Keystone Bank to forfeit 6.3 billion shares to FG

Admin I Tuesday, February 11, 2025

LAGOS, Nigeria – A Domestic and Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, has ordered the forfeiture of 6.3 billion ordinary shares of Keystone Bank Ltd at the price of N1 per share to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Justice Rahman Oshodi gave the order after Sigma Golf Nigeria Limited, represented by its Chairman, Umaru Hamidu Modibbo entered a guilty plea to fraudulent conversion of N20 billion belonging to Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

The company, was arraigned alongside a former Managing Director of AMCON, Ahmed Kuru. Kuru, the first defendant in the case, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The EFCC filed a six-count amended charge claiming that AMCON funds were diverted through Heritage Bank for the benefit of Sigma Golf Nigeria Limited to facilitate the acquisition of Keystone Bank.

The anti-graft agency also accused the defendants, along with Ifie Sekibo, a former Managing Director of the defunct Heritage Bank (who is currently at large), of dishonestly converting a total of N20 billion of AMCON’s property through Heritage Bank for Sigma Golf Nigeria Limited.

Additionally, they were accused of transferring another N20 billion, derived from theft, with the intent to conceal its source, in violation of Section 332(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos 2011, which is punishable under Section 332(3) of the same law.

During the proceedings on Tuesday, EFCC Counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) informed the judge that the Commission and Sigma Golf Nigeria Limited had agreed to resolve the matter amicably and in accordance with legal principles, justice, and public policy.

Oyedepo stated that the terms of the plea bargain agreement included Sigma Golf Nigeria Limited pleading guilty to all six court charges and being wound up by the court.

He further noted that the court would order the forfeiture of all rights, titles, and interests in 6,250,000,000 units of Keystone Bank Limited’s ordinary shares to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

He said the court would order the forfeiture of units of ordinary shares allocated to Alhaji Umaru Hamidu Modibbo, the company’s current chairman.

Oyedepo disclosed that “the complainant agrees not to pursue criminal charges now or in the future against Alhaji Umaru Hamidu Modibbo.”

Both the convict and its legal representative, David Idemu, confirmed that the plea bargain agreement was entered into voluntarily and without coercion.

Similarly, Kuru’s lawyer, Olasupo Shasore, did not oppose the agreement.

In light of these developments, Justice Oshodi convicted Sigma Golf Nigeria Limited and adopted the terms of the plea bargain agreement.

During the proceedings, the judge also granted Kuru bail in the sum of N50 million with two sureties in like sum. Sureties must swear to an affidavit of means before the court.

The sureties must also provide evidence of tax payment for the last three years.

The court ordered the EFCC to notify the Nigerian Immigration Service regarding the seizure of Kuru’s passport by the court registrar.

Before adjourning the case to March 7 for the commencement of the trial, the court temporarily released Kuru to his lawyer until his bail conditions were perfected.