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Federal High Court Permits Obiano To Travel Abroad Over Health Issues; EFCC Protests, Accuses Judge

By
Uche Mbah
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Governor Willy Obiano of Anambra State

By Uche Mbah

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has protested an interim ex parte order by the Awka Division of the Federal High Court presided over by Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa which permitted former Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, to travel out of the country.

Nganjiwa had granted the former governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, permission to travel to  Houston, Texts, United States of America  for medicals.  Obiano’s Lawyer had said the former Governor is suffering from a near life-threatening ailment.

But the Commission insisted the Judge ought to have recused himself due to a subsisting case involving him that makes him an interested party.

Obiano was arrested by the EFCC  on his way out of the country on March 17, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, hours after he handed over to his successor, Chukwuma Soludo.

The EFCC accused him of corruption and money laundering during his eight- year tenure as Anambra State Governor from 2014 to 2022.

A statement released by the EFCC Saturday, by their spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, cited court documents indicating the Judge never followed due process in his ruling that permitted Obiano to travel.

“Available court documents indicate that Obiano had on March 11, 2022, ahead of his handover on March 17 filed a motion ex parte dated March 10, 2022, before Justice Nganjiwa praying among others, for an interim injunction stopping the EFCC from arresting or preventing him from travelling out of the country for his medical treatment.

‘’While the court in one breath ordered the applicant to put the commission on notice on why interim preservatory order should not be granted, it went ahead to make an order that the commission should not obstruct, impede or prevent the applicant from travelling abroad to keep his medical appointment and adjourned till March 23.

‘’On March 31, the commission was served an originating motion on notice for the enforcement of the applicant’s fundamental rights. Curiously, the motion was filed on March 11, 2022, the same date as the motion for ex parte order.

‘’This was followed by another motion on notice on April 4, putting the commission on notice to release Obiano’s passport to enable him to travel abroad for his medicals with hearing fixed for April 6, and instructions that proceedings shall be conducted virtually via Zoom.’’

Ahead of the hearing, the EFCC said it had already petitioned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court asking Nganjiwa to recuse himself from the fundamental rights action because he is joined in the appeal filed by the Commission at the Supreme Court in the corruption case, H. A. Nganjiwa vs FRN.

‘’But when the case was called, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba held the brief of his brother judge, who is bereaved. The case was subsequently adjourned, with instruction that counsel will be notified of the adjourned date,’’ the commission said.

Soludo Under Fire For Saying 85% Of Gunmen From “One South-east State”; Ekpa Fumes Over ESN

By
The Source
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By Charles Igbo

The honeymoon between Professor Chukwuma Soludo, Governor, Anambra State, and some of his admirers across the South-east is waning.

Since his decisive victory at the Anambra Governorship election of November 6, 2021, and his swearing-in on March 17, 2022, he had enjoyed a robust relationship with most Igbo people, even with the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB.

But the relationship is suddenly going sour. He is coming under attack. And they blame it on what they call “mis-speaking”. They say he has mispoken a couple of times. They say he was threatening fire and brimstone often.

However, what has brought him into the recent collusion with some people and Simon Ekpa, the self-proclaimed disciple of Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB leader, is his reaction on Friday, April 8, 2022, of the fatal attack by gunmen of the Ekwulobia Headquarters of Aguata Local Government Area. Soludo is from the LGA.

Gunmen had attacked the LGA Headquarters on Thursday, April 7. They set it on fire, wreaked havoc, and allegedly killed two people.

On a visit to the scene of the incident on Friday, Soludo said that the hoodlums were smoked out by security operatives from their camps where they had been operating in the past two years. While running away, he said, they paused to set the LGA Headquarters on fire.

He then went on to say that none of the hoodlums was from Anambra State. He said 85% of them came from one of the South-east States, while the remaining 15% came from other places.

Offering amnesty to the hoodlums in the bush, he said that those who refuse to accept the amnesty would be dealt with. He called them criminals, who would face the full wrath of the law. And declared all those in the bush criminals.

But his allegations and threats have struck a wrong chord with some people. By saying that 85% of the gunmen were from another Suth-east State, they accuse him of trying to divide the Igbo. He is creating artificial boundaries in Igboland, they alleged,

“Soludo should never statelise crimes in Ala Igbo. He goofed herevand should walk back on this submission”, one of them noted.

Another asked him to walk back on his faux pas. “I still love and admire Prof C.C. Soludo Charlie Nwa Mgboafor. But he needs to walk back on his faux pas.”

And yet, another; “Yes, he did not mention any State, but he goofed. He must remain the rallying point for the Igbo renaissance and never deviate.”

Following are some of the reactions as seen on the Social Media, and posted by Dr Nnaemeka Onyeka Obiaraeri

💢IGBO BU OFU (Igbo are one) I REFUSE TO ACCEPT THE ARTIFICIAL BOUNDARIES CREATED BY YAKUBU GOWON, BABANGIDA, ABACHA AND THE FULA( Fulani) FEUDALISTS..

💢MY BELOVED Charles Chukwuma Soludo should never statelise crimes in Ala Igbo. He goofed here and should walk back on this submission..Ndi Igbo bu ofu. One for all , all for one

💢I STILL LOVE AND ADMIRE PROF C C SOLUDO, CHARLIE NWA MGBAFOR. BUT HE NEEDS TO WALK BACK ON HIS FAUX PAS

✍️Okenyi Kenechi, I totally align with your submission on the faux pas by our beloved Prof Soludo .

✍️Much as I admire and love Prof Soludo, he goofed on this one

✍️Igbo bu ofu.( Igbo are one). We cannot and must never adjust our Igboness to the artifical boundaries created by the military field slaves of the fula hegemonists and feudalist .

✍️We cannot statelise crimes in Igbo land . Whether the criminals migrated from one clan or dialectic base to create mayhem in any part of Igbo land , it does not matter . They are criminals and arsonists and must be flushed out of Igbo land . Ndi Igbo are not terrorists and we must never allow low budget Osisikankwus to dwell and wreck Havoc in Igboland no matter their clan or dialectic base .

✍️Prof Soludo should walk back on this faux pas. Yes he did not mention any state, but he goofed. He must remain the rallying point for the Igbo renaissance and never deviate .

✍️Amongst the elected governors from the Igbo ethnic nationality, he is the only political rallying point in Igbo land . He should never see himself as the Governor of the Fula created Anambra state. He is the Governor of Igbo land because the other 6 Governors of the Igbo stock have gone rogue on us to the satisfaction of their fula overlords .

✍️States were created by the fula overlords and their slave Gowon . We must never allow such to divide Ndi Igbo.

And reacting to Soludo’s submission that anybody who is in the bush is a criminal, Ekpa said Soludo is targeting at the operatives of the Eastern Security Network, ESN. He said ESN operatives are in the bush to protect women and farmers who, he alleged, are targets of rogue herders. For that, Ekpa threatened, they would face Soludo.

The Governor seems to be walking on a tight rope, already.

Osinachi, Late ‘Ekwueme’ Crooner, Allegedly, Died Of Domestic Violence

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Osinachi Nwachukwu

By Akinwale Kasali

What, really, was the cause of the  death, on Friday, April 8, 2022, of popular Gospel Singer, Osinachi Nwachukwu?

Was it cancer of the throat, or was she a victim of domestic violence perpetrated by her husband?

Initial report when the news of her death broke was that she died of throat cancer. But her friends and some people who claim they know allege, seriously that she was in an abusive marriage, and died from domestic violence visited on her by her husband, repeatedly.

A friend of the deceased, simply identified as Gold Martins took to the Social Media, Facebook, to vent her outrage on the inhuman treatment and abuse, allegedly, meted on the deceased by her husband.

Martins alleged that the late Osinachi had been enduring abusive marriage for a very long time and had been hiding it from the public.

She added that due to her religion, she endured the bitter marriage, wearing glowing face outside, and being beaten black and blue by her husband.

Before  her death, it was also alleged that her husband kicked her on the chest which led to her being on life support for five days before giving up the ghost on Friday.

Martins had written on  Facebook; “While praying last night, all I was praying for was for God to touch the heart of people around her. Let them come out and speak. That woman personally told someone I know what she was passing through in the hands of that her husband. According to her ‘if not for the church and what people will say, I would have left this marriage’

“Even in their presence when that man called her, he was calling her names like “steeewpid” and “fuuuuul*ish”

“If minister Osinachi could tell a total stranger her story, how much more her Church? Do you want me to believe that her Church and Pastor didn’t know what this woman was passing through?

“Can they come out and swear that they are ignorant of the fact that she was living with her enemy?

What did they do to help her?

“The Church has failed us. The Church has failed the society. Religion has failed the society. Can we all start practicing humanity? Can we? Listen! If you know you have a calling here on earth, if you know you are here on a mission, please be mindful of who you are ending up with in marriage.”

Another Gospel Singer, Frank Ugochukwu Edwards, an afro-highlife praise and worship singer, took to his verified Facebook Page to react after friends alleged popular “Ekwueme” crooner died from domestic violence, not throat cancer.

He wrote: “So, that unreasonable human being finally put off a shinning light. I won’t say much now, I will let the former NDDC (Managing) Director, (Aunty Joy) who did everything possible to stop this from happening know. But it still happened. We tried to stop this.:

However, Osinachi’s husband, Peter Nwachukwu, has not reacted to the allegations.

Together With My Brothers, We Will Get Nigeria To Work Again

By
The Source
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South East PDP Presidential Aspirants

By Anyim  Pius Anyim

Today (Saturday, April 9, 2021), I met with my brothers, Mr. Peter Obi, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa and Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze. All of us have declared intention to run for the office of president of Nigeria and have obtained the nomination form of our great party the PDP.

The main purpose of our meeting was for us to resolve to work together to promote understanding, unity and collaboration among the four of us and any other person from the South East zone who may later join in the race.

We are mindful of the need for us to run our campaigns in a manner that is devoid of rancour and acrimony in the interst of the cohesion and solidarity of our zone; the victory of our great party in the 2023 elections, and the unity, peace and progress of our country.

We had a very fruitful meeting in an atmosphere of friendliness, conviviality and respect for one another.

At the end of our meeting, we addressed the media on our resolutions  as follows:

1) That we have agreed to work together as a Team.

2) That we will work together to ensure that a South Eastern emerges as PDP flag  bearer;

3) That we intend to consult with other zones on this issue and it is based on fairness and equity;

4) That in doing so it is important to note that we have always supported other zones and we now expect them to reciprocate.

I am proud of my brothers who, by their conduct today, displayed an uncommon maturity, and love for, and commitment to the unity of our dear country.

We ask fellow Nigerians to give us the chance to fix this country.

Together we will get Nigeria to work again. A Greater Nigeria I see.

2023 Presidency: PDP South-east Aspirants Unite, Demand PDP Ticket For Zone

By
The Source
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South East PDP Presidential Aspirants

In a concrete show of solidarity, presidential aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the South East met in Abuja on Saturday and demanded that the Party’s presidential ticket for 2023 should be zoned to their area.

The aspirants who attended the meeting were: Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Mr Peter Obi, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa and Dr Nwachukwu Anakwenze.

Anyim who read the decisions of the four said: “we have agreed to work together as a team and that “we will work together to ensure that a South Easterner emerges as PDP flag bearer.”

Other decisions by the presidential aspirants, according to Senator Anyim were: “we intend to consult with other zones on this issue and it is based on fairness and equity.

“In doing so, it is important to note that we have always supported other zones and we now expect them to reciprocate”, the four aspirants demanded.

He went further to say that, “it is to our knowledge that more aspirants may have obtained forms under PDP and we hope they will join us later.”

Responding to questions from reporters on whether they were working towards presenting a consensus candidate from among them, Anyim said, “when we get to the bridge, we will cross it. We will work together in the interest of the Party, in the interest of the nation and in the interest of the South East.”

When asked if the South east PDP Governors are in support of the meeting, the former President of the Senate said the aspirants were not in the position to speak for the Governors.

Amaechi, Minister For Transportation, Goes Into Presidential Race For South-south, South-east

By
The Source
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Rotimi Amaechi

By Charles Igbo

“I stand before you today to declare my intention, and submit my application to serve as your next President.” 

With these words, Minister for Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, threw his hat into the ring of the 2023 Presidential race.

The speculation had been strong for a couple of months that Amaechi was eyeing the Presidential seat against 2023. The ante was upped  when the Emir of  Daura, Faruk Umar Faruk, President Muhammadu Buhari’s Emir,  bestowed him with a high profile title.

During the ceremony, President Buhari sent  high profile representatives. Back to Abuja, Nigeria’s First Lady, Aisha Buhari, paid Amaechi and his wife, Judith, an unprecedented visit at their residence to congratulate the Minister on his title.

However, the Minister had kept denying any such interest until Saturday, April 9, 2022 when he declared his interest in his home State, Rivers State.

Amaechi spoke during a Thanksgiving ceremony organised by the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State. The ceremony was organised to put some life in the party which has remained fictionalized and almost irrelevant in the State.

Amaechi’s estranged  friend and his former Secretary to Government, when he was Governor, Magnus Abe, is leading a faction of the APC, opposed to Amaechi’s leadership of the Party in the State.

Amaechi’s entry into the 2023 Presidential race will not only breathe life into the APC in Rivers State, but it will spice up Rivers State politics, and extend to the whole of the South-east.

Here are why.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, Amaechi’s successor, is also aspiring to the Presidential seat in 2023 under the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.

The two former bosom friends parted ways over some deep irreconcilable differences. Before they parted ways, Wike was Amaechi’s Chief of Staff, having led the battle for the unprecedented declaration, by the Supreme Court, of Amaechi as the Governor of Rivers State when he stood for no election. He displaced his cousin, Celestine Omehia.

Not a few people think that Amaechi, in declaring to run in 2023, is cashing in on the clamor by the South-east of a President, in 2023, of Igbo extraction. Even though he is from the South-South, he is of Ikwerre, an Igbo speaking area.

In the past few months, Amaechi has let it be known that he is an Igbo man, and emphasised that nobody should deny him of his Igbo heritage and ancestry. “My birth names are Chibuike Amaechi. I am Igbo”, he recently said.

Some political analysts say President Buhari could back Amaechi and use him to kill three birds with one stone.

*A power shift to the South.

*Allowing the South-south to complete a two-term in office which was denied the Zones when he defeated President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.

*Assuage the South-east which has been clamoring for a President from the Zone.

This means that Amaechi will be running to represent both the South-south and the South-east. Already, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has  embraced him as a beloved  Igbo son.

Other core Igbo sons seriously in the race are former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim and former Anambra State Governor, who was the PDP Vice Presidential candidate in 2019, Peter Obi.

Even though both Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa and Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, had declared interest under the PDP and the APC respectively, nothing much is being heard of their ambition.

Amaechi was a two- term Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, a two-term Governor of Rivers State, a two-term Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, and presently, a two-term Minister of Transportation.

How the APC will manage its heavy weights in the race – Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Amaechi, and expectedly, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will be interesting.

The party has already zoned  the office to the South.

Imo East, Poorly Represented By Successive Representatives – Betty Anyanwu -Akeredolu

By
The Source
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Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu

By Charles Igbo

A Senatorial aspirant in 2023, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, says that her decision to run for the Senatorial seat,  Imo East, (Owerri Zone), stems from the poor representation of the people by their successive representatives, and the lack of leadership in the Zone.

She is, therefore, running in 2023, she said,  to lead the leadership conversation on behalf of the people. Successive administrations and Legislators, she observed, grossly neglected the Zone.

Anyanwu-Akeredolu, who is the Wife of the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, and so, the First Lady of the State, spoke during an interactive session with members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Imo Council, on Friday, March 8, 2022, in Owerri.

According to her: “The level of neglect of the Zone is remote and hopeless, despite the rapid urbanisation of other parts of the State.”

She also lamented what she described as “the poor refuse disposal system in the area and the high number of preventable deaths, especially among women, occasioned by lack of standard medical facilities in the Senatorial District”

A native of Emeabiam in the Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State, Anyanwu-Akeredolu, though married to a Yoruba man, said she has never lost touch with her roots.

“I have been married for 40 years, but I have never lost touch with my  biological birthplace. I am conversant with developments at home.

“I have deep interest in human capital development and a deep-seated desire to improve the lives of my people from Imo. Leadership is not gender-specific.”

She says she has an edge to attract projects to  Owerri Zone  over any other aspirant to the Senatorial seat because:

“As an Igbo daughter, with Yoruba in-laws, I stand a good chance to lobby for projects that would impact on the lives of my people.”

Giving an insight into what she has used her marital position to achieve for her people she said:

“I have demonstrated this ability to handle the position with the many development projects I attracted to my community in the past.

“I have ensured that my development projects, as the wife of a sitting Governor, are extended to my State of origin.

“I attracted the construction of a 10.5km road, worth N1.6 billion from Niger Delta Development Commission and it is currently under construction.

“I have also sponsored no fewer than 200 girls, with technological knowledge and special focus on Information Communication Technology, among others.”

Taking a look at the Zone, Anyanwu-Akeredolu  said: “There is lack of direction, compassion and understanding presently to improve the lives of the people in the constituency.”

She, therefore, asked for support to represent the people at the Senate.

Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, unarguably, the most active Governor’s wife in Nigeria, holds the prestigious Chieftaincy title of “Ada Owere”, bestowed on her by all the Traditional Rulers in Owerri. In her native Emeabiam Community, she holds the title of “Ada Emeabiam 11.”

2023: Amaechi Declares For President 2 Weeks After Denying Interest

By
James Orji
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By James Orji

Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation has declared his intention to run for Nigerian president next year. The former Rivers state governor had earlier denied running for the highest office in the country.

On March 26, Amaechi, a close ally of incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari said he did not want to become president, that all he needed is money to live a good life.

“The people that want me to run for the presidency in 2023 should just give me the money. I need money to survive,” the minister said, two weeks ago while responding to suggestion that he’s among those planning to succeed President Buhari under the banner of ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

The minister who once said he had never told a lie, said on Saturday that pressure has been mounted on him to run for the office of commander-in-chief.

Amaechi said, “I stand before you today to declare my intention and submit my application to serve as your next President,” as he joined other APC stalwarts who have indicated their interest to become president in 2023.

Apart from him, APC chieftains who have thrown their hats in the ring for next year’s presidential election include, Senator Orji Kal, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who has yet to declare his interest publicly, amongst others.

 

2023: Presidential Aspirant, Anakwenze, Urges PDP To Respect Zoning

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Nwachukwu Anthony Anakwenze

By Akinwale Kasali

A member of the Nigeria Diaspora Think Tank and the Chairman of Igbo World Assembly, Nwachukwu Anthony Anakwenze, a United States-based Medical Doctor and the Chairman of Igbo World has urged the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to abide by its laid down rules and principles of Zoning.

Appealing to the leadership of the party and stakeholders, Anakwenze said at this critical stage, the Party needs to remain faithful to the idea of zoning the Presidential ticket to the South in next year’s General Elections because the subsisting rotation favours the region at the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term.

The United States-based medical practitioner, who has indicated interest in running for the Presidential seat having purchased the N40 Million Nomination Form made the appeal in Lagos at a press conference.

He said the scheming by some politicians from the North to retain power in their region in 2023, in flagrant disrespect of the power rotation arrangement, is not in the best interest of the country.

He said that in 24 Years of Democratic Rule of the nation, the Igbos have been marginalized despite the South East contributing greatly to the development of the nation in terms of infrastructure, intellect and business.

Anakwenze added that the Southeast geo-political zone have demonstrated faith in a united Nigeria than any other ethnic nationality and deserve to produce the president ahead of the other two zones that had already taken a shot at it since the return to civil rule in 1999.

He also condemned the spate of insecurity in the country on marginalisation and injustice.

“The present degree of regional and ethno-political polarisation, insecurity, hunger, unemployment, secessionist agitations and banditry occasioned by poor leadership, puts Nigeria at risk of breaking up.”

“I am a simple man that is driven by the desire to give the youth, the nation’s children what we had growing up; a sense of self-worth and the belief that the sky is the limit when it comes to the ability to excel.”

Speaking on his ability and capacity to rule a complex nation like Nigeria, Anakwenze said he has what it takes to bring the country out of its present economic woes.

He explained that zoning will not allow the best candidate like him to emerge as the presidential candidate of the party, hence his decision that the contest be thrown open for the best to emerge.

He added that he is also an industrialist that employs more than 4,000 youths, and if given the chance to rule the nation, is major focus and investment will be on youth capacity and development.

He pledged to bring back 10,000 medics of Nigerian origin back to help improve the medical sector in the country.

Anakwenze further said that his election as  President,  will bring an end to medical tourism in Nigeria.

GTCO Focused To Become Africa’s Giant- Agbaje

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Shareholders Approve N3 Dividend

By Tosin Olatokunbo

The Group Managing Director, GMD Guarantee Trust Holding Company, GTCO Plc Segun Agbaje has disclosed that the financial behemoth is truly on course of becoming Africa’s leading financial giant, one year after transiting to a holding company.

Agbaje made the assertion at the end of the first Annual General Meeting, AGM of the corporation, where the shareholders approved a total dividend payment of N3 per unit of ordinary share for the 2021 financial year.

“Following the shareholders’ approval of our transition to a holding company structure in December 2020, we worked with regulators, the broad spectrum of our stakeholders and some of the most experienced advisory institutions in the world, to ensure that we have, not only a smooth transition but also the best people and the right structures to drive our vision of becoming Africa’s leading financial services groups,” the GTCO chief executive said.

The shareholders endorsed the Group’s proposed final dividend of N2.70 per unit of ordinary share held by shareholders in addition to the interim dividend of 30 kobo interim dividend paid in June, bringing the total dividend for the 2021 financial year to N3.00 per unit of ordinary share.

Speaking on behalf of shareholders, the patron, Nigeria Shareholders Solidarity Association, NSSA, Timothy Adesiyan, noted that the holdo has made serious progress since the transition one year ago, despite the challenging business environment.

Hezekiah Adesola Oyinlola, GTCO Chairman said the corporation has consolidated its position as Africa’s financial leader. He said the company will continue to provide cutting-edge financial services to customers.

He said, “When I look at the future-proofing of every part of our organisation; from our talent base to our business models and digital capabilities, I am reminded of just how forward-thinking our management team continues to be in our company’s constant push to be ahead of the curve in creating innovative financial solutions, delivering service excellence and ensuring long-term value creation.

“I am excited by the potential of our new holding company structure. I see the immense opportunities opened by our strategic investments in building up diverse lines of business.

“The future of financial services belongs to the institutions that will seamlessly integrate the full range of cutting-edge solutions in a people-centric digitally enabled ecosystem.”

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