Author: Vardiafrica

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested a former Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, for alleged diversion of N1.3 trillion 13% derivation fund from the federation account between 2015 and 2023. An EFCC source confirmed the former governor’s arrest to Channels Television on Monday. Okowa was arrested on Monday, November 4, 2024, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, when he reported at the Port Harcourt Directorate of the EFCC on the invitation of investigators handling his matter. The former governor was alleged to have failed to render accounts of the funds as well as another N40 billion he…

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this to State House correspondents on Monday after the President swore in seven newly appointed ministers cleared by the Senate. The minister said the President ordered the immediate release of the minors without prejudice to whatever legal processes that are ongoing. The President also directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to immediately see to the welfare of those minors, and also take part to ensure their smooth reunion with their parents or guardians wherever they are in the country. Tinubu also directed that a committee would be set up…

The monarch, elevated as the Obanobhan of Emeyal Clan, gave the commendation when the NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, led a delegation from the Commission to pay him a courtesy visit at his palace in Oruma, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. Ogbuku was accompanied on the visit by the Bayelsa State representative on the NDDC Board, Senator Denyanbofa Dimaro and other Directors of the Commission. King Amakiri acknowledged the contributions of the NDDC to the growth of the community, in particular and the local government area at large. He thanked the NDDC for the various interventions that had…

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson will reportedly announce the price hike in a statement on Monday afternoon, as the government looks to bring tuition fees in line with inflation. The change, which will affect A-level students who are currently applying to universities, is expected to come into force in September 2025. Since 2017, tuition fees have been frozen at £9,250 per year with any increase expected to provoke an intense backlash, especially considering Sir Keir pledged to abolish fees when running to be Labour leader. He later u-turned on this promise, claiming the country was in a “different financial situation.” It…

President Bola Tinubu has sworn in seven newly-appointed ministers at the Council Chambers in Abuja.  Those sworn in include Nentawe Yilwatda as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction; Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi as the Minister of Labour & Employment; Bianca Odinaka Odumegwu-Ojukwu as the Minister of State Foreign Affairs. Others are Jumoke Oduwole (Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment (Trade and Investment), Idi Mukhtar Maiha (Minister of Livestock Development), Yusuf Abdullahi Ata (Minister of State, Housing, and Urban Development), and Suwaiba Said Ahmad as the Minister of State Education. Monday’s swearing-in came days after their appointments by President Tinubu and…

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.