Supreme Court Dismisses Appeal, Approves Providus Bank and Unity Bank Merger
By Aboki Forex —
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has finally cleared the legal hurdle for the merger between Providus Bank Limited and Unity Bank Plc. The apex court dismissed an appeal challenging the transaction and imposed a N10 million cost against the appellants on Monday, June 1.
A five-member panel presided by Justice Tijani Abubakar delivered the judgment in appeal No. SC/CV/132/2026. The court found the appeal lacked merit and invoked Section 22 of the Supreme Court Act to directly sanction the merger. The ruling upholds earlier decisions by the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court.
The court ordered that all assets, liabilities, property, and undertakings of Unity Bank Plc be transferred to Providus Bank Limited within 10 days. This includes all real property as outlined in the scheme of merger.
The Supreme Court also approved the consideration of N3.18 per share or 18 Providus Bank shares of 50 kobo each for every 17 Unity Bank shares held by shareholders. The board of directors of Unity Bank Plc will be dissolved without winding up the bank. The new name for the enlarged entity will be ProvidusUnity Bank Plc.
Two shareholders and customers of the banks had sued to stop the merger. They dragged Unity Bank, Providus Bank, and all regulatory agencies to court. The respondents in the suit include the Central Bank of Nigeria, Securities and Exchange Commission, Corporate Affairs Commission, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, and the financial advisers to the transaction.
Speaking on the judgment, Senior Counsel to Unity Bank Plc, D.D. Dodo (SAN), described the decision as historic. He said it removes the last obstacle to the merger and serves the public interest of the entire banking system in Nigeria.