The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) at the weekend said it generated N194.48 million from penalties in 2019.
Mary Uduk, SEC Acting Director-General, said this in the Commission’s 2020 outlook and prioritised initiatives released in Lagos on Sunday.
Uduk said the Commission’s enforcement efforts in 2019 yielded some positive results, as over N194.48 million was generated from various penalties.
The SEC boss noted that 167 complaints were received in 2019, with 102 of them resolved.
According to her, the number of fraud cases in the capital market being prosecuted during the period stood at eight.
According to her, about N100.11million was recovered for investors in the period with 8,848 units of shares of various companies.
Uduk hinted that four illegal ponzi scheme operators were sealed in addition to four illegal operators’ bank accounts that were cautioned/ blocked by the Commission’s police unit.
She specifically said that the total amount in the blocked accounts stood at N1.12 billion in 2019.
She noted that value of real estate properties cautioned under investigation stood at N1.23 billion in 2019.
“The last 12 months has been a challenging and difficult period for our economy, the markets and by extension the SEC.
“Despite revenue challenges and competing demands, SEC successfully implemented key programmes and projects, achieving significant milestones.
“The Commission is poised to build on the gains of 2019 with a renewed focus on resource optimisation and execution of prioritised initiatives in 2020,” Uduk said.
She said the focus of the Commission’s enforcement programme in 2020 as with previous years would be the protection of investors with particular attention to retail and unsophisticated investors in the Nigerian capital market.
“In 2019, the Commission witnessed an upsurge in the activities of Ponzi schemes in Nigeria.
“The Commission went after many of the promoters and directors of such schemes, securing a conviction last year and many others are presently being prosecuted.
“We will continue to combat Ponzi schemes this year.
“We intend to continue leveraging on the Memoranda of Understanding that were signed between the Commission and key stakeholders like the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to strengthen our ability to do this.
“The Commission will continue to adopt a zero-tolerance policy on unethical practices in the capital market with a view to promoting a culture of compliance and enhanced reporting.
“We will adopt a more proactive inspection and market surveillance regime to nip unethical practices and misconduct in the bud.
“We shall be referring more cases of infractions for hearing before the SEC Administrative Proceedings Committee.
“Furthermore, we shall be referring more matters for criminal prosecution to the office of the Attorney – General of the Federation in line with the provisions of Section 304 of the Investments and Securities Act 2007,” she said.