Author: user user

Viral claim: Arewa group backs Akpabio

The Arewa Revival Project has passed a vote of confidence in the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, while urging Nigerians to disregard unverified social media claims capable of deepening regional tensions.

The group, in a statement signed by its Project Coordinator, Hon. Muttaka Ahmed Ibrahim, reacted to a viral social-media publication allegedly quoting Akpabio as saying that Northerners would suffer if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu lost the 2027 presidential election.

It described the alleged statement as ‘deeply inflammatory’ but stressed that the circulation of a graphic bearing Akpabio’s photograph and quotation marks did not establish that he actually made the statement. The group therefore challenged those circulating the allegation to produce the original video or audio recording, transcript, date, venue and credible source from which the claim originated.

According to the organisation, unverified social-media content should not be allowed to become an instrument for creating division among Nigeria’s regions and peoples.

‘Whatever political differences may exist among Nigerians, the office of the President of the Senate deserves constructive engagement and responsible public discourse,’ it said.

The Arewa Revival Project also commended Akpabio for what it described as his commitment to legislative leadership, national dialogue, institutional cooperation and democratic governance.

It said leadership of the National Assembly required courage, experience, diplomacy and the ability to balance diverse political interests while ensuring that legislative business continued effectively.

‘Leadership at the highest level of government requires courage, experience, diplomacy, consultation and the ability to manage diverse interests,’ the statement said.

The organisation said its vote of confidence was based on what it described as verifiable actions, legislative responsibilities and measurable contributions, rather than anonymous social media allegations or politically charged graphics.

It urged the Senate President to continue promoting national unity, peaceful coexistence, legislative effectiveness and constructive engagement among Nigeria’s diverse communities.

The group further appealed to Nigerians to place the interest of the country above political parties and individual politicians, stressing that political competition should not become a justification for spreading messages capable of provoking hatred, suspicion or confrontation.

‘Nigeria is bigger than any political party, individual or election,’ the statement added.

The Arewa Revival Project called on Nigerians to ‘verify before sharing, question before believing and unite before dividing.’

It congratulated Akpabio on his service as President of the Senate and wished him continued wisdom and courage in the discharge of his constitutional responsibilities.

Firm to begin local production of 10m mosquito nets annually in Nigeria

Vestergaard Sàrl has announced the start of operations at Health Textiles Nigeria FZE, a new manufacturing facility expected to produce 10 million insecticide-treated mosquito nets annually and create more than 600 jobs in Nigeria at full capacity.

According to the company, the facility is Nigeria’s first to manufacture dual-active-ingredient insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) designed to tackle growing insecticide resistance.

Health Textiles Nigeria will manufacture PermaNet Dual, Vestergaard’s next-generation mosquito net, which was prequalified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2023.

The WHO has also recognised the facility as a Vestergaard production site.

The company said the commencement of local production marks a major milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen malaria prevention while positioning the country as a manufacturing hub for next-generation mosquito nets in Africa.

Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said the development would strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to manufacture essential health products locally.

‘The commencement of local production of next-generation insecticide-treated nets is an important milestone for Nigeria’s health system and our fight against malaria,’ Pate said.

He added that the initiative would combine global expertise with Nigerian talent and local production, creating skilled jobs and strengthening the country’s healthcare value chain.

The development comes amid the continued burden of malaria globally, particularly in Africa.

According to the WHO, an estimated 282 million malaria cases and 610,000 deaths were recorded globally in 2024. Nigeria accounts for about a quarter of the world’s malaria cases.

Vestergaard said ITNs, including PermaNet Dual, have helped avert an estimated 1.13 billion malaria cases since 2000.

The Health Textiles Nigeria project follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2024 between Vestergaard and the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC), aimed at strengthening local manufacturing capacity.

Dr Abdu Mukhtar, National Coordinator of PVAC, said the facility demonstrates the potential of aligning investment, technology transfer and government policy to develop local manufacturing.

‘When PVAC and Vestergaard signed the MOU in 2024, the objective was not simply to attract investment, but to translate partnership into productive capacity in Nigeria,’ Mukhtar said.

He said training Nigerian professionals and starting production represented the type of outcome the government hopes to replicate across the healthcare value chain.

Health Textiles Nigeria is wholly owned by Vestergaard, which has supplied approximately one-third of all publicly procured insecticide-treated nets globally since 2000.

The company said it has already recruited about 80 employees, with training underway in manufacturing, product quality, health and safety, and regulatory compliance.

As operations expand, the facility is expected to employ more than 600 people and build a skilled workforce for health-product manufacturing.

Vestergaard CEO Amar Ali said the facility could become a benchmark for malaria-prevention manufacturing across Africa.

‘By combining Nigerian talent with world-class manufacturing and Vestergaard’s deep expertise in innovative malaria-prevention tools, Health Textiles Nigeria will deliver the highest standards of quality, compliance and performance,’ Ali said.

He added that local production would help ensure that life-saving mosquito nets are manufactured closer to the communities that need them.

With production now underway, Vestergaard said it expects to fulfil the first commercial orders in the coming months.

Police urge Nigerians to break silence on suicide, support people in distress

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has urged Nigerians to break the silence surrounding suicide and show greater compassion towards people experiencing emotional or psychological distress.

The Force made the appeal on Thursday as the world marked World Suicide Prevention Day, joining the global campaign against the stigma and silence that often prevent people from speaking about their struggles.

The police noted that people experiencing serious emotional difficulties might not always display obvious warning signs, stressing the need for family members, friends, colleagues and other members of the public to pay attention and reach out.

In a message marking the day, the Force urged Nigerians to check on people around them, listen without judgement and encourage those experiencing difficulties to seek appropriate support.

It said a simple conversation, a listening ear or timely intervention could make a meaningful difference in the life of someone going through a difficult period.

The police also called for greater public awareness and compassion in addressing suicide, stressing the importance of creating an environment where people can speak openly about their struggles without fear of stigma or judgement.

The Force said, ‘A person who is struggling may not always show it. Taking the time to listen, check in on someone, offer support and encourage them to seek appropriate help can make a meaningful difference.’

The NPF also called for greater openness in discussing suicide and mental health, saying stigma could make vulnerable people withdraw further and discourage them from seeking assistance.

It urged Nigerians to create supportive environments where people can speak about their challenges without fear of condemnation or ridicule.

‘Let us challenge the stigma and silence that can prevent people from speaking about what they are going through,’ the Force said.

The police said, ‘Let us listen without judgement, respond with compassion, and encourage those who may be struggling to seek appropriate support’.

The police stressed that suicide prevention should not be left to individuals or professionals alone, but requires collective responsibility from families, communities, workplaces and relevant support services.

The Force called on Nigerians to take signs of distress seriously and to encourage people who may be at risk to seek appropriate professional help.

The appeal is part of broader efforts to promote compassion, early intervention and open conversations around suicide prevention, while reminding Nigerians that reaching out to someone in distress can be an important first step towards getting help.

Dwight Ramos feels Filipino crowd’s love wherever he plays

Dwight Ramos once again felt the frenzy of the Filipino crowd during the Japan B.League Manila Games.

By now, though, the situation is hardly a surprise.

After playing for Gilas Pilipinas around the world, Ramos said playing at home-even for a Japanese club-felt much the same.

‘I play in Japan and there’s a lot of Filipinos there. I played in the Middle East, and there’s also a lot of Filipinos there. I play here and the gym’s packed,’ he said. ‘I can’t even tell the difference. It’s the same everywhere I go.’

‘No matter where I go, I get the same crowd where I play. I really appreciate it and I’m really grateful for it.’

Fans at Mall of Asia Arena during the Japan B.League Manila preseason games. -B.LEAGUE PHOTO

The rowdy home crowd fueled Ramos to drop 17 points, four assists and three rebounds.

His Levanga Hokkaido, however, fell to the Gunma Crane Thunders for the second straight night, this time a 101-91 loss in overtime Thursday at Mall of Asia Arena.

On the other side, AJ Edu nearly tallied a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds.

Like Ramos, Edu was ecstatic to feel the home crowd again, but he was happier to see his Gunma teammates experience the Filipino fans’ passion.

‘It’s great that they also experienced how Filipino fans are,’ said Edu. ‘This isn’t quite like Gilas but I always talk about their passion so I’m grateful that my team got to experience that firsthand.’

The onus of securing eCARs in transferring unlisted shares

Transferring shares not listed and traded on a stock exchange involves several steps and sellers (and buyers) often must consider documents apart from the deed of sale or transfer. One of the key documents is securing proof of payment of taxes on the sale or transfer. A document most sellers or buyers may not be familiar with is the electronic Certificate Authorizing Registration (eCAR), which serves as proof that the taxes applicable for the transfer of the shares have been paid. In filing the eCAR application, part of the documentary requirements attached are copies of the proof and filing and payment of applicable tax returns, which may involve capital gains tax, documentary stamp tax or donors’ tax, depending on the transaction.

In order to secure the eCAR, the party responsible or their representative must file the application with the Revenue District Office with jurisdiction over the taxpayer-seller. With the passage of the Ease of Paying Taxes (EOPT) Act empowering taxpayers to file tax returns electronically and pay taxes with any Authorized Agent Bank (AAB), a question arises whether the eCAR may be filed with any RDO.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) clarified in Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) 075-2026, issued last July 8, 2026, that the eCAR application should still be filed in specific RDOs. The RMC provides that in the case of transfers of shares of stock not listed on exchange, the applicable RDO is whichever has jurisdiction over the residence of the seller/transferor (in case of individuals) or the RDO where the taxpayer is registered (for non-individuals).

The RMC also reiterated that incomplete documents or applications will not be accepted. The BIR will provide a checklist of documentary requirements to the taxpayer-applicant indicating the documents they must submit or comply with to complete the application.

In case additional tax is to be paid based on the approved one-time transaction computation sheet, the appropriate tax form is BIR Form 1707 for capital gains tax on the onerous transfer of shares of stock not listed on exchange, BIR Form 2000-OT for documentary stamp tax, and BIR Form 1800 for donors’ tax.

The RMC mandates that the total processing time for the eCAR not exceed seven working days from the date of receipt of complete documentary requirements and payment for taxes and fees, if applicable, for the eCAR application. The seven days are counted from the next working days following the receipt of the completed application.

In practice, the taxpayer-applicant will be issued a claim stub instructing the taxpayer to return on a specific date. If upon review the documents submitted are deemed by the BIR to comply with all rules and regulations, the eCAR will be received on the same day. Otherwise, instructions will be provided for the taxpayer’s compliance.

Through RMC 75-2026, the BIR provides predictability and guidance to taxpayers as part of its ease of doing business efforts. Taxpayers, on the other hand, should keep abreast of developments in the tax field to ensure that documentation for tax compliance is complete and accurate, and be aware of changes in rules or regulations. As the burden to prove compliance with tax rules and regulations is on the taxpayers, checking tax updates and adjusting internal policies, when necessary, should be part of routine risk management, as noncompliance can result in delays or penalties, if applicable.

Erika Louise Laforteza is a supervisor under the Tax Group of R.G. Manabat and Co. (KPMG in the Philippines), a Philippine partnership and a member firm of the KPMG global organization of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. The firm has been recognized as a Tier 1 in Transfer Pricing Practice and in General Corporate Tax Practice by the International Tax Review. For more information, you may reach out to Erika Louise Laforteza or Mary Karen Quizon-Sakkam through ph-kpmgmla@kpmg.com, social media or visit www.home.kpmg/ph.

This article is for general information purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice to a specific issue or entity. The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent KPMG International or KPMG in the Philippines.

Seplat, AccessCorp, Transcorp lift NGX as market rebounds marginally

Nigeria’s equities market staged a modest rebound on Thursday, halting its recent slide as gains in Seplat Energy, Access Holdings, Transnational Corporation and Guaranty Trust Holding Company pushed the NGX All-Share Index up 0.1 per cent to close at 242,378.13 points.

The marginal recovery, however, failed to erase the market’s losses for September, leaving the Month-to-Date return at -0.8 per cent, while the Year-to-Date gain settled at 55.8 per cent.

The session was driven largely by strong performances among some heavyweight stocks, with Seplat Energy leading the gainers after its share price surged 10 per cent. Transnational Corporation gained 4.5 per cent, Access Holdings advanced 5.7 per cent, while Guaranty Trust Holding Company rose 1.5 per cent.

Despite the positive movement in the benchmark index, overall market sentiment remained weak, reflecting continued pressure across a broad section of listed equities.

Market breadth was negative, with 29 stocks declining against 23 gainers, translating to a breadth ratio of 0.8x.

Japaul Gold and Ventures joined Seplat Energy among the strongest performers, gaining 9.8 per cent, while Royal Exchange and Academy Press were among the decliners. RT Briscoe and Aradel Holdings recorded the steepest losses, shedding 10 per cent each.

Trading activity, however, surged sharply as investors exchanged 1.40 billion shares in 46,218 deals, representing a 161.8 per cent increase in volume compared with the previous session.

The value of transactions stood at ?27.14 billion, underscoring a significant increase in market activity despite the relatively weak breadth.

FTG Insurance dominated trading by volume, accounting for 1.03 billion shares, while Aradel Holdings led by value with transactions worth ?5.34 billion.

The surge in volume was therefore heavily concentrated in a few counters, suggesting that the jump in market activity did not necessarily translate into broad-based buying pressure.

Performance across sectors was also mixed.

The Oil and Gas index emerged as the best-performing sector, rising 0.8 per cent, supported by the strong advance in Seplat Energy. The Banking index followed with a 0.7 per cent gain, reflecting buying interest in major banking stocks including Access Holdings and Guaranty Trust Holding Company.

In contrast, the Consumer Goods index declined 1.0 per cent, while the Insurance index fell 0.4 per cent. The Industrial Goods index closed unchanged.

The session came against the backdrop of the market’s recent correction, which has tempered what had been a powerful rally in Nigerian equities this year.

With the All-Share Index still up 55.8 per cent year-to-date, investors remain significantly in positive territory, although the recent pullback has raised questions about the sustainability of the rally and the direction of funds in the final months of the year.

Adekunle Gold: I wouldn’t have married Simi if she wasn’t AA

Afrobeats singer Adekunle Gold has revealed that genotype compatibility played a major role in his decision to marry fellow artiste Simi.

Speaking on a recent episode of the One54 Podcast, the singer, who lives with sickle cell disease, said he would not have pursued the relationship if Simi were not genotype AA.

Adekunle Gold said his priority was to have healthy children, adding that he placed that consideration above romantic feelings when deciding whether to proceed with the relationship.

‘I wouldn’t have married my wife if she were SS. Forget love. I don’t think it makes sense to bring a child into this world and they would be sickly,’ he said.

‘When me and my wife first met, the first thing I did was to know her genotype. She is AA. That was why I proceeded with the relationship,’ he added.

Adekunle Gold and Simi got married in January 2019. The couple have two children.

Since publicly disclosing his SS status, the singer has become an advocate for sickle cell awareness in Nigeria.

5 arrested at Taguig City rally decrying Pax Silica – rights group

Five individuals were arrested when tensions flared outside a forum attended by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig City on Thursday, according to a rights group.

In a statement, Karapatan identified the apprehended individuals as five paralegals: three arrested during the dispersal of protesters; and two arrested while supposedly assisting the former.

‘Karapatan condemns these arbitrary arrests as a clear violation of the people’s right to peaceful protest, particularly on the urgent and burning issue of the Pax Silica initiative in the Philippines,’ it stressed.

For its part, in its own statement, the group Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment noted that at least 27 protesters had been ‘shoved, dragged, beaten with heavy riot shields and police batons, and roughly manhandled’ during the dispersal.

Marcos was attending the Luzon Economic Corridor Investors Forum at a hotel in BGC when protesters outside voiced opposition to Pax Silica.

Pax Silica is a United States (US)-led coalition of 14 countries, including the Philippines, aiming to strengthen supply chains for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure.

Stakeholders and progressive groups have raised concerns related to the possible displacement of communities and environmental protection.

A spot report from the Southern Police District (SPD) identified those arrested at the rally by the aliases ‘Daya,’ a 40-year-old woman; ‘Riezelle,’ a 38-year-old woman; ‘Kenneth,’ a 24-year-old man; ‘Jonalin,’ a 35-year-old woman; and ‘Ramon,’ a 25-year-old man.

‘Pilit sila pumapasok. Pinagbabawal naman,’ SPD Deputy Director for Operations Col. Robert Baesa said in an interview with reporters.

(They were forcibly trying to enter. It’s not allowed.)

‘Kakasuhan yun. Illegal assembly. Bawal dito. Wala namang permit dito sa BGC mag-rally,’ he added.

(They’ll be charged with illegal assembly. It’s not allowed here. They don’t have a permit here in BGC to hold a rally.)

According to Baesa, at least 16 police officers were injured.

‘Mga suntok. May mga gasgas-gasgas. May mga tama,’ he explained.

(They were punched. Some had scratches. Some were hit.)

‘Hindi kailanman nagsimula ang pulis talaga ng gulo… Lagi namang maximum tolerance kami,’ he added.

(The police have never started trouble… We’ve always been for maximum tolerance.)

The arrested individuals were taken under Taguig City police custody, awaiting charges for alarm and scandal, resistance and disobedience to a person in authority, direct assault, tumults and other disturbances of public order and violation of Batas Pambansa No. 880 or the Public Assembly Act, according to the SPD spot report.

PH’s Miss Tourism International hosting will finally push through

China’s hosting of the 2026 Miss Tourism International pageant will not push through. Instead, the global tilt is moving to the Philippines for its 30th edition this year.

The news was delivered by talent manager and entrepreneur Arnold Vegafria, president of ALV Pageant Circle, at a press conference held at the vestibule of Newport Performing Arts Theater in Pasay City on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 10.

‘We are very excited to announce that we have signed a contract with Miss Tourism International. And what better way to celebrate this strategic alliance than by hosting the 30th edition of the globally acclaimed pageant, which also marks the very first time that it will be held in the country,’ he said.

Vegafria acquired the international pageant’s Philippine franchise earlier this year, after the Malaysia-based organization parted ways with the Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant.

Since its inception in 1994, the Miss Tourism International pageant has been getting its Filipino delegates from the Mutya ng Pilipinas stable.

The Philippines is the best-performing country in the Miss Tourism International pageant with a total of six Mutya ng Pilipinas queens bringing home the crown, and several others receiving subsidiary titles.

Last year’s competition was supposed to be hosted in Davao City, with the Mutya ng Pilipinas Organization on top of the preparations. But it was pulled out months before the supposed staging.

Miss Tourism International President Tan Sri Datuk Danny Ooi personally flew to Manila in January 2025 for the announcement of what was supposed to be the Philippines’ first time hosting his pageant.

But in May 2025, he returned to the country for a press gathering where he announced that Davao will not be able to host his competition because the facilities were not yet ready. He then moved the pageant’s staging back to Malaysia.

It was also announced last year that the Miss Tourism International would have its first-ever staging outside of Malaysia for the 2026 edition, and China was supposed to host the competition. But it also did not push through.

At the 2025 Mutya ng Pilipinas pageant, seasoned national contestant Andrea Endicio was crowned as the Philippines’ supposed delegate to the 2026 Miss Tourism International pageant.

But the international organization found a new licensee in Vegafria’s ALV Pageant Circle, and a new Miss Tourism International Philippines was crowned at his Miss World Philippines pageant in February 2026.

Davaoeña flight attendant Jayvee Lyn Lorejo, one of the frotnrunners in the national competition, received the Miss Tourism International Philippinea crown.

But in June, ALV Pageant Circle reshuffled the titles from among the earlier crowned queens, and even declared new titleholders. Lorejo’s international assignment was affected.

Pageant veteran Michelle Arceo, originally crowned as Miss Tourism World Philippines at the 2025 Miss Grand Philippines pageant, received a new title as Miss Tourism International Philippines.

Lorejo was crowned Miss Global Philippines by reigning Miss Global Nguyen Dinh Nhu Var, replacing Valerie West who originally received the national title after the 2026 Miss World Philippines pageant.

With the changes, Lorejo has been designated to represent the Philippines at the Miss Global pageant in Thailand in October, but details of Arceo’s international deployment had yet to be announced at the time.

And now it can be told. Arceo need not fly overseas this time for her quest to clinch an international title.

She finished second at the inaugural Miss Environment International pageant held in India in 2022. In 2024, she competed at the Reina Hispanoamericana pageant in Bolivia where she finished as second runner-up.

Arceo will welcome about 70 delegates from around the world to the Philippines later this year, and help shine the global spotlight on the country’s tourist attractions.

‘This will also be a good opportunity for us to share with our first-time visitors all the beauty and grandeur of our world-renowned tourist destinations, as well as showcasing our unique culture and heritage-including our food, fashion, music as well as our bustling medical tourism industry,’ Vegafria said.

The 2026 Miss Tourism International coronation night will take place at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Newport World Resorts in Pasay City on Dec. 15.

Jigsimur trademark war, brand rights shift to Federal High Court

The battle for control of the Jigsimur health drink brand in Nigeria is heading to the Federal High Court, after the Administrative Panel Division of the Patents and Designs Registry ruled in favour of Jigsimur SA (Pty) Limited.

The dispute pits South African company Jigsimur SA (Pty) Limited against another South African company, Jigsimur SA Original Pty Limited, and its Nigerian representative, Jigsimur Plus Limited, over ownership and protection of the Jigsimur trademark, industrial design, packaging, and distribution rights in Nigeria.

The Panel’s ruling, delivered on September 2, 2026, affirmed Jigsimur SA (Pty) Limited’s right to distribute the health drink in Nigeria and stopped Jigsimur Plus from relying on the disputed patent rights.

The Panel, however, described its ruling as a first-level alternative dispute resolution (ADR) decision aimed at resolving the dispute without prolonged litigation. It also stated that any party dissatisfied with the decision could appeal to the Federal High Court.

Jigsimur Plus, which maintains that it introduced the product to the Nigerian market, has taken steps to challenge the decision.

At the heart of the dispute is a clash of competing claims over when and how rights to the Jigsimur brand were acquired and whether rights established in South Africa can affect a Nigerian registration.

In its written address before the Panel, counsel to Jigsimur Plus, Chief Anthony George-Ikoli, SAN, argued that his client’s Nigerian rights predated those claimed by the Petitioner.

He argued that Jigsimur Plus applied to register the Jigsimur trademark in Nigeria in 2018. According to him, the 2018 application date was critical because it preceded the subsequent registrations and assignments relied upon by the opposing side.

George-Ikoli argued that trademark rights were territorial and that the history of the Jigsimur brand in South Africa could not, without more, confer proprietary rights in Nigeria.

He said that Jugsimur Plus dealt at all material times with Jigsimur SA Original Pty Limited and that the said entity supplied the products, supplied the regulatory documentation, possessed SAHPRA-related recognition/documentation in South Africa, authorised Nigerian distribution, granted powers relating to trademark/design registration and, in fact, empowered Jugsimur Plus to protect the intellectual property in Nigeria.

He further argued that CAN AFFORD Products and Projects (Pty) Limited obtained Nigerian registrations for the Jigsimur name, logo and label on May 14, 2021, under Trade Mark Nos. 43580 and 43581, three years after Jigsimur Plus’s 2018 application.

According to him, Jigsimur Plus had already built substantial goodwill in Nigeria through continuous importation, nationwide distribution, marketing, dealer networks and customer recognition.

George-Ikoli also challenged the opposing side’s reliance on a 2016 Power of Attorney and Distribution Agreement, arguing that authority to protect intellectual property did not amount to proof of a pre-existing proprietary right in Nigeria, and there was no record of any application for registration in Nigeria by the opposing side prior to 2018.

He maintained that a 2024 South African judgment cited by the applicants could not determine ownership of intellectual property rights in Nigeria, which must be decided under Nigerian law.

The applicants, however, presented a different account of the brand’s history.

In his written address, counsel to the applicant, Chief Muoneke Paschal Oluchukwu, said CAN AFFORD Products and Projects (Pty) Limited, owned by Perumal Chetty, was appointed the Nigerian distributor in 2012, with the relationship formally documented on January 1, 2016.

He added that Christian Onunkwor Ekene, a director of Jigsimur Plus, approached Chetty in 2014 seeking to become the sole distributor in Nigeria and was subsequently introduced to Rouxnel Ungerer to obtain the product for NAFDAC approval.

According to him, CAN AFFORD secured the Nigerian trademark registrations in 2021, but the relationship with Jigsimur Plus later deteriorated over the production of different product sizes allegedly without approval from the South African parent company.

With the dispute now moving to the Federal High Court, the competing claims over ownership, registration, distribution and protection of the Jigsimur brand in Nigeria are set for a fresh legal battle.