E-Financial
NOVA Merchant Bank Attracts $65.12m FDI in 2023

NOVA Merchant Bank, a leading merchant bank in Nigeria, has firmly established its presence in Nigeria’s banking landscape and beyond as it has achieved a remarkable 76.1% increase in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for the year 2023.
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Surpassing market expectations, this achievement positions NOVA as a key player in attracting international capital, showcasing its prowess in navigating global financial markets.
In a recent report titled “Top 10 Banks with the highest capital inflows facilitation Q4 2023,” by analysts from Nairametrics, NOVA not only secured a coveted spot in the top 10 list of banks attracting foreign investment but also demonstrated a substantial surge in FDI from $36 million in 2022 to an impressive $65.12 million in 2023.
This significant growth underscores the bank’s ability to foster global confidence and highlights its strategic vision in capitalizing on opportunities in the ever-evolving financial landscape.
The analysis showed that while Stanbic IBTC led banks with the highest capital inflow, recording $99.4 million; NOVA Bank secured its position as one of the top 10 banks, with a substantial inflow of $33.5 million – 8.2 percent below Access Bank and ahead of Standard Chartered and Union Bank, which each recorded $14.4 million and $10 million respectively within the top 10 list.
Corroborating this, a report by the Bureau of Statistics showed that NOVA not only secured a place among the top 10 list of banks attracting foreign investment but also recorded a remarkable 76.1% increase in foreign direct investment (FDI) year on year. This surge is evident, with FDI inflow catapulting from $36 million in 2022 to an impressive $65.12 million in 2023. With half a decade in operation, NOVA has proven to be a force in the Nigerian banking scene.
Interestingly, since its inception in 2018, NOVA has consistently posted profits, reflecting its sound financial strategies and operational efficiency.
Moreover, the Bank’s non-performing loan ratio consistently maintains an enviable 0.2%, a remarkable achievement by industry standards. This low ratio speaks volumes about NOVA’s prudent lending practices. Such meticulous attention to asset quality underscores the Bank’s best-in-class governance and management discipline, setting a benchmark for industry peers.
It is also noteworthy that NOVA remains in the forefront of foreign investment attraction given its relatively young presence in the banking industry, spanning just over five years and solidifying its position as a leading financial institution both domestically and globally.
Just recently, NOVAmbl Asset Management’s Dollar Fixed Income Fund was named as the best-performing Dollar Fund in 2023 based on data from the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC). NOVAmbl Asset Management is a subsidiary of NOVA Merchant Bank.
In this dynamic and stiff competitive landscape, NOVA Bank’s growing performance reaffirms its status as a “player to watch” in Nigeria’s banking sector. The Bank’s ability to not only attract substantial capital inflows but also significantly boost foreign direct investment reflects its resilience and strategic foresight.
As the bank gears up for transition to full scale commercial banking operation, having received the approval in principle from CBN, there are espectations of higher levels of customer confidence and trust. This strategic evolution might position the Bank as a formidable entity, poised to set new standards and redefine banking landscape in Nigeria.
E-Financial
Ecobank Nigeria to Fully Repay $300m Eurobond Ahead of Schedule

Ecobank Nigeria has moved to retire the remaining part of its $300 million Eurobond before maturity. The bank has launched a tender offer for holders of its 7.125% senior notes due February 2026.

The bank announced the offer on Friday, 28 November 2025, inviting investors to tender their holdings ahead of schedule. Of the original $300 million issuance, $150 million remains outstanding.
Under the terms, investors whose notes are accepted for repurchase will receive $1,000 for every $1,000 in principal, plus accrued and unpaid interest up to, but not including, the settlement date. The transaction is expected to be completed on or before 31 December 2025.
Ecobank said the early repayment move is part of a broader strategy to optimise its balance sheet and strengthen capital planning flexibility. The lender added that the tender offer gives investors an opportunity to exit the instrument ahead of the original February 2026 maturity.
In a statement, the bank said the initiative underscores its “commitment to transparent engagement with funding partners and investors,” stressing that the offer supports its long-term goal of maintaining a well-structured debt profile.
Participation in the programme is voluntary, and investors will make decisions based on their individual considerations, the bank added.
Ecobank emphasised that the announcement is for information only and does not constitute an offer to buy or sell securities. Eligible noteholders are expected to rely on the formal tender documents when deciding whether to take part.
E-Financial
Reps Give Banks Four-Day Ultimatum on Tax Deductions, Charges

The House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee investigating deductions of taxes and sundry charges from the earnings of civil and public servants has given commercial banks a four-day deadline to submit all requested documents.

House of Rep
The committee, chaired by Hon. Kelechi Nwogwu, issued the ultimatum at the commencement of its investigation, following a motion earlier moved by the House Chief Whip, Hon. Usman Bello Kumo, on alleged deductions from civil servants’ salaries.
Nwogwu insisted that Chief Executive Officers of affected financial institutions must appear in person before the panel, rejecting representatives sent by GT Bank, Zenith Bank, Access Bank and other banks.
He explained that the panel was mandated to ensure that all deductions of charges by banks on customers’ accounts were fair and properly applied.
The committee disclosed that invitations had also been extended to the Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and all commercial banks operating in Nigeria.
“You cannot appear here without an identity. We are here on the mandate of the people who elected us into parliament. We have resolved to meet next week on Wednesday.
“You must submit all requested documents by Monday, May 1,” Nwogwu said.
He warned that any bank that failed to comply with the deadline would face sanctions, adding that the committee would put the CEOs on oath during the next sitting.
The investigation continues next week.
E-Financial
SEC Urges IST to Freeze all CBEX Bank Accounts in Nigeria

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has asked the Investments and Securities Tribunal (IST) to order the freezing of all bank accounts belonging to Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX) and other defendants held in commercial banks and financial institutions across Nigeria.

The request was made in Suit No. IST/OA/02/2025: Securities and Exchange Commission & Anor v. Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX) & 25 Others, the first case before the 6th Tribunal presided over by Hon. Aminu Jinaidu, Chairman of the IST.
SEC also urged the Tribunal to seize houses and other assets allegedly acquired by the defendants using proceeds obtained from the public through the CBEX investment scheme, which it said falsely operated as a digital assets platform and capital-market operator.
The Commission argued that CBEX, which is not registered with SEC, unlawfully promised investors a 100 percent return on investment within 30 days—conduct it said is in violation of Section 3(b) of the Investments and Securities Act, 2025.
SEC further disclosed that the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong had, on April 23, 2024, issued an advisory warning against CBEX, describing it as a suspicious virtual-asset entity. According to the advisory, CBEX adopted a name resembling that of a Chinese property-rights trading organisation to give investors false assurance, despite having no connection with the legitimate entity.
At Tuesday’s sitting, the Tribunal ordered that hearing notices be served on the defendants through national newspapers, as CBEX failed to appear and was not represented in court.
CBEX launched in Nigeria in July 2024, operating through a website and mobile app. It claimed to use advanced artificial intelligence to generate unusually high profits from cryptocurrency trading, promising returns of up to 100 percent within a 40- to 45-day lock-in period. The scheme later collapsed and was exposed as a Ponzi operation that reportedly defrauded investors of more than N1.3 trillion (about $800 million).
Hon. Jinaidu also presided over several other matters on the tribunal’s docket, including Benue Investments Property Co. Ltd & Anor v. Securities and Exchange Commission & 6 Others; Maven Asset Management Ltd v. Securities and Exchange Commission; John Makinde Onade & Anor v. First Registrars & Investors Services Ltd & Anor; and Securities and Exchange Commission & Anor v. Tourist Company of Nigeria PLC & 6 Ors. All the cases were adjourned to January 27, 2026.
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