Fraud: SEC Slams 5-Year Ban on Oando CEO, Wale Tinubu, Others

Posted by African Examiner Business News, Energy, Featured, Latest Headlines Friday, May 31st, 2019

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has ordered the Group Chief Executive Officer of Oando Plc, Mr. Wale Tinubu and other board members to resign their appointment.

SEC, in a statement issued Friday, indicated that the order followed the outcome of its concluded investigation on the sacked Chief Operating Officer (CE0) and affected members.

The capital market regulatory body specified that it barred Mr.Tinubu and the Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr. Omamofe Boyo, from being directors of public companies for a period of five years.

It in addition directed that the convening of an Extraordinary General Meeting on or before July 1, 2019 to appoint new directors.

It noted that the directive given and other steps are part of measures to address identified violations in the company.

“Following the receipt of two petitions by the Commission in 2017, investigations were conducted into the activities of Oando Plc (a company listed on the Nigerian and Johannesburg Stock Exchanges).

“Certain infractions of securities and other relevant laws were observed. The Commission further engaged Deloitte & Touche to conduct a forensic audit of the activities of Oando Plc.

“The general public is hereby notified of the conclusion of the investigations of Oando Plc.

“The findings from the report revealed serious infractions such as false disclosures, market abuses, misstatements in financial statements, internal control failures, and corporate governance lapses stemming from poor Board oversight, irregular approval of directors’ remuneration, unjustified disbursements to directors and management of the company, related party transactions not conducted at arm’s length, among others’’ the statement alleged.

SEC also directed that the payment of monetary penalties by the company and affected individuals, directors and refund of improperly disbursed remuneration by the affected Board members to the company.

The Commission stated that as required under Section 304 of the Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2007, it would refer all issues with possible criminality to the appropriate criminal prosecuting authorities.

It disclosed that other aspects of the findings would be referred to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

SEC added: “The Commission is confident that with the implementation of the above directives and introduction of some remedial measures, such unwholesome practices by public companies would be significantly reduced.

“Therefore, in line with the Federal Government’s resolve to build strong institutions, boards of public companies are enjoined to properly perform their fiduciary duties as required under extant securities laws.”

SEC stressed that it maintains its zero tolerance to market infractions and reiterates its commitment to ensuring the fairness, integrity, efficiency and transparency of the securities market, so as to strengthening investor protection.