Author: Vardiafrica

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has discharged and acquitted a former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, from his conviction of false assets declaration by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). The conviction of Onnoghen was thrown out by the appellate court following the resolution of the issues that led to his trial and conviction. Former President Muhammadu Buhari had on January 25, 2019, about 29 days before the presidential election, suspended Onnoghen from office as the CJN and swore in the next most senior jurist of the Supreme Court, Justice Tanko Muhammad, to take over the…

The Dangote Refinery says the prices for its products are competitive and believes anyone getting petrol for lower rates is importing substandard ones.  In a statement on Sunday, the Group Chief of Branding and Communications of Dangote Refinery Anthony Chiejina faulted claims by the Independent Petroluem Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN). “Both organisations claim that they can import PMS at lower prices than what is being sold by the Dangote Refinery. We benchmark our prices against international prices and we believe our prices are competitive relative to the price of imports,”…

The Federal Government has refuted reports alleging that Nigerians are being specifically targeted for arrest in Libya after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) awarded Nigeria three points and three goals in a decision against Libya. In a statement released on Sunday in Abuja, Eche Abu-Obe, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized that the claims were unfounded. He assured that, as of the date of the statement, Nigerians living and working in Libya were carrying out their daily activities without facing any harassment from Libyan authorities. Abu-Obe urged citizens to remain calm and assured them that the Ministry…

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have recovered drug consignments worth N4.4bn hidden in two lavatories of an aircraft owned by Ethiopian Airlines. The drugs, according to a statement on Sunday by the NDLEA’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, were discovered during the post-landing cleaning of the cabin of flight ET900 from Addis Ababa to Lagos on October 29, 2024. Babafemi added that the drugs were wrapped in nine polythene bags and hidden in the waste collectors in the two rear lavatories of the aircraft. He added that at least 30 suspects were being quizzed over the uncovered drugs. Babafemi…

Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, minister of women affairs, has visited the minors detained for allegedly participating in the #EndBadGovernance protests. According to a statement issued on Saturday, the minister made the visit at midnight. The minors are among 72 defendants facing charges of treason. Sulaiman-Ibrahim said the children’s rights and well-being would be safeguarded while justice is administered. Here are photos from the visit.

Kemi Badenoch has been elected as the new leader of the UK’s Conservative Party, becoming the first Black woman to lead a major British political party. Badenoch, 44, replaces former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak after a decisive leadership victory, pledging a return to the Conservative Party’s founding principles and a shift to the right following a severe defeat in July’s general election. Raised in Nigeria, Badenoch campaigned on a platform of reducing the role of government and challenging what she calls “institutional left-wing thinking,” a stance resonant with her promise to defend free speech, free markets, and free enterprise. After a months-long…

In a significant move, Mamady Doumbouya, the leader of Guinea’s military junta, has promoted himself to the rank of army general as the country marks the establishment of its all-powerful armed forces. This promotion follows his earlier elevation to lieutenant general in January, which he granted himself shortly after taking power in a coup in September 2021, overthrowing President Alpha Conde. Doumbouya’s self-promotion comes as he faces increasing pressure from supporters who encourage him to run for president once the junta eventually transitions power back to civilians, a promise the military leader has already indicated may not be fulfilled by…

The federal government has released the withheld salaries of striking non-academic staff in federal universities. Bawa Mokwa, the director of press at the office of the accountant-general of the federation (OSGF), spoke to TheCable on Saturday. He said disbursement covers the benefits payable to retirees under the contributory pension scheme of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners. On October 28, non-teaching staff unions in federal universities began an indefinite nationwide strike over withheld salaries from 2022. The Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) are key stakeholders. Mokwa said the payment of withheld salaries has…

Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police (IGP), says the fainting by some minors at the Abuja federal high court was “scripted”. On Friday, the police arraigned 76 suspects – who are mostly minors – for participating in the #EndBadGovernance protest in August. They are facing 10 counts bordering on mutiny, treason, and destruction of public property. Before they could take a plea, at least four of them collapsed. The court later l the defendants – who looked ill and malnourished – N10 million bail each. In a statement, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, spokesperson of the police, quoted Egbetokun as saying that the police have worked…

The newly appointed Acting Chief of Army Staff, Major General Olufemi Oluyede, has formally assumed duty in a handover ceremony held at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Friday. This was disclosed by the Defence Headquarters, sharing photos from the ceremony on its X handle. The caption read, “Formal Taking Over Ceremony of the Acting Chief of Army Staff, Major General OO Oluyede.” President Bola Tinubu appointed Major General Oluyede as the acting Chief of Army Staff pending the return of Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, who is said to be indisposed and is receiving treatment abroad. Until his appointment,…