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CAC to cancel certificates of Bureaux De Change with revoked licences

The Corporate Affairs Commission has announced its intention to cancel the certificates of incorporation of Bureaux De Change whose licences were revoked by the Central Bank of Nigeria earlier this year.

In a notice on its website on Wednesday, CAC said the certificates would be cancelled within three months if the affected companies do not change the names and objects of such companies.

“The general public is hereby informed that following the revocation of the operational licenses of 4,173 Bureau De Change companies by the Central Bank of Nigeria vide a Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette (Vol. 111) No. 37 of February 27, 2024 for noncompliance with Regulatory Standards, the Corporate Affairs Commission in the exercise of its powers under section 8(1)(e ) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 advises these companies to within three months from the date of this publication, change the names and objects of such companies.

“Failure to change the names and objects within the stipulated time frame shall result in cancellation of certificate of incorporation and dissolution. It is to be noted that it is unlawful for a company whose certificate has been deemed dissolved to carry on business,” the CAC notice read.

The CBN in February revoked the licences of 4,173 Bureau De Change operators over their failure to meet regulatory guidelines.

The apex bank disclosed this in a statement by its acting Director, Corporate Communications, Sidi Hakama.

According to the statement, the regulatory provisions flouted include nonpayment of all necessary fees within the stipulated period.

It added, “The affected institutions failed to observe at least one of the following regulatory provisions: Payment of all necessary fees, including licence renewal, within the stipulated period in line with the guidelines.

“Rendition of returns in line with the guidelines; compliance with guidelines, directives, and circulars of the CBN, particularly Anti-Money Laundering, Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Counter-Proliferation Financing regulations,” CBN said in the statement.

The CBN has since released fresh regulations and guidelines for Bureau de Change operations in Nigeria, which included new categorisations with different capital bases.