our teeming young population”.
Open to Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 35 years, NIYEEDEP is designed to create 6 million jobs focused on key sectors like agriculture, technology, and renewable energy.
Interested participants are required to visit https://bit.ly/Fidelity-NIYEEDEP to open a Fidelity Bank account to be able to access the programme.
“There are limited spaces for participants in the initiative, so I enjoin everyone to hurry to our website or the nearest Fidelity Bank branch to get started. Do remember to provide correct details so that we can provide necessary updates as the programme kicks off,” said Ede.
Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank is a full-fledged customer commercial bank serving over 8.5 million customers through its 255 business offices in Nigeria and the United Kingdom, as well as through digital banking channels. The bank has garnered multiple local and international awards, including the Export Finance Bank of the Year at the 2023 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards, Best Payment Solution Provider Nigeria 2023, and Best SME Bank Nigeria 2022 by the Global Banking and Finance Awards. It was also recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2023 and the Best Domestic Private Bank in Nigeria by the Euromoney Global Private Banking Awards 2023.
