Business and Economy
Guaranty Trust Bank Swims in IGR Controversy as Forensic Auditor Petitions EFCC

By NGIJ team of Oluwasegun Abifarin and Olawale Abideen
Guaranty Trust Bank plc prides itself as the foremost “Financial Institution built on a foundation of excellence, professionalism and best practices
Its Orange rule philosophy is also anchored on “Professionalism, Service, Friendliness, Excellence, and Trustworthiness.”
But recent development is threatening the bank’s virtue and reputation which has produced ₦3.287Trillion asset base and ₦575.6Billion Shareholders Fund
According to the documents received by the Nigerian Guild of Investigative Journalists, NGIJ, on the 29th December, 2016, Ori Adeyemo and Co, a Forensic Accounting Consultancy firm based in Lagos was engaged by the Nasarawa State Board of Internal Revenue to assist in the improvement of Internally-Generated-Revenue (IGR) base of excess bank charges, high network individuals, withholding tax on dividends and interest and deposits against banks operating in the State from 29/05/1999 and for an initial period of 4 years based on the firm’s proposal. js">
In his petition to the EFCC, obtained by the NGIJ team, Adeyemo maintained that at the end the forensic investigation, he was able to establish total final and conclusive liability of N249, 867,971.47 against GTBank out of a total of N3, 632,677,464.41 against 12 banks operating in the state.
From the total figure, a sum of N762, 862,267.53 representing 20% agreed commission (including 5% Value-Added-Tax) is due and payable to us within 7 days upon the receipt of said 16/09/2019 earlier demand letter served on the State Governor.
According to him, before commencement of work, the firm was introduced to the Nasarawa State Government by the duo of Mr. Charles Osuji (aka Kenneth Zuofa) and Mr. Edmond Ogbonna
Despite this, the Nasarawa State Government insisted that the firm should instead, deal with its own official facilitators and middlemen, namely Mr. Edmond Ogbonna of Tarindy Concept International Ltd. of 2, Hunkuyi Street, off Jesse Street, Asokoro, Abuja FCT and Mr. Charles Osuji (aka Kenneth Zuofa) of Ice R Us Integrated Global Service Ltd. of 4, Samota Faola Street, Ikeja, Lagos, which was complied with.
The deal however went sour after completion of works as Adeyemo alleged that the state officials and their middlemen have entered a new deal with some of the banks to shortchange the whole exercise.
Adeyemo further alleged he was reliably informed that the Board had given clean bill of health and letters of non-indebtedness to the said compromised concerned banks.
The petitioner also included a compact disk (CD) detailing all completed jobs in intellectual properties as so far executed by the consultant for the Niger State Government enabling it to demand for an additional but unpaid N732,143,601.52 commission sum.
Guaranty Trust bank has also been dressed in similar robe in Niger state where it was accused of withholding N21, 013,850.30 due to the state.
“We humbly request that this matter be expeditiously investigated and if the said suspects are found culpable, be charged to a Court of competent jurisdiction in order to serve as a deterrent to others that may want to emulate their nefarious and despicable acts of impunity and reckless abandon,” Adeyemo told EFCC.
Oyinade Ogunade, GTB Head of Corporate Communication could not respond to text messages and whatsApp messages sent to her for further clarification or the position of the bank as regards the allegation of “shortchanging” the states. After series of calls by NGIJ Investigative Journalists, she eventually responded last week Friday that she was in a clinic and that she will call back later which she never did till today.
Author Profile

- Prince Abdulrahman Obaje is a Media and ICT Consultant, Journalist, online marketer, social media strategist, Mathematician and Computer Scientist based in Abuja, Nigeria. He is the Founder and the Publisher of The Informavores!. You can reach me on +234 805 939 5252 or send i-witness report directly to me on news@informavores.com.ng.
Latest entries
News2023.05.03Reps Seek UK Government Clemency for Ekweremadu
Sports2023.04.22Banja Luka Exit: Djokovic said hopeful of hitting top form on clay
News2023.03.08FUL College of Health Sciences: FMC Lokoja Turns University Teaching Hospital
News2023.03.08Nigeria Labour Congress Seeks Cordial Relationship Wth Government
Business and Economy
FAAC Shares N680.783 Billion May 2022 Revenue To FG, States And LGCs
The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has shared a total sum of N680.783 Billion May 2022 Federation Account Revenue to the Federal Government, States and Local Government Councils.
This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) for June 2022, held in Abuja.
The N680.783 billion total distributable revenue comprised distributable statutory revenue of N385.004 billion, distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N198.512 billion and Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) revenue of N97.267 billion.
In May 2022, the total deductions for cost of collection was N36. 996 billion and total deductions for transfers and refunds was N186.672 billion.
The balance in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) was $35.377 million.
The communiqué confirmed that from the total distributable revenue of N680.783 billion; the Federal Government received N229.563 billion, the State Governments received N241.824 billion and the Local Government Councils received N175.942 billion. The sum of N33.454 billion was shared to the relevant States as 13% derivation revenue.
A gross statutory revenue of N589.952 billion was received for the month of May 2022. This was lower than the N635.037 billion received in the previous month by N45.085 billion.
From the N385.004 billion distributable statutory revenue, the Federal Government received N185.197 billion, the State Governments received N93.934 billion and the Local Government Councils received N72.419 billion. The sum of N33.454 billion was shared to the relevant States as 13% derivation revenue.
In the month of May 2022, the gross revenue available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) was N213.179 billion. This was higher than the N178.825 billion available in the month of April 2022 by N34.354 billion.
From the N198.512 billion distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue, the Federal Government received N29.777 billion, the State Governments received N99.256 billion and the Local Government Councils received N69.479 billion.
The Federal Government received N14.590 billion; the State Governments received N48.634 billion and the Local Government Councils received N34.043 billion from the N97.267 billion Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL).
According to the Communiqué, in the month of May 2022, Companies Income Tax (CIT) and Value Added Tax (VAT) recorded considerable increases, Import Duty increased marginally while Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) and Excise Duties decreased marginally. Oil and Gas Royalties decreased significantly.
Author Profile

- Prince Abdulrahman Obaje is a Media and ICT Consultant, Journalist, online marketer, social media strategist, Mathematician and Computer Scientist based in Abuja, Nigeria. He is the Founder and the Publisher of The Informavores!. You can reach me on +234 805 939 5252 or send i-witness report directly to me on news@informavores.com.ng.
Latest entries
News2023.05.03Reps Seek UK Government Clemency for Ekweremadu
Sports2023.04.22Banja Luka Exit: Djokovic said hopeful of hitting top form on clay
News2023.03.08FUL College of Health Sciences: FMC Lokoja Turns University Teaching Hospital
News2023.03.08Nigeria Labour Congress Seeks Cordial Relationship Wth Government
Business and Economy
Non-interest TAJBank Reports 433% PBT in 2021 Financial Year

…as balance sheet grows to N110bn
The second non-interest Bank, TAJBank Limited, has recorded more milestones in its second year of operations with its profit before tax (PBT) surging to N1.6 billion in FY2021, representing 433% improvement over the preceding year’s profit.
This is even as the multiple award-winning lenders, which recently received the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) certification in recognition of its globally recognized information security standards in all areas of its operations, also recorded 117% growth in gross revenue from N3.3 billion in FY2020 to N7.2 billion in FY2021.
In the period under review, the bank recorded positive indicators which showed the remarkable growth that the nascent bank continues to achieve. push({}); The bank’s financial results showed a rise in its balance sheet figure from N50 billion in FY2020 to N110 billion in the FY2021 recording a 122% growth.
The bank also achieved a leap in shareholders’ funds during the year which also marked some great improvements in the Bank’s financial results coming from the previous year.
The non-interest bank’s audited financial statements also reflected outstanding positive indices which demonstrated its management’s professionalism in handling investors’ funds despite serious economic headwinds.
TAJBank’s drive for deposit base growth showed in the financial results as customer deposits also remarkably grew in the year under review, increasing by 99% over the previous year’s value and representing the highest in the industry.
Also, the bank also rapidly expanded its branch network by 22 new branches and business offices within the period under review.
Speaking on the financial results, the Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Hamid Joda, noted that “since commencing operations two years ago, TAJBank has continued to record giant strides in the financial services industry.
“It is on record that we achieved break-even in our 8th month of business, recorded profit in our first year of operations while also wiping-off preoperational expenses in the first year of operation. Generally, the bank has continued to record excellent financial performance within the short period of its existence”, he added.
The Executive Director, Mr. Sherif Idi, while reacting to the results said: “TAJBank has a healthy appetite for growth and for excellence and these results are a testament to what we portray and what we are about.”
He also stressed that the bank “is not looking at slowing down in its sustained commitment to continue to add value to our shareholders, surpassing our customers’ expectations in innovative products and services delivery and in ensuring that we continue to break frontiers in the Nigerian financial system.”
Author Profile

- Prince Abdulrahman Obaje is a Media and ICT Consultant, Journalist, online marketer, social media strategist, Mathematician and Computer Scientist based in Abuja, Nigeria. He is the Founder and the Publisher of The Informavores!. You can reach me on +234 805 939 5252 or send i-witness report directly to me on news@informavores.com.ng.
Latest entries
News2023.05.03Reps Seek UK Government Clemency for Ekweremadu
Sports2023.04.22Banja Luka Exit: Djokovic said hopeful of hitting top form on clay
News2023.03.08FUL College of Health Sciences: FMC Lokoja Turns University Teaching Hospital
News2023.03.08Nigeria Labour Congress Seeks Cordial Relationship Wth Government
Business and Economy
Reps Passes 2022 Budget of N17.1 Trillion

Ogechi Okorie
The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed N17,126,873,917,692 as 2022 budget.
The budget was passed by the Green Chamber following the presentation of report by the Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Muktar Betara.
The report was considered at the Committee of Supply presided over by the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and his deputy, Hon. Idris Wase.
According to the Bill passed by the lawmakers authorises the issue from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation the total sum of N17,126,873,917,692 (Seventeen Trillion, One Hundred and Twenty-Six Billion, Eight Hundred and Seventy-Three Million, Nine Hundred and Seventeen Thousand, Six Hundred and Ninety-Two Naira) only.
N869,667,187,542 (Eight Hundred and Sixty-Nine Billion, Six Hundred and Sixty-Seven Million, One Hundred and Eighty-Seven Thousand, Five Hundred and Forty-Two Naira) only is for Statutory Transfers while N3,879,952,981,550 (Three Trillion, Eight Hundred and Seventy-Nine Billion, Nine Hundred and Fifty-Two Million, Nine Hundred and Eighty-One Thousand, Five Hundred and Fifty Naira) only is for Debt Service.
N6,909,849,788,737 (Six Trillion, Nine Hundred and Nine Billion, Eight Hundred and Forty-Nine Million, Seven Hundred and Eighty-Eight Thousand, Seven Hundred and Thirty-Seven Naira) only is for Recurrent (Non-Debt) Expenditure while the sum of N5,467,403,959,863 (Five Trillion, Four Hundred and Sixty-Seven Billion, Four Hundred and Three Million, Nine Hundred and Fifty-Nine Thousand, Eight Hundred and Sixty-Three Naira) only is for contribution to the Development Fund for Capital Expenditure for the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2022.
According to Chairman committee on Appropriation Hon. Muktar Betara, the report was a result of work done on the submission of estimates by the president.
He observed that the 2022 budget would be the last to be fully implemented by the current administration.
According to him, the report took cognizance of the benchmark estimates and the financial/economic realities of current times.
He earlier urged members to support and approve the recommendations in the spirit of the harmonious execution of projects for the good of Nigeria.
The report was considered clause by clause and passed.
The Green Chamber adjourned plenary till Tuesday, January 18th, 2022 following a motion for adjournment moved by the Leader of the House, Hon. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa
Author Profile
Latest entries
News2022.09.02Regulations 2019: NAPTIP Extends 60 Days Ultimatum Issued To Private Shelters And Rehabilitation Homes
News2022.06.26Hon Buba Felicitates with Speaker Gbajabiamila at 60
News2022.05.292023: Hon Datti Clinches Sabon Gari Federal Constituency APC Ticket
News2022.04.09Ortom’s Aide Threatens N2bn Lawsuit Against Senate Aspirant Spokesman For Defamation