Lagos, Nigeria — August 16, 2025 | The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has uncovered 247 companies in Nigeria allegedly operating with falsified or stolen registration numbers, in a renewed effort to clean up the nation’s corporate registry.
The discovery followed an internal audit and verification exercise that exposed discrepancies in company records submitted during registration and subsequent filings. According to the CAC, the flagged entities either forged their RC numbers or illegally used those belonging to other duly registered firms.
Registrar-General of the CAC, Hussaini Magaji (SAN), confirmed that the commission is collaborating with security agencies to investigate the infractions and prosecute offenders under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA). He said the names of the defaulting companies will be published in national newspapers, and their operations suspended until investigations are concluded.
Regulatory experts have applauded the crackdown, warning that corporate identity fraud erodes investor confidence, facilitates illicit trade, and threatens financial transparency. The commission urged investors and the public to verify company details via its online portal before committing to any transactions.