Staff of Oando Plc did not turn up for work as policemen take over the office complex in Victoria Island

THE Nigeria Police Force has taken over the head office of  Oando PLC in Victoria Island, Lagos, as staff of the company stayed off work.

Also, the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, said it had set up an interim management team to oversee the affairs of Oando following the suspension of Wale Tinubu, group chief executive officer of the company.

Other board members were also suspended.

The suspension came after over a year of forensic audit by the  SEC barring  Tinubu , from being a director of a public company  for five years.

SEC also barred Oando’s Omamofe Boyo, deputy group chief executive officer from being a director of a public company for five years.

It also directed resignation of the affected board members,  and called on the company to convene an extra-ordinary general meeting on or before July 1, to appoint new directors.

The commission said that these and others were part of measures to address identified violations in the company.

“Following the receipt of two petitions by the commission in 2017, investigations were conducted into the activities of Oando Plc (a company listed on the Nigerian and Johannesburg Stock Exchanges).

“Certain infractions of securities and other relevant laws were observed.

”The commission further engaged Deloitte & Touche to conduct a forensic audit of the activities of Oando Plc.

“The general public is hereby notified of the conclusion of the investigations of Oando Plc,” it said.

According to SEC, findings from the audit revealed infractions such as false disclosures, market abuses, misstatements in financial statements, internal control failures and corporate governance lapses stemming from poor board oversight, among others things.

It  added that the forensic audit showed irregular approval of directors’ remuneration, unjustified disbursements to directors and management of the company, related party transactions not conducted at arm’s length, amongst others.

The SEC also directed the payment of monetary penalties by the company and affected individuals and directors, and refund of improperly disbursed remuneration by the affected board members to the company.

As required under Section 304 of the Investments and Securities Act, 2007, the commission said it would refer all issues with possible criminality to the appropriate prosecuting authorities.

The commission said that other aspects of the findings would be referred to the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Corporate Affairs Commission.

“The commission is confident that with the implementation of the above directives and introduction of some remedial measures, such unwholesome practices by public companies would be significantly reduced.

“Therefore, in line with the Federal Government’s resolve to build strong institutions, boards of public companies are enjoined to properly perform their  duties as required under extant securities laws,” it said.

It said that SEC, as the apex regulator of the Nigerian capital market, would maintain zero tolerance to market infractions.

It also reiterated commitment to ensuring fairness, integrity, efficiency and transparency of the securities market, thereby strengthening investor protection.

SEC in March 2018 announced the commencement of audit of Oando’s account, appointing Deloite Nigeria to do the forensic audit.

– Jun. 3, 2019 @ 11:29 GMT |