Naira fall: Court freezes N548.6m belonging to ‘ByBit, KuCoin’ Nigerian crypto users - Newstrends
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Naira fall: Court freezes N548.6m belonging to ‘ByBit, KuCoin’ Nigerian crypto users

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Naira fall: Court freezes N548.6m belonging to ‘ByBit, KuCoin’ Nigerian crypto users

Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has secured an order from the Federal High Court to freeze N548.6 million in bank accounts belonging to suspected crypto users on platforms like ByBit, KuCoin, and others, based on their alleged role in naira fluctuations.

The motion, dated September 3, 2024, which the court relied on to freeze the funds, casts a fresh spotlight on major foreign crypto platforms, ByBit and KuCoin, accusing them of aiding the devaluation of the Nigerian currency.

This development is part of a broader prosecutorial and legal campaign by federal government agencies to address alleged foreign exchange violations and tax evasion by foreign cryptocurrency platforms.

Recall that in February 2024, Nigeria’s security agency arrested two executives of the Binance cryptocurrency platform following intelligence from the National Security Adviser, which alleged money laundering and terrorism financing activities on certain cryptocurrency exchange platforms.

Nairametrics reports that the EFCC is already in court against Binance and Tigran Gambaryan over money laundering offenses involving $35.4 million.

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This recent motion now extends the indictment to ByBit and KuCoin, accusing them and several unnamed crypto platforms of enabling their Nigerian users to engage in ”price discovery, confirmation, and market manipulation” through their platforms, thereby causing “distortions in the market, resulting in the naira losing its value against other currencies.”

An EFCC investigator, Okoro Philip, stated in his affidavit, exclusively seen by Nairametrics, that over the past few months, Nigeria experienced considerable gains in currency stabilization efforts by the Federal Government, as evidenced by the dollar trading at N980 to $1 on the black market.

He added that these gains were swiftly reversed on Thursday, April 18, 2024, when the dollar surged from N1,250 to $1 on the parallel market.

He said further investigation and intelligence indicated that “these fluctuations were primarily driven by activities on platforms such as ByBit, KuCoin, and other similar cryptocurrency platforms.”

He stated that 22 bank accounts, domiciled in various Nigerian banks and described in the motion, belong to willing sellers of USDT, who provide their naira accounts to transfer the naira equivalent of the USDT.

He contended that the identified account holders are users of ByBit, KuCoin, and other foreign cryptocurrency platforms, who are not authorized to deal in foreign exchange, advertise, negotiate, or carry out cryptocurrency exchanges to naira and vice versa at rates detrimental to Nigeria’s financial system.

The prosecution accused the cryptocurrency platforms of deliberately ignoring the mandatory requirements under Nigeria’s anti-money laundering laws and regulations, enabling users of the platforms to operate under a cover of secrecy.

“ByBit is a cryptocurrency platform where the exchange of USDT (a digital dollar) to other currencies, including the naira, takes place. One USDT is approximately equivalent to one United States dollar (USD). The exchange rates determined by users of these cryptocurrencies adversely affect the value of the naira by artificially lowering its value. 

“The proceeds of this manipulation go into the account of the willing seller,” the official added in the case marked FHC/ABJ/CS/543/2024.

Naira fall: Court freezes N548.6m belonging to ‘ByBit, KuCoin’ Nigerian crypto users

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CFAO Mobility Open Day to offer special deals on new vehicles, parts, diagnostics

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CFAO Mobility Open Day to offer special deals on new vehicles, parts, diagnostics

 

CFAO Mobility has announced plans to host the 2026 edition of its flagship CFAO Mobility Open Day, aimed at showcasing a wide range of innovative mobility solutions.

In a statement, the company said the event would take place on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos, from 9am to 6pm.

The Open Day is expected to bring together leading global automotive and equipment brands in a dynamic exhibition tailored to meet diverse mobility needs.

Participating brands are Toyota, BYD, Mitsubishi, Suzuki, Fuso, JCB, Howo, Sino Equipment, King Long, TechKing Tyres, Yamaha, Winpart and Auto Fast.

According to CFAO Mobility, attendees will experience an extensive display of products and services, ranging from brand-new vehicles and motorcycles to outboard engines, fleet management solutions, spare parts and aftermarket services.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will also feature test drives, professional vehicle diagnostics and exclusive spare-parts deals, offering participants a hands-on and engaging experience.

The company urged car enthusiasts, business owners and prospective buyers to take advantage of the Open Day to explore mobility solutions tailored to their personal and business needs.

With over 120 years of presence in Nigeria, CFAO Mobility remains a key player in the mobility and healthcare sectors.

It added that the Open Day reflects its continued commitment to delivering innovative, customer-focused mobility solutions.

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Naira Strengthens to ₦1,359.31/$ as CBN Data Shows Further Gain in Official Market

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Naira Strengthens to ₦1,359.31/$ as CBN Data Shows Further Gain in Official Market

The Naira continued its positive performance on Thursday, appreciating further in the official foreign exchange market to close at ₦1,359.31 per US dollar, according to data published by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The latest figure represents an improvement of ₦12.50 compared to the previous trading day, reflecting a 0.9 percent gain from Wednesday’s closing rate of ₦1,371.82/$.

The appreciation highlights continued stability in the official foreign exchange window, where recent policy measures have helped improve liquidity and reduce pressure on the local currency.

Market analysts attribute the naira’s relative strength to ongoing foreign exchange reforms by the CBN, increased dollar supply in official channels, and tighter regulation aimed at narrowing the gap between official and parallel market rates.

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The CBN has in recent months intensified efforts to stabilise the currency through measures such as improved FX market transparency, better coordination with market participants, and steps to attract foreign portfolio inflows.

Despite the gains in the official market, traders note that the parallel market remains more volatile, with rates still influenced by strong demand for foreign currency from importers, travellers, and businesses outside official allocation channels.

Economists say the recent appreciation could help ease short-term inflationary pressure, particularly on imported goods, fuel pricing, and manufacturing inputs, although they caution that sustained stability will depend on broader macroeconomic fundamentals.

These include stronger foreign reserves, improved export earnings—especially from crude oil—and continued investor confidence in Nigeria’s economic policy direction.

The naira’s performance also comes amid renewed attention on Nigeria’s broader economic outlook, with stakeholders closely monitoring the impact of monetary tightening and ongoing fiscal reforms.

As of the latest trading sessions, market participants expect the CBN to maintain its current policy stance in the near term as it works to consolidate recent gains in the foreign exchange market in Nigeria.

Naira Strengthens to ₦1,359.31/$ as CBN Data Shows Further Gain in Official Market

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Nigeria May Face ₦2,000 Petrol Price Without Intervention, TUC Warns FG

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President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) Festus Osifo
President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) Festus Osifo

TUC Warns Petrol May Hit ₦2,000/Litre, Proposes Crude Revenue Subsidy Plan to FG

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The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has warned that petrol prices in Nigeria could rise to as high as ₦2,000 per litre if urgent economic measures are not introduced to stabilise the country’s energy and currency markets.

TUC President, Festus Osifo, issued the warning during a press briefing in Abuja, citing the combined impact of rising global crude oil prices and continued depreciation of the naira as major drivers of worsening fuel costs.

Osifo said Nigerian workers are already under severe economic pressure, noting that in some parts of the country, fuel pump prices are already approaching the ₦2,000 threshold due to market volatility and transportation differentials.

He explained that the 2026 national budget benchmarked crude oil at about $64.85 per barrel, while current international prices hover around $100 per barrel, creating what he described as significant “excess revenue” for the government.

The TUC is proposing that the Federal Government allocate about 60% of this excess crude revenue to support local production by subsidising crude supply to domestic refineries, including the Dangote Refinery and other modular refineries.

According to Osifo, this approach would be more transparent and harder to manipulate than the previous fuel subsidy regime, while also helping to reduce the cost of petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel within a short period.

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He argued that targeted support at the refinery level could reduce pump prices within two weeks if implemented, stressing that the current cost structure is unsustainable for households and businesses.

The TUC president also criticised the slow expansion of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) infrastructure, noting that although CNG adoption is being promoted as an alternative to petrol, the absence of refuelling stations along major highways limits its practicality for long-distance transport.

Beyond economic issues, Osifo also raised concerns over worsening insecurity in parts of the country, particularly recent killings in Plateau State, urging the government to strengthen military response capabilities with modern technology and intelligence tools.

He warned that failure to address rising fuel costs could reverse recent gains in inflation control, arguing that high petrol prices directly impact inflation, transport fares, and food costs across Nigeria.

Osifo further suggested that the naira’s fair value should ideally be within the ₦800–₦900 per dollar range to ease pressure on fuel pricing and broader economic stability.

The TUC stated that it will formally present its proposal to the Federal Government ahead of upcoming federation revenue distributions, insisting that urgent intervention is necessary to prevent further economic hardship.

As of the time of filing this report, the Federal Government has not issued an official response to the proposal or the ₦2,000-per-litre warning.

Nigeria May Face ₦2,000 Petrol Price Without Intervention, TUC Warns FG

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