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Court Again adjourns, for report of settlement in suit against Dana Air MD

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Court Again adjourns, for report of settlement in suit against Dana Air MD

…Ranesh still shuns Court*** 

 A Federal High Court, Abuja has fixed May 31 for report of settlement in a suit filed by the office of Attorney-General of Federation (AGF) against Managing Director (MD), Dana Air, Hathiramani Ranesh.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu fixed the date on Wednesday following an oral application for adjournment by counsel to the AGF, M. Okeya.

Though the prosecution counsel was in court when the matter was called, neither Mr Ranesh nor his lawyer was in court.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/101/21 which was number 10 on the day’s cause list, was for the arraignment of Ranesh and two others.

Upon resuming the hearing in the case, Okeya told Justice Egwuatu that the parties in the suit were exploring settlement options.

The lawyer, who informed that a sister case was also before a Lagos court, said the matter would be coming up later in the year.

She, however, sought a longer date for a report on the outcome of settlement and the judge consequently adjourned the case until May 31 for a report.

Egwuatu had, on Oct. 13, 2022, adjourned the matter until Jan. 25 for arraignment of the defendants following the absence of Mr Ranesh and the prosecution lawyer in court.

However, Ranesh’s counsel, Ade Adedeji, SAN, was in court and he hinted that the prosecution and the defence were exploring reconciliation.

It is incisive that since the commencement of the matter, Dana Air MD had not been present in court.

On June 30, 2021, when the matter came up, while other defendants were in court, Ranesh was absent.

Adedeji had told the court that the absence of his client in court was to the knowledge of the prosecution.

When the matter was called, Adedeji, said he was in court to represent Ranesh after they were served with the notice of arraignment.

The lawyer had told the court that his client was not in the country.

“The charge before this honourable court is a serious matter.

“We came in from Lagos just to come and explain to your lordship the circumstances that informed our acceptance of service without knowing that the date is coming so soon.

“We didn’t know before we accepted it. We have an option not to accept this but as officers in the temple of justice, we felt we are under obligation to accept on his (Ranesh’s) behalf.

“But to the knowledge of counsel to the prosecution, the principal defendant is not in the country which was made known to the prosecution.

“It is on the basis of these circumstances that we shall be appealing to your lordship for an adjournment my lord to enable the defendant appear before this honourable court,” he had said.

Counsel to the AGF, Wilson Michelangelo, did not oppose the request for an adjournment, and the judge fixed Oct. 13, 2021, for arraignment of the suspects.

On Oct. 13, 2021, when the matter came up, Justice Egwuatu was said to be on an official engagement in Lagos State and the matter could not proceed.

Although the counsel who appeared for the AGF, Moshood A., and lawyer to the defendant, Adedeji, SAN, were in court, Mr Ranesh was not.

Consequently, the court then fixed Feb. 15, 2022, for the arraignment of Mr Ranesh and two other defendants in the matter and on the adjourned date, the case was also fixed for May 26, 2022, for arraignment.

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Economy

NGX Market Capitalisation Gains N836bn

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Stock Market Gains N18bn; FTN Cocoa Processors, Prestige Assurance lead Losers’ Chart 

…Tantalizers, NASCON lead the losers’ chart 

The Nigerian Exchange Ltd.(NGX) market capitalisation, which opened at N57.697 trillion on Tuesday, gained N836 billion or 1.45 percent closing at N58.533 trillion.

Also, the All-Share Index rose by 1.45 percent or 1,480 points to close at 103,524.44, as against 102,044.84 recorded on Monday.

As a result, the Year-To-Date (YTD) return rose to 38.45 percent.

Interest in Telco heavyweight and Tier-one banks such as MTN Nigeria, UBA, Access Corporation, Guaranty Trust Holding Company(GTCO), and sustained interest in Transcorp Power(TransPower) kept the market in the green.

Market breadth closed positive with 35 gainers and 14 losers.

On the gainer’s chart, UBA led in percentage terms of 10 to close at N25.30, followed by MTN by 9.98 percent to close at N243.50 per share.

Julius Berger also gained 9.71 percent to close at N61, While Access Corporation rose by 9.51 percent to close at N22.45 per share.

Veritas Kapital Assurance went up by 9.38 percent to close at 70k per share.

Conversely, Tantalizers led the loser’s chart by 7.89 percent to close at 35k, and National Salt Company of Nigeria(NASCON) trailed by 6.77 percent to close at N53.70.

Morison Industries Plc shed 6.62 percent to close at N1.41, C&I Leasing lost 6.45 percent to close at N3.48, while Cutix Plc dropped 6.30 percent to close at N2.53 per share.

However, analysis of the market activities showed trade turnover settled lower, relative to the previous session.

The value of transactions was also down by 16.76 percent.

A total of 565.79 million shares valued at N14.23 billion were exchanged in 11,519 deals,  compared to 436.90 million shares valued at N17.09 billion exchanged in 11,344 deals traded on Monday.

On the activity chart, Transcorp led in volume with 170.72 million shares traded at a value of N3.13 billion, Access Corporation followed by 48.57 million shares valued at N1.06 billion.

GTCO sold 39.04 million shares worth N165.80 million, Jaiz Bank traded 36.78 million shares valued at N72.51 million and UBA transacted 31.96 million shares valued at N796.24 million

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Economy

SIFAX Group Appoints Basil Agboarumi As Executive Director

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SIFAX Group, one of the leading business conglomerates in Nigeria with investment in Maritime, Aviation, Oil & Gas, Haulage & Logistics, Financial Services, and Hospitality, has appointed Basil Agboarumi as its new Executive Director of corporate and Intergovernmental Affairs.

Agboarumi recently completed his term as the Managing Director/CEO of the Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc. (SAHCO Plc.), one of the subsidiaries of SIFAX Group.

Agboarumi holds a National Diploma (OND) in Mass Communication from the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi and a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Mass Communication from the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, a Master in Communications (MSc) from the Lagos State University and a Certificate in Creative Design & Digital Communications from the School of Media & Communications of the Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos. He also holds a Management Certificate in Civil Aviation from Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.

Basil Agboarumi, Executive Director, Corporate and Intergovernmental Affairs

After the privatization and subsequent takeover of SAHCOL by SIFAX Group in 2009, Agboarumi was appointed the Head of Corporate Communications to spearhead the re-branding of the new company. He was subsequently appointed the company’s Managing Director in 2018. Under his leadership, SAHCO Plc was listed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange while many airlines, both local and foreign, signed business deals with the company due to its excellent and cutting-edge services which include passenger handling, ramp handling, and cargo handling.

Agboarumi has over 25 years of professional in public relations, reputation management, brand development, media relations, business development, and government relations.

Speaking on the new appointment, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, Chairman, SIFAX Group, said Agboarumi brings vast experience and records of achievements to his new role, adding that these qualities will help him succeed in the new role.

He said: “He demonstrated the capacity and ability to navigate different terrains as a leader during his time as the Managing Director of SAHCO. The COVID-19 pandemic hit shortly after he took over the reins at SAHCO, but he was able to steer the ship of the company to profitability despite the uncertainties that characterised the global aviation business at the time. I am convinced the Group will benefit tremendously from his wealth of experience as he assumes this new role.”

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Economy

NGX All-Share Index Crosses 100,000 Mark

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Stock Market Gains N18bn; FTN Cocoa Processors, Prestige Assurance lead Losers’ Chart 

…Guinness Nigeria and FTN Cocoa Processors lead the losers’ table

The All-Share Index, one of the performance indices of the Nigerian Exchange Ltd.(NGX), on Thursday, crossed a 100,000 mark for the second time in the year.

Having crossed the mark on Jan. 24, and later dropped, the All-Share Index specifically added 0.75 percent or 744 points to settle at 100,335.3, compared to 99,591.64 posted on Wednesday.

Consequently, investors gained N420 billion or 0.75 percent, as the market capitalisation which opened at N56.310 trillion, closed at N56.730 trillion.

Also, the Year-To-Date (YTD)return rose to 33.19 percent.

Improved buy interest in the shares of Dangote Sugar, MTN Nigeria, Transcorp Power, Oando Plc, and Cornerstone, alongside other top gainers drove the equity market to a positive terrain.

Analysis of the market activities showed trade turnover settled lower relative to the previous session, with the value of transactions down by 9.11 percent.

However, market breadth closed negative with 33 losers and 25 gainers.

On the gainers table, Dangote Sugar and MTN led in percentage terms of 10 percent each to close at N50.60 and N201.30 per share, respectively.

Transcorp Power followed closely by 9.99 percent to close at N351.30, while Juli Plc added 9.96 percent to close at N4.97 per share.

National Salt Company of Nigeria (NSCN) rose by 9.92 percent to close at N47.65 per share.

On the other hand, Guinness Nigeria and FTN Cocoa Processors led the losers’ table by 10 percent each to close at N45.90 and N1.53 per share, respectively.

Transcorp also lost 9.95 percent to close at N17.10, Ikeja Hotel shed 9.93 percent to close at N6.08, while Redstarex declined by 9.87 percent to close at N3.38 per share.

Stock Market Gains N18bn; FTN Cocoa Processors, Prestige Assurance lead Losers’ Chart 

A total of 554.72 million shares valued at N17.73 billion were exchanged in 9,708 deals, compared to 416.48 million shares valued at N19.51 billion exchanged in 9,338 deals.

On the activity table, Transnational Corporation (Transcorp) led both in volume and value with 301.36 million shares traded in value of  N5.65 billion.

Sterling Nigeria sold 33.32 million shares worth N150.78 million, while FBN Holdings traded 23.21 million shares valued at N773.91 million.

Also, United Bank of Africa (UBA) transacted 18.38 million shares worth N400.29 million and Zenith Bank sold 17.08 million shares valued at N583.93 million.

Reacting, a stockbroker with Premium Capital, Mr Victor Ibrahim, said that the improved performance of the equity market was due to renewed investors’ expectations from the current government’s policies.

Ibrahim stated in Lagos that investors were keying into the future benefits of the economy by boosting their investment in the equity market.

He said, “The stock market is a leading indicator of the Nigerian economy and as such, with government policies such as the free-flow economy, investors confidence in our market has been boosted.

“The artificial scarcity of dollars in order to underprice or devalue the Naira is also another indicator.

“This is because the price of stocks in the Nigerian equity market is cheaper for foreign investors and those local investors who have dollars in reserve.

“While the Nigerian economy may presently appear tough, investors are keying into the future opportunities in the current government’s policies with the belief in the capacity of President Bola Tinubu.”

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