Author: Vardiafrica

The Federal Government, through the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), will launch an upgraded national identity card with payment functionality for all types of social and financial services. The innovative card made in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System (NIBSS), is to be powered by AfriGO, a National domestic card scheme. The Head of Corporate Communications of NIMC, Kayode Adegoke, disclosed this in a statement on Friday. The National ID card, layered with verifiable National Identity features, is backed by the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007, which mandates NIMC to enrol…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed new criminal charges against Godwin Emefiele, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The 26-count charge borders on accepting gratification, accepting gifts through agents, corruption, receipt of property fraudulently obtained, and conferring corrupt advantage on his associates. The charge sheet, marked ID/23787c/2024, and dated April 3, 2024, was filed by Rotimi Oyedepo, a senior advocate of Nigeria. The EFCC alleged that Emefiele was guilty of abuse of office between 2022 and 2023 in Lagos. The former CBN governor will be arraigned on Monday, April 8, before Rahman Oshodi, judge…

The Federal Government says the new electricity tariff hike will only affect a small segment of the consumers – 1.5 million. A recent hike in electricity tariff for Band A customers – people who enjoy at least 20 hours per day – had triggered conversation among Nigerians many of whom claim the country is still grappling with the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy and the ballooning inflation. But the Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu who recently hinted about the Federal Government’s push to stop electricity subsidy said the hike won’t affect the majority of Nigerians. “From the policy…

President Bola Tinubu declared the probe into the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) closed and lauded Jim Obazee who was the special investigator.  Presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale said this in a Friday statement.President Bola Tinubu declared the probe into the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) closed and lauded Jim Obazee who was the special investigator. “President Bola Tinubu thanks Mr Jim Obazee, former Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC), for his services as the Special Investigator of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other related entities, upon his appointment on July 28, 2023,” the…

Zimbabwe has announced the launch of a new currency, as the country has effectively given up in its effort to salvage the Zimbabwean Dollar. The new currency which will be called ZiG is set to be introduced on April 8, 2024, with an initial exchange rate set at 13.56 per dollar. Additionally, a new interest rate of 20% has been established, contrasting sharply with the previous rate of 130% on the old Zimbabwean Dollar. It is also noted that the new currency will be backed by a diverse basket of foreign currencies, gold, and other precious metals. The move was…

Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday convicted controversial cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, for abusing the Naira and fixed April 9 to Sentencing. The court fixed the date after Bobrisky pleaded guilty to a four-count charge of tampering with the N490,000 by spraying brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Earlier, the EFCC, through its counsel, Suleiman Suleiman, had withdrawn the two-count of laundering N180.7 million through his company, Bob Express. The EFCC’s Counsel however did not give any reason for the decision. Following the plea of the…

Popular cross-dresser, Idris Olanrewaju Okuneye popularly known as Bobrisky, has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the Federal High Court, Lagos When the charge was read, Bobrisky pleaded guilty to the first four counts bordering on Naira abuse. Before the charge was read however, the EFCC’s counsel, Suleiman Suleiman, asked the court to strike out counts five and six bordering on money laundering allegations. Justice Abimbola Awogboro subsequently struck out counts five and six. This paved the way for the arraignment of Bobrisky on only counts one to four which is on the abuse of…

Popular crossdresser, Idris Olanrewaju Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky has arrived at the Federal High Court in Lagos for his arraignment Bobrisky was brought into the court in a white bus at 9.12 a.m. by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). As at the time of filing this report, Bobrisky is still sitting inside the bus as parties await his arraignment. Trial judge, Justice Abimbola Awogboro, is presiding over other cases and Bobrisky’s case is listed as No 10 on the courts list.Bobrisky, who was arrested by the EFCC on Wednesday, is facing a six-count charge of…

Deputy Senate President was first nominated as the 1st Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament by Rep Awaji-Inombek D. Abiante and seconded by Senator Ireti Kingibe. However, in accordance with the rotational system established by Decision A/DEC. 6/06/06 of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, the Speakership of the Sixth Legislature of the sub-regional body has been zoned to the Republic of Togo. However, during the inauguration of the Sixth Legislature of the ECOWAS, the delegation of the Republic of Togo was not present; hence, a Speaker Pro-tempore, Edwin Melvin Snowe JR, a Liberian, was elected. Snowe…

President Bola Tinubu has called on ECOWAS member states to come together, strengthen ties, and reject forces bent on causing division within the community. Speaking at the inauguration of the Sixth Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament, on Thursday in Abuja, President Tinubu, who is the Chairman of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, said regional solidarity is imperative to strengthen the bloc’s resilience and effectiveness at this critical juncture. He emphasized that member states can not afford to remain passive spectators while the community faces the threat of disintegration. “We stand united against such forces and are committed…