FG Takes Full Ownership of Keystone Bank After Court Ruling
By Patience Ikpeme
Keystone Bank Limited has confirmed that it is now fully owned by the Federal Government of Nigeria following a court ruling that ordered the forfeiture of shares previously held by its former shareholders.
In a statement posted on its official X handle on Tuesday evening, the bank addressed recent media reports regarding the judgment delivered by the Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja on February 11, 2025.
The statement clarified that the court ruling affected the former shareholders of the bank, Sigma Golf Nigeria Limited and Alhaji Umaru H. Modibbo. It recalled that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had dissolved the previous board and management of Keystone Bank on January 10, 2024, citing corporate governance breaches. The CBN subsequently appointed a new board and management to oversee the bank’s operations.
Following this development, the Federal Government, through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), initiated a legal action at the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, challenging the acquisition of Keystone Bank by its former owners. At the court session on February 11, 2025, the judge ruled in favor of the Federal Government, ordering the forfeiture of the bank’s shares previously held by Sigma Golf Nigeria Limited and Modibbo.
With this ruling, Keystone Bank Limited is now entirely under the ownership of the Federal Government. The bank assured the public of its commitment to stability and continued service under its new ownership structure.
