Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, who represented CACOVID during a visit to the team’s camp in Cameroon, made the disclosure.

He also said the private sector-led platform established to assist the government in combating Coronavirus in the country, will also give the Super Eagles team  $120,000 for the six goals they scored in the group stage of the tournament.

Recall, the Eagles finished the group stage with six goals, which amounted to $120,000.

Emefiele, who praised the team for their performance at the AFCON, also added that CACOVID has increased the amount for every goal scored to $50,000 in the round of 16.

Emefiele said “I came with a message from the CACOVID. The CACOVID is the coalition of private-sector companies that was set up to fight COVID-19 in Nigeria and they have been happy with the performance of the team. During the meeting, I had with the captain (Ahmed Musa) and the coach (Austin Eguavoen), I delivered a message from CACOVID and the message is that, for every goal that is scored, the team will receive the naira equivalent of $20,000 so far, you have earned for yourself the naira equivalent of $120,000. We held a CACOVID meeting again because everyone is overjoyed for everything you’ve done so far, CACOVID has asked me to raise the ante. From the round of 16, for every goal scored, you will earn for yourselves as a team the naira equivalent of $50,000. Also, Femi Otedola, who is a member of CACOVID, has asked me to tell you that if you lift the trophy, he has in the bank for you, the naira equivalent of $250,000. This is just the beginning and I can assure you that if you win your round of 16 games, another promise might be made,” 

Otedola is reportedly behind a massive mop-up of the shares of FBN Holdings, which would result in his becoming the single majority shareholder of the company.

Sources with knowledge of the purchase said majority ownership of FBN Holding Company, owners of Nigeria’s oldest bank, First Bank, is about to be upturned following months of slow and meticulous purchase of the company shares on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange by Otedola. Otedola has been gradually accumulating his ownership and surpassing shares owned by any other single shareholder of the bank.

An official announcement would be coming in the days ahead.

Otedola has been acquiring the shares of the bank through a vehicle, Calvados Global Services Limited. It is also likely that there could be other vehicles associated with Otedola who may have also been mopping up shares.

FBNH currently has 34.7 billion of its shares floating freely meaning it is held by diverse shareholders. This makes the shares easy to acquire on the stock exchange.

It was gathered that Otedola, through his proxies and investing vehicles, now owns over five per cent of the bank, setting himself up to be the single largest shareholder of the bank.

Industry assumptions have often suggested billionaire Oba Otudeko is the single majority owner of the bank, considering the enormous control he wielded over the bank for years. However, his latest debacle with the Central Bank following the failed removal of current MD/CEO Adesola Adeduntan marked a sudden end to his control of the bank providing an opening for Mr Otedola to move in on controlling the bank.

The latest audited account of FBN Holdings does not have any shareholder with up to 5% of the ownership of the bank’s shares. However, Mr Otedola now owns over 5% of the bank.

FBNH currently has a total outstanding shareholding of 39.5 billion units and a market capitalization of N423.5 billion. According to information contained in the 2020 FY report of the bank, 40 shareholders owned 31.03% of the bank while no individual shareholder held more than 5% of the bank. Shareholders with over 5% ownership of shares of a publicly quoted company are statutorily expected to declare ownership publicly.

The financial statement of the company also states Dr Oba Otudeko owns 532 million units or 1.3% holding of the company. Oye Hassan Odukale reportedly owns 370 million units of the bank according to the information contained in its 2020 annual reports. The owner of Globacom, Mike Adenuga is also a major shareholder of the company but is thought to own far fewer shares than Oba Otudeko and the Odukales. It is also likely that they have other shares owned by proxies but not included in the shareholdings disclosed publicly.

Otedola said that his action was predicated on the advice of an ex-maximum ruler who had told him to encourage Jonathan to occupy Yar’Adua’s empty seat in the next Federal Executive Council meeting, as reported by the Channels TV, quoting the yet-to-be-released book.

With Yar’Adua failing to formally transfer power to his VP when he has flown abroad for medical treatment, there was tension across the nation as a result of the power vacuum, which led to public protests, Otedola was quoted to have said in the book.

“Worried by the tension and uncertainty, I decided to do something on my own. In the first week of February 2010, I went to Minna, Niger State, along with Hajia Bola Shagaya, to commiserate with General Ibrahim Babangida over the death of his wife, Maryam. At his Hilltop residence, we spoke on a wide range of issues, but I told him I needed to discuss an urgent and vital issue. He took me to his study, where the two of us were alone. I told him that the state of the nation had been agitating my mind. He replied, ‘Femi, advise your friend that when he gets to the Council Chambers next week for the Federal Executive Council meeting, he should go and sit on the President’s chair.’ I found that fascinating and assured him I would pass the message across. I travelled back to Abuja by road in the evening and went straight to have dinner with Dr Jonathan. I did not waste time in delivering the general’s message to him. He nodded and asked me, ‘What do you think?’ I laughed and said, ‘Be a man, Your Excellency. Go and sit on that chair! He looked at me for some time and responded that he would think about it. A week later, on Tuesday, February 9, the National Assembly adopted the famous ‘Doctrine of Necessity to make Dr Jonathan the Acting President pending the return of President Yar’Adua from his medical leave. Behind-the-scene moves by prominent Nigerians preceded this decision. The legislative resolution was unprecedented, but the nation had been tensed up. The fault lines were so stoked that an unusual solution was needed to address the unique situation. With Jonathan now legally empowered to act as President, there remained the critical optics: would he stand-in for the President confidently and authoritatively? Or would he try to maintain a subdued outlook? The following day was the FEC meeting. As Dr Jonathan entered the council chamber, he was made to sit on the chair of the Vice President — his usual seat. As the protocol officer pulled out the VP’s chair, Dr Jonathan marched towards the seat reserved for the President. And he sat on it! That was the moment Dr Goodluck Jonathan took control of power. By that act, he sent a strong signal to all Nigerians that he was now in charge. The same day, Jonathan even reshuffled the cabinet.”

Yar’Adua died on May 5, 2010, and Jonathan was sworn in as president to complete Yar’Adua’s term. He won the 2011 presidential elections.

It will be recall that during the just concluded African Cup of Nations, Dangote and his billionaire friend Femi Otedola pledged $75,000 together for every goal scored by the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the knockout stage of the tournament.

Yesterday, Otedola redeemed his pledge of $25000 per goal to representatives of the Super Eagles. The representatives also made a visit to Olakunle Alake, GMD of Dangote Group who presented them with a cheque of $50,000 of behalf of Aliko Dangote.

The team was represented by John Ogu, Team Admin. Enebi Achor and Kit manager Chidi Ngoka.