NOVA Bank Limited has announced the appointment of Jude Anele as its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, following the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The appointment comes at a pivotal moment in the Bank’s evolution, following its transition from merchant banking to commercial banking and the successful completion of its recapitalisation programme ahead of the March 31, 2026, regulatory deadline.

Anele brings more than 33 years of banking experience across West and Central Africa, with deep expertise in retail / commercial banking, corporate banking, risk management, institutional transformation and executive leadership. Over the course of his career, he has led complex banking operations, strengthened governance frameworks, delivered sustainable revenue growth and built high-performance teams.

The appointment reflects the Board’s strategic commitment to consolidating NOVA Bank’s commercial banking platform while accelerating growth across its Corporate, Commercial and Retail segments, as well as priority markets.

Speaking on his appointment, Anele said he was honoured to assume leadership of the Bank at a defining stage of its growth.
“Nova Bank has built a strong institutional foundation defined by regulatory compliance, capital strength, disciplined governance and a clear commercial mandate. Our focus now is execution — deepening customer relationships, expanding responsibly across priority markets, strengthening risk discipline and delivering sustainable value to our shareholders,” he said.

The Bank’s Chairman, Phillips Oduoza, also expressed confidence in the new leadership.

“The Board is pleased to welcome Mr. Jude Anele as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. His depth of experience, strategic clarity and proven leadership record align strongly with NOVA Bank’s growth ambitions,” Oduoza said. He added that with recapitalization completed ahead of the regulatory timeline, the Bank is entering a new phase defined by scale, stability and structured expansion.

NOVA Bank also confirmed that it has met the recapitalization requirements set by the Central Bank of Nigeria ahead of the regulatory deadline, reinforcing its capital adequacy and long-term financial stability. The capital raise, supported by new and existing shareholders, further strengthens the Bank’s balance sheet and positions it for disciplined growth.

In 2025, Global Credit Rating reaffirmed NOVA Commercial Bank’s national scale long- and short-term issuer ratings of BBB(NG) and A3(NG) respectively, while Agusto & Co. reaffirmed the Bank’s “Bbb” rating with a stable outlook, reflecting its strong capital base, sound liquidity position and resilient asset quality relative to its risk profile.

NOVA Bank currently maintains operations in Lagos, Abuja, Owerri and Port Harcourt, with plans to open eight additional branches across key commercial hubs in 2026 as part of its expansion strategy.

The commissioning of the Bank’s regional office in Owerri marked a significant milestone in its South-East and South-South growth strategy. The event attracted government officials’ business leaders and Nigerians in diaspora and underscored NOVA Bank’s commitment to supporting enterprise development and economic growth.

NOVA Bank Limited is a commercial bank licensed and regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria. Commencing operations in 2018 as a merchant bank, the institution transitioned to a commercial bank in 2024 and provides retail, SME, corporate and commercial banking services through its Phygital model—an integrated approach combining physical branch presence with digital banking infrastructure.

The Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR) has dismissed claims made by presidential spokesman, Daniel Bwala, alleging that the former Labour Party presidential candidate attempted to contact him.

The group described the allegation as false and politically motivated.

POMR said the statement became necessary to prevent the public from being misled by what it called unfounded claims circulating in the political space.

In a statement issued by its spokesman, Ibrahim Umar, the group strongly rejected the allegation and accused Bwala of spreading misleading narratives about the former Anambra State governor.

The statement said, “Normally, we would not dignify Barr Bwala’s baseless accusations with a reply, given his well-documented history of dishonesty. However, we feel it is necessary to address this matter for the benefit of the public, who may be misled.”

According to the group, Obi has consistently maintained a clear distance from individuals and practices associated with what it described as transactional politics.

POMR said the former governor has built his political reputation around accountability, transparency and public service, adding that he does not engage in political dealings driven by personal gains or financial inducements.

The statement further said, “Our principal, Peter Obi, has made it clear that he excludes individuals like Bwala from his political activities and any form of transactional politics that sustain people like him in political circles.

“The Peter Obi that Nigerians know and appreciate will never engage in such practices. He would rather allocate resources to provide desks for children in Bwala’s village than pay him to concoct falsehoods for public consumption.”

The group also stressed that Obi’s political philosophy revolves around encouraging citizens to believe in a shared vision of national development rather than paying individuals to defend his political ambitions.

POMR said the former presidential candidate prefers persuasion and engagement with citizens who share the belief that Nigeria requires urgent reforms in governance.

It added, “Obi’s approach is rooted in the pursuit of good governance and the creation of a better society for all. He does not pay people to promote a cause; instead, he invites them to join him in believing in a shared vision.

“His ‘engagement’ focuses on persuasion, emphasizing the urgent need for a collective effort to rescue our nation. He welcomes those who choose to join him voluntarily, driven by the same deep-seated convictions.”

The group also called on politicians it accused of promoting transactional politics to rethink their approach and focus on national development rather than personal interests.

It concluded by urging critics to keep Obi out of what it described as politically motivated narratives.

“For the umpteenth time, we call on Bwala and others like him to count Peter Obi out of their greed, repent, and join us in the quest for a new Nigeria that is indeed POssible.”

The legal battle between an Abuja-based couple, Mr. Adetunji Conde and Mrs. Ajoke Amudat Conde, and a serving judge, Mabel Segun-Bello, has escalated into what relatives and rights advocates now describe as a life-threatening human rights crisis.

New updates obtained by SaharaReporters from the couple’s family indicate that Mr. Conde’s health has deteriorated sharply while in detention at Keffi Old Prison, where he is reportedly battling stage-one renal failure after months in custody over a ₦100 million investment dispute.

Family members warn that the situation is rapidly worsening and could become fatal if urgent medical care is not provided.

According to relatives, Conde had been managing several chronic conditions, including diabetes, hypertension and an enlarged prostate, before his arrest in 2025.

Since his incarceration, they say, the lack of specialised care has pushed his health toward kidney failure.

A source familiar with the case told SaharaReporters: “Although the court is aware of his worsening medical condition, he was directed to seek treatment within the prison facility, which unfortunately does not have the necessary medical equipment or capacity to manage his condition.”

Family members say the continued detention despite his condition effectively amounts to a medical death sentence.

Controversial Bail Delays and Judicial ‘Reset’

Conde also described what he alleges were repeated delays and irregularities in the handling of his bail.

In a message sent to SaharaReporters on Thursday, he recounted the process after his wife was granted bail.

“In the court of the second magistrate in Wuse II, after the stringent bail conditions had been varied and met and my wife released, it took the magistrate five days to approve my own surety,” he said.

He added that even after verification of the surety’s residence and workplace, additional delays occurred.

“Upon the verification of the abode and office of the surety, it took almost another two weeks for the prosecutor to come and sign in court,” he said.

According to Conde, the matter took an unexpected turn when the magistrate suspended both the case and his bail indefinitely.

“On the set day, the Magistrate ruled that both the case and my bail had been put on indefinite suspension due to the fact that powerful people are interested in the case,” he said.

He further claimed that the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory later intervened.

“The CJ of Abuja ordered that my bail should be immediately granted and that both the Director of Magistracy and the Magistrate should be petitioned for explanation on this ruling,” he said.

However, Conde said the directive was never implemented, adding, “Instead of carrying out the order, the so-called Magistrate recused himself from the matter. A conviction without a trial.”

The case has since been transferred to a third magistrate court, where the presiding magistrate imposed a mandatory payment of N100 million into an interest‑bearing account as a bail condition. Meanwhile, the trial has continued to be adjourned repeatedly without explanation.

Alleged Police Interference

Conde also accused officers attached to the Nigeria Police Force of interfering with evidence in the case.

He claimed that a police team allegedly deleted key WhatsApp messages from his phone.

“Through a WhatsApp message which has been deleted by the police, the case from 2025 has spilled over into 2026,” he said.

He further alleged intimidation by investigators.

“The police team led by Funmi PPRO FCID who deleted all evidence on my phone has vowed to re-arrest me when granted bail and have sent their men to be present at every court proceeding.”

The Dispute Behind the Case

The conflict stems from a ₦100 million investment allegedly made by Justice Segun-Bello in the couple’s company, Elizabeth and Esther Nigeria Limited.

Conde insists the matter is purely contractual and should have been handled through civil litigation.

“I have refused to defraud the five states we signed for by giving them ₦700 million on an investment of ₦100 million,” he said.

“I have also sent them how their monies will be refunded since 2024,” he said but Justice Segun-Bello has refused. He wondered how they want him to pay back the money.

According to him, the repayment plan, send to him, were among the messages allegedly removed from his phone.

Human Rights Concerns

SaharaReporters had previously reported that a prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) had petitioned the then-Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, describing the prosecution as unlawful.

Falana argued that the use of police powers to enforce a private financial dispute violates long-standing Supreme Court rulings.

He also questioned why Mrs. Conde was included in the charges despite her alleged lack of involvement in the business transaction.

In petitions submitted to the FCT High Court and the Directorate of Magistracy, the couple had expressed a lack of confidence in the fairness of the trial process.

They alleged that Justice Segun-Bello had claimed influence over the magistrate courts.

“We have also been told that the sureties would be blackmailed to withdraw under undue pressure,” the couple wrote in their petition.

They further alleged that the judge had vowed to keep them behind bars for an extended period.

Claims of a Courtroom Setup

The couple also maintains that their earlier failure to appear in court, which led to the revocation of their bail, was deliberately orchestrated.

Conde alleged that plainclothes officers intercepted them on the morning of the hearing and drove them around Abuja for hours.

“They were only asking us where the balance of the ₦100 million was,” he said.

“By the time they allowed us to go, the presiding magistrate had already revoked our bail and issued a bench warrant for our absence.”

Plea for Intervention

Conde says he has written to several security agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Department of State Services, the National Intelligence Agency, and the Defence Intelligence Agency, seeking investigations into the case.

He claims none of the agencies have acted since his detention.

“My family is living under constant fear of being abducted or killed because of a civil contract,” he said.

In a final appeal, Conde warned that the situation had become a matter of life and death.

“I hereby call on well-meaning Nigerians to save me from this summary conviction that has now become a death sentence,” he said.

With the matter now restarting before a third magistrate, Conde’s family and legal team say the repeated procedural resets and strict bail conditions have effectively kept him incarcerated while his health deteriorates.

They are demanding the immediate withdrawal of criminal charges and the unconditional release of Adetunji Conde so he can receive urgent medical treatment outside prison custody.

Without intervention, they warn, the dispute risks turning into a fatal miscarriage of justice.

Source: SaharaReporters