The majority shareholder in Mayfresh Mortgage Bank Limited, Mrs Maria Omego-Edeh, has filed a petition with the Corporate Affairs Commission, alleging the theft of her shares through a computer-related fraud.
According to the complaint filed by her legal representative, Olu Omotayo Esq., Mrs. Omego-Edeh’s 7.1 billion shares in the bank have been fraudulently transferred to unknown individuals in alleged connivance with CAC officials, despite a caveat placed on the company’s file to prevent such activities.
The petition, addressed to the Registrar-General of the CAC, claims that as of 19th September 2024, a status report generated by Mrs. Omego-Edeh revealed that her entire shareholding had been removed, and zero shares were listed under her name.
This action, described as “cyber robbery and terrorism,” occurred even though a formal request had been made to protect the company’s records from illegal alterations.
“Shares are personal properties of the owner and cannot be taken away fraudulently by anybody, including the Commission, without the consent of the owner,” Omotayo argued in the petition.
He further cited the provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020, which governs the transfer of shares, noting that shares can only be transferred through sale or gifting by the owner. In this case, Mrs. Omego-Edeh never authorized any sale or transfer.
The petition also referenced the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention) Act of 2015, which makes it illegal to alter, erase, or suppress any computer data without authorization.
“This type of act portends danger in a developing economy like ours because the implication is that any misfit can alter a company’s record with the Commission at will,” Omotayo warned, calling for the immediate arrest and prosecution of those involved.
The legal team is demanding that the fraudulent alterations be reversed and the records restored to their original state.
The petition, dated 27th September 2024, marks the second time Mrs. Omego-Edeh’s lawyers have raised the issue with the CAC, following a previous submission on 20th September that reportedly went unanswered.
As of the time of filing this report, the CAC has not yet issued a public response to the allegations.
