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A PEEP INTO THE STRANGE WORLD OF BILLIONAIRE MIKE ADENUGA – Works at odd hours and alone, doesn’t pick his calls and letters, loves his women busty and fleshy and enjoys Chinese food and champagne…

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Dr. Mike Adeniyi Ishola Adenuga, Jr., the Chairman of Globacom and Conoil, is not your regular billionaire. The man is simply in a world and class of his own – strange, unusual and eccentric. Sources who know him very well told us that he hates to play the second fiddle. “Adenuga loves to rule his world and dominate his environment…he also doesn’t like being taken unawares and enjoys being in charge totally”.
Dissecting him further, the sources said: “His appetite for work is out of this world and that is why at 1am, 2am, 3am, you can still find him in the office working; sometimes all alone. Most of his key staffers like Bode Opeseitan and co don’t have any closing time. The man can call them up at any time and summon them to the office. But he compensates them immeasurably for this. He knows all his key staffers by name. Not only that, no major staff can be employed in any of his companies without his input. He must see the person before the final decision can be taken.
“You may describe this as queer, but Adenuga doesn’t pick his calls. Even letters are not accepted in his office, no matter where they are coming from. All his calls must pass through someone before getting to him. You can’t just reach him on the phone directly. One of his oldest staffers, Nora, from Sierra Leone, usually serves as the link between him and whoever he wants to establish contact with or talk to. She’s the person that takes his calls most times. You equally don’t remind him of anything. He does his things at his own time”. Rarely seen in public, Adenuga, sometimes, doesn’t even attend his own events – no matter how important and who and who have been invited. “He hardly laughs outside, but in the midst of his friends, you will see him rolling in laughter. He has only a handful of friends – and in that category are Otunba Niyi Adewunmi, a long time pal whom he has made a Director in some of his companies; former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd); erstwhile Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; ex-Abia Governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu; one-time Minister of Police Affairs, General David Jemibewon (rtd) and Senator Tunde Ogbeha. He’s so, so close to Ogbeha, because I remember vividly that on Monday, October 22, 2000, he personally drove to the airport (here in Ikeja) to pick up Ogbeha. But you know he hadn’t become this big and popular then; but that is to tell you how close they are. And during any of his rare public appearances, the man won’t smile, won’t eat, won’t drink and will usually keep to himself, with his bodyguards keeping watch and ensuring that no intruder comes close. “However, any time he wants to enjoy himself, he goes for champagne and Chinese food. There’s this particular Chinese restaurant that he normally goes to in VI; not too far from his office”. A very, very intriguing character, we gathered that Adenuga, GCON, likes his women busty and fleshy. His second wife, Titi is a good example. His path and that of the 51-year-old mother of two (Shade and Adeniyi) crossed during her NYSC programme (after graduating from OAU, Ile-Ife) at Adenuga’s bank. This was years after his first marriage to Bolaji Marquis ended on an unpleasant note – after five children – Jide, Bella, Paddy, Oyin and another.
A native of Oru in Ogun State, the no-nonsense business mogul – born on April 29, 60 years ago, does not give up on things. As a matter of fact, he detests the words no, can’t, won’t and impossible. Remember how hard he fought to join the GSM business and all the millions he lost. None of his staff can also be poached unnecessarily – except those he’s not crazy about. And this explains why some of his key staffers usually go and come back. “You can go o, but anyday he remembers you, he will send for you and make you an offer that you can’t refuse”. Fondly called The Guru or Chairman by his disciples, Adenuga is very, very shy, which is unknown to many. It is also the reason he keeps more to himself. In love with agbada, Senegalese kaftans, buba and sokoto, short-sleeve safari suits and lately, smart casuals – with his trademark Yoruba fila – all his tops now carry his initials – MAJ. And on his table, in his office in VI, the full meaning – Mike Adenuga Jr. – is there for all to see. In love with hailing people, especially when happy, as awe ooo!, nearly everything inside his office is coated in gold, with his favourite animal and king of the jungle, a lion emblazoned on them. From the door to the letterhead and envelops, there’s no mistaking The Guru’s beautiful and spacious office. Business-like and serious-minded, there are telephones here and there and some comfortable seats for his guests. Kind hearted to a fault and unarguably one of the most generous souls that the Almighty God created, nobody encounters him without having his or her life radically transformed. “You don’t meet him one on one without a huge smile plastered on your face”. At variance with politics and laziness, the taciturn and evasive bulky billionaire is always changing his phone numbers. And except he gives you the number himself, calling him could spell doom in certain quarters. One of Africa’s richest men, the chairman of The Mike Adenuga Group indeed plays big in telecoms (Globacom), oil and gas (Conoil), real estate, banking and so on. Interestingly, he started out as a cabbie in the United States of America – which he later combined with exporting tomato puree and wine to Nigeria. Educated at North West University and Pace University, both in US, where he read Business Administration, his late mother, Mama Oyin Adenuga, a major distributor for Nigerian Bottling Company, Guinness and Nigerian Breweries had already indoctrinated him into the world of business, which he didn’t forget while outside our shores. Blessed with two brothers and two sisters, two of them, late Yetunde Adegbola, then Chairman of Equatorial Trust Bank and Demola, said to be a businessman, seem to be the closest to him. Hitherto residing in a marble cum mosaic house on Oko Awo, Victoria Island, Adenuga now has a better palace inside Banana Island, in Ikoyi, Lagos. Not given to flamboyance and any form of extravagance, there’s also The Gold Digger’s Place in Iyaganku GRA, Ibadan, where he still spends most weekends and other cute pads like the one in York Terrace, Regent Park and St. Johnswood, both in London. Driving himself more often than not, his favourite automobile may be his G-Wagon Benz which he is mostly seen in. And not forgetting his private jets, with which he could easily monitor his many businesses, keep very serious appointments and also savour the fruits of his labour. Alleged to be one of the largest owners of prime properties on Victoria Island, Adenuga who they say shouts on his staffers when upset is large; very large. Forbes Magazine, as a matter of fact, just rated him as Africa’s 2nd richest man and No. 325 in the world.

By: Azuh Arinze

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UBA Announces Appointment of Henrietta Ugboh as Non-Executive Director 

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As Owanari Duke Retires from Group Board

Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has announced the appointment of Henrietta Ngozi Ugboh as a Non-Executive Director on the Group’s Board.

 

 

The appointment has been duly approved by the relevant regulatory bodies including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) whose approval was granted last Friday.

 

 

 

UBA’s Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, who commented on the appointment, said, “Henrietta Ngozi Ugboh exemplifies the qualities of a seasoned banker and professional, with decades in her banking career.”

 

 

 

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Ugboh holds a degree in Economics and Statistics from the University of Benin, an MBA from ESUT Business School, and is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School. She has over 30 years experience in banking and is an Honorary Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and a Fellow of the Institute of Credit Administration (FICA).

 

 

 

Elumelu added that with her considerable experience and expertise which spans Commercial Banking, Credit, and Risk Management, amongst others, the Board is excited about the positive accomplishment she will bring to the bank, adding, “We look forward to her invaluable contributions to the Group.”

 

 

 

The Board also announced the retirement of Mrs. Owanari Duke, an Independent Non-Executive Director, who joined the UBA Group Board in October 2012.

 

 

 

During her tenure, Mrs. Owanari Duke provided distinguished leadership, serving on numerous Committees of the Bank such as the Board Governance Committee, Board Audit, Governance, Nomination & Remuneration Committee, Board Credit Committee, Finance & General Purpose Committee and Statutory Audit Committee.

 

 

 

On behalf of the board, Elumelu expressed deep appreciation to Mrs. Duke for her dedication and significant contributions to the Group, wishing her the best in her future endeavour.

 

 

 

United Bank for Africa Plc is a leading Pan-African financial institution, offering banking services to more than forty-five million customers, across 1,000 business offices and customer touch points in 20 African countries. With presence in New York, London, Paris and Dubai, UBA is connecting people and businesses across Africa through retail, commercial and corporate banking, innovative cross-border payments and remittances, trade finance and ancillary banking services

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Kano Socialite, Hafsat Gold In Trouble As EFCC Invites Her Niger Republic In-laws For Abusing Naira Notes.

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The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to a viral video where the nation’s currency, Naira, was freely sprayed at a wedding ceremony in Kano, Kano State on Friday, October 24, 2024.

 

 

Allegations of the abuse of the Naira were imputed to Mrs Fauziya Danjuma Goje, daughter of Senator Danjuma Goje, by Nigerians from all walks of life, including an Editorial by a leading and respected National Newspaper.

 

As a responsible and accountable anti-corruption agency campaigning against currency mutilation and dollarization of the economy, the EFCC swung into action by analysing the video and findings showed that the alleged naira abuse actually happened but not at the wedding of Goje’s daughter but at the wedding dinner of Amina Babagana Zannah held on the afore-mentioned date.

 

 

Zannah is the daughter of Hajara Seidu Haruna (a.ka. Hafsat Gold Nigeria) who is the Chief Executive Officer of Hafsat Jewellery Enterprise with offices in Abuja, Kano and Dubai (United Arab Emirate).

 

Haruna confirmed the viral video. She admitted that the alleged naira abuse took place at the wedding dinner of her daughter on October 24, 2024. The bridegroom, Ibrahim Mohammad hails from Niger Republic and those that allegedly sprayed naira notes and dollar bills were from the groom’s family in Niger Republic.

 

The Commission has invited the Nigerien groom, Mohammad, to report at its national headquarters in Abuja, with everyone that sprayed naira notes at his wedding with Zannah.

 

 

While the EFCC appreciates the consciousness its campaigns against naira abuse is building across the country, it will not move against anyone wrongly accused of an alleged crime. The Commission remains steadfast in this crusade and would spare no offender , no matter how highly placed.

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Godwin Obaseki inherited N55 billion debt in 2016, leaving N410 billion in 2024: Transition Report…..

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The Transition Committee of the All Progressives Congress has recommended a probe into more than N410 billion in local and foreign debts allegedly owed by the Edo government.

 

 

The committee made the recommendation on Monday in its report presented to Monday Okpebholo ahead of his inauguration on Tuesday as Edo’s fifth democratically elected governor.

 

Presenting the document, Pius Odubu, the chairman of the committee, said the committee was presented with N410 billion in debts as against the N55 billion inherited by the outgoing government in 2016.

 

“For those of you who have the capability to fact-check, you will find out that the indebtedness today is much more. It is over N500billion,” he said.

 

 

Mr Odubu, an erstwhile deputy governor, said the committee also recommended a review of memoranda of understanding on the management of Central and Stella Obasanjo hospitals.

 

“All employment carried out in the recent past should be cancelled, while the governor should investigate the true ownership of the Ossiomo power plant and Radisson Blu Hotel.

 

“The same with the Museum of West Africa Arts-MOWAA. We deserve to know the state’s equity in these companies as the outgoing government went blank on these enquiries.

 

“We also demanded a comprehensive review of the World Bank-funded EdoBest programme, and a probe should be instituted to uncover its rather opaque operations,” Mr Odubu explained.

 

 

“Mr Odubu added, “All major contracts issued by the state government under the Ministry of Roads and Bridges should be reviewed as they appear not to have followed due process, including the payment advance awarded to the contractors.

 

“The procurement agency indicted the government in its own report to the transition committee. Hence, we have advised the incoming governor to take a critical review.”

 

 

The committee chairman also called for streamlining the ICT ecosystem in the state, which he said appeared to be a duplication of duties.

 

“The outgoing government didn’t provide audited financial statements published or unpublished. Hence, the committee is advising the government to institute an inquiry into this.

 

 

“The government couldn’t account for the number of teachers in the state. Hence, we demand a proper teacher headcount,” Mr Odubu said.

 

The committee chairman said the document, comprised of a 24-page report and 800 annexures, was a product of three weeks of rigorous assignments, meetings, interactions, engagements and analyses of the documents presented to the committee.

 

(NAN)

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