OpeOluwani Akintayo
23 August 2017, Sweetcrude, Lagos — The Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, has canceled the registration of Ajaokuta Steel Nigeria Limited allegedly belonging to Alhaji Musa Bello and Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
According to a letter signed by CAC’s Registrar-General, Bello Fanini, dated 21st of August, and obtained by SweetcrudeReports, the Commission stated that registration of AKNL was not in line with the interest of Kogi, thereby withdrawing consent for the registration.
CAC also directed that the company’s name be changed within the next 6 weeks by removing ‘Ajaokuta’ and ‘Kogi’ pursuant to its powers under section 31 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), 1990.
The Commission also revealed that the case has been referred to the Department of State Service for investigation of alleged forgery leveled against owners of the company.
It would be recalled that in June 2017, Lawyer and activist, Barrister Natasha Apoti cried foul, and alleged that Alhaji Musa Bello whom she tagged “the promoter of Global Infrastructure Nigeria Limited” and governor Bello, were conniving to convert Ajaokuta Steel complex to their private property using “Ajaokuta Kogi Nigeria Limited” (AKNL) as a vehicle.
The fraud
During our investigation, we found out that the Kogi state government wrote two consent letters (in addition to a personal visit by Mr. Idris Asiwaju who is the commissioner of Finance and Economic Development) to CAC for the registration of AKNL as a Joint Venture vehicle to acquire Ajaokuta for Kogites.
However, in reality, Kogi state was not allotted a single share, neither was Kogi state legally represented in any way or form in the company.
The Petition
On the 3rd of July 2017, Barrister Natasha wrote a petition intimating CAC of the aforementioned and requesting remedial actions.
The petition then prompted CAC’s investigation into the allegations.
SweetcrudeReports learned that during the investigation, CAC had contacted Governor Yahaya Bello and Alhaji Musa Bello, urging them to drop the word “Ajaokuta” and “Kogi” (if they insist on continuing their acquisition of Ajaokuta Steel Company), and that documents to such registration were to be returned to the Commission.