Author: Vardiafrica

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have smashed an international drug syndicate with networks in parts of Nigeria, South Africa and Thailand. No fewer than five members of the cartel were arrested in a two-weeks intelligence led operations in Lagos, Abia and Anambra states following the seizure of their illicit drug consignments at the NAHCO import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos. The unravelling of the drug cartel started on Sunday 20th April when their cargo of four big suitcases arrived the NAHCO shed on an Airpeace airline flight from Johannesburg, South Africa. After…

The Nigerian men’s 4x400m quartet of Dubem Nwachukwu, Dubem Amene, Sikiru Adeyemi and Chidi Okezie put up an absolutely stellar performance at the 2024 World Relays, clocking a time of 3:01.70 to secure qualification for the Olympic Games! Drawn against sprint and relay powerhouses, Jamaica and Belgium, Nigeria needed a top 2 finish to qualify for the Olympics. The well-put-together team set off with Dubem Nwachukwu on lead-off leg where he came in 2nd and handed over to Dubem Amene. Amene after breaking on the second leg, ran a masterful race, leaving no openings before handing over to Sikiru Adewale…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has distanced itself from a purported list of ex-governors under investigation for alleged corruption in circulation. On Saturday, several reports emerged in the media (not Channels Television) that 58 former governors were under the radar of the anti-graft agency. They were accused of misappropriating N2.187 trillion over 25 years. According to reports, the 58 former governors – drawn from the six regions of the country – were being probed, while others have been investigated, and prosecuted. But in a statement on Sunday, the EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, described the reports as false and…

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike before the Federal High Court in Abuja. Also joined in the suit were the 36 state governors over over their failure to account for, and publish the agreements of the N5.9 trillion and $4.6 billion loans obtained by their states and the FCT, respectively. Disclosing this in a statement on Sunday, SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said the group asked the court to “direct and compel the governors and Mr. Wike to account for N5.9trn and $4.6bn loans obtained…

Russia has added Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to its list of wanted criminals, a government database showed on Saturday. Zelensky appeared in the Russian Interior Ministry’s “wanted” list, an online database of alleged criminals sought by the authorities. It stated that the Ukrainian leader was wanted “under an article of the criminal code,” without providing further details. There was no immediate comment from Russian officials on why Zelensky had been added to the list. Moscow has targeted Zelensky since the start of its military offensive in February 2022. The Ukrainian President said last year he was aware that at least…

Dozens of protesters from Zamfara State have occupied the entrance to the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), calling on the commission to reopen investigations on the former governor of the state, Bello Matawalle The protesters under the auspices of APC Loyalists Forum is asking the EFCC to investigate all petitions against the former governor, including the alleged contract diversion up to the tune of N70 billion during his tenure as governor of the state. The EFCC Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren, who received the protest letter on behalf of the chairman, assured the protesters that…

The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, has called for the full implementation of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act 2024, including the operationalisation of the National Cybersecurity Fund by all regulators and businesses specified in the second schedule of the Act. In a statement signed by the Head, Strategic Communication Office of the National Security Adviser, Zakari Mijinyawa, said the directive was part of efforts to secure Nigeria’s Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), counter-terrorism and violent extremism, strengthen national security, and protect its economic interests. On July 6, 2022, Nigeria joined 66 other countries that had signed and ratified…

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, has identified the huge purchases of food items by the government as palliatives for distribution to vulnerable citizens as a contributor to the galloping food inflation in the country. He disclosed this in his contributions during the March Monetary Policy Committee meeting, which was published on the CBN website on Monday. At the meeting, the MPC raised the benchmark interest rate to 24.75 percent from 22.75 percent, which it said was aimed at tackling inflation. But according to to the Consumer Price Index report released by the Nigerian Bureau of…

The Executive Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede has described compliance with rules and regulations as the key to growth and development, stressing  that lack of it was at the root of corruption in the country. He made this disclosure in Abuja on Thursday, May 2, 2024 when a delegation from the Compliance Institute, Nigeria, CIN, led by its President, Pattison Boleigha paid him a courtesy visit at the corporate headquarters of the Commission. According to him, “the success of any process or procedure in any society is based on the issue of compliance. The…

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) insists the proposed N615,000 minimum wage is realistic, dismissing claims that some states cannot pay such an amount if approved. Recent reforms in Nigeria including the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange market have pushed the cost of living to newer levels. Inflation figures hit 33.2 per cent in March, further compounding a troubled economy. Labour unions and the Federal Government have since been locked in negotiations over measures including a new minimum wage to cushion the impacts of the harsh economy. The NLC is proposing a N615,000 monthly salary…