Flutterwave: Difference between revisions

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Kenya licensing: merged two sections covering the same incident and updated the overall issue with more recent news citations.
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== Controversy ==
 
=== Kenya licensing and Money Laundering Allegations ===
 
In July 2022, a Kenyan High Court froze accounts held by Flutterwave holdingcontaining over 6.2 billion [[Kenyan shilling]], based uponfollowing allegations by Kenya's Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) that the funds were thelinked proceedsto ofmoney laundering and credit card fraud. andThe moneyCentral launderingBank afterof aKenya request(CBK) fromalso Kenya'sdisclosed Assetsthat RecoveryFlutterwave Agency.was not licensed to operate in the country.<ref name="TheCable ML">{{cite web |last=Azeez |first=Wasilat |date=July 7, 2022 |title=Flutterwave denies money laundering allegation as Kenyan court freezes bank accounts |url=https://www.thecable.ng/flutterwave-denies-money-laundering-allegation-as-kenyan-court-freezes-bank-accounts/amp|title=Flutterwave denies money laundering allegation as Kenyan court freezes bank accounts|last=Azeez|first=Wasilat|access-date=July3 7,September 2022 |work=[[TheCable]] |language=English|access-date=3 September 2022}}</ref><ref name="Reuters ML">{{cite web |date=July 7, 2022 |title=Flutterwave's accounts frozen in Kenya over money laundering claims |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/flutterwaves-accounts-frozen-kenya-over-money-laundering-claims-2022-07-07/|title=Flutterwave's accounts frozen in Kenya over money laundering claims|access-date=July3 7,September 2022 |publisher=[[Reuters]]|access-date=3 September 2022}}</ref><ref name="Bloomberg 1">{{cite web |last=Prinsloo |first=Loni |date=August 11, 2022 |title=Africa's $3 Billion Startup Battles Allegations as It Plans IPO |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-11/biggest-africa-startup-battles-multiple-allegations-in-ipo-runup|title=Africa's $3 Billion Startup Battles Allegations as It Plans IPO|last=Prinsloo|first=Loni|access-date=August3 11,September 2022 |work=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]]|access-date=3 September 2022}}</ref> The company hasFlutterwave denied accusations of financial misconduct.<ref name="Bloomberg 1" />
Kenyan central bank Governor [[Patrick Njoroge]] disclosed on July 28, 2022, after the Monetary Policy Committee meeting, that Flutterwave and Chipper have not been granted a licence to operate in the country. The clarification of Patrick followed an initial ruling by a Kenyan High Court on July 6, 2022, which froze all assets and accounts of Flutterwave in the country.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-29 |title=Flutterwave, Chipper Cash not licensed to operate in Kenya — Central Bank |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/545704-flutterwave-chipper-cash-not-licensed-to-operate-in-kenya-central-bank.html |access-date=2022-08-12 |website=Premium Times |language=en}}</ref>
 
FlutterwaveIn February 2023, inthe anARA officialwithdrew responseits case against Flutterwave, disclosedand a Kenyan court released $51.9 million that ithad submittedbeen applicationsfrozen. forThe licensingcourt todocuments revealed that the centralagency bankabsolved Flutterwave of Kenyaany inwrongdoing, 2019effectively butclearing hasthe yetcompany toof beall granted oneallegations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20222023-0702-28 |title=FlutterwaveKenyan Sayscourt It'sreleases Awaitingfrozen KenyaFlutterwave License After Bank Snubfunds |url=https://wwwtechpoint.bloomberg.comafrica/news2023/articles02/2022-07-28/kenyakenyan-sayscourt-flutterwavereleases-andfrozen-chipperflutterwave-cash-not-licensed-operators#xj4y7vzkgfunds/ |access-date=20222023-0803-1210 |website=Bloomberg|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-30 |title=We submitted application for licence to operate in Kenya since 2019, Flutterwave reacts to CBK allegation |url=https://wwwtechpoint.vanguardngr.comafrica/20222023/0711/we09/flutterwave-submitted-application-for-licence-to-operatecleared-in-kenya-since-2019-flutterwave-reacts-to-cbk-allegation/ |access-date=20222024-0809-1203 |website=Vanguard Newspaper|language=entechpoint.africa}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-25 |title=Nigeria's Flutterwave faces Kenya fraud allegations |url=https://restofworldtechpoint.orgafrica/20222023/flutterwave02/28/kenyan-fraudcourt-allegationsreleases-kenyafrozen-flutterwave-funds/ |access-date=20222024-0809-1603 |website=Rest of World |language=en-UStechpoint.africa}}</ref>
 
In response to the licensing issue, Flutterwave disclosed that it submitted applications for licensing to the CBK as early as 2019, but these were still pending approval.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-28 |title=Flutterwave Says It's Awaiting Kenya License After Bank Snub |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-28/kenya-says-flutterwave-and-chipper-cash-not-licensed-operators#xj4y7vzkg |access-date=2022-08-12 |website=Bloomberg|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-30 |title=We submitted application for licence to operate in Kenya since 2019, Flutterwave reacts to CBK allegation |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/07/we-submitted-application-for-licence-to-operate-in-kenya-since-2019-flutterwave-reacts-to-cbk-allegation/ |access-date=2022-08-12 |website=Vanguard Newspaper|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-25 |title=Nigeria's Flutterwave faces Kenya fraud allegations |url=https://restofworld.org/2022/flutterwave-fraud-allegations-kenya/ |access-date=2022-08-16 |website=Rest of World |language=en-US}}</ref> Recent developments indicate that the CBK is revising its regulatory framework, which could soon allow Flutterwave and other fintech companies to obtain the necessary licenses to operate in Kenya.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ndege |first=Adonijah |date=2024-06-10 |title=Kenya to issue payment licences: Flutterwave, Chipper could be first in line |url=https://techcabal.com/2024/06/10/kenya-opens-up-to-fintech-payment-licenses/ |access-date=2024-09-03 |website=TechCabal |language=en-US}}</ref>
In February 2023, a Kenyan court released $51.9 million belonging to Flutterwave after the Asset Recovery Agency of Kenya withdrew its case against the startup.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-28 |title=Kenyan court releases frozen Flutterwave funds |url=https://techpoint.africa/2023/02/28/kenyan-court-releases-frozen-flutterwave-funds/ |access-date=2023-03-10 |language=en-US}}</ref>
 
=== Money laundering ===
In July 2022, a Kenyan High Court froze accounts held by Flutterwave holding over 6.2 billion [[Kenyan shilling]] based upon allegations that the funds were the proceeds of credit card fraud and money laundering after a request from Kenya's Assets Recovery Agency. <ref name="TheCable ML">{{cite web|url=https://www.thecable.ng/flutterwave-denies-money-laundering-allegation-as-kenyan-court-freezes-bank-accounts/amp|title=Flutterwave denies money laundering allegation as Kenyan court freezes bank accounts|last=Azeez|first=Wasilat|date=July 7, 2022|work=[[TheCable]]|language=English|access-date=3 September 2022}}</ref><ref name="Reuters ML">{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/flutterwaves-accounts-frozen-kenya-over-money-laundering-claims-2022-07-07/|title=Flutterwave's accounts frozen in Kenya over money laundering claims|date=July 7, 2022|publisher=[[Reuters]]|access-date=3 September 2022}}</ref><ref name="Bloomberg 1">{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-11/biggest-africa-startup-battles-multiple-allegations-in-ipo-runup|title=Africa's $3 Billion Startup Battles Allegations as It Plans IPO|last=Prinsloo|first=Loni|date=August 11, 2022|work=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]]|access-date=3 September 2022}}</ref> The company has denied accusations of financial misconduct.<ref name="Bloomberg 1" />
 
Kenya's Assets Recovery Agency withdrew the allegation of money laundering and fraud against Flutterwave. In a court order cited by [[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]], the agency absolved Flutterwave of any infringement.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kenya Withdraws Financial Impropriety Case Against Flutterwave |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-02-03/kenya-withdraws-financial-impropriety-case-against-flutterwave |website=Bloomberg |language=en-US}}</ref>
 
===Harassment===