Author: Vardiafrica

The Bayelsa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has reserved judgement in a petition filed by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timipre Sylva, against the declaration of Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the Governor of the state. Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Adekunle Adeleye, announced that the judgement will be delivered within 180 days statutorily allowed by law. The chairman said all the parties in the petition will be communicated as soon as the date is fixed. At Monday’s proceedings, all the parties adopted their written addresses, either asking the court to uphold…

Controversial cross-dresser and socialite, Idris Olanrewaju Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, has filed a notice of appeal challenging his conviction on a four-count charge of Naira abuse. In his Notice of Appeal filed by his lawyer, Bimbo Kusanu, Bobrisky is asking the court to set aside the six months imprisonment sentence imposed on him and replacing same with the option of a fine of N50,000 (Fifty Thousand Naira) on each of the counts against him. On April 12, 2024, Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court, Lagos had sentenced Bobrisky, to six months imprisonment without an option of fine…

Officials of the Federal Competition and Consumer and Protection Commission (FCCPC) has sealed up an Abuja-based Chinese supermarket situated at the China General Chamber of Commerce. The FCCPC officials shut the supermarket when they stormed the premises on Monday. The commission’s officials sealed up the place after interrogating Nigerian workers at the supermarket. Earlier on Sunday, Nigerians had expressed outrage over a discriminatory policy implemented by the Chinese Supermarket which restricted entry exclusively to its citizens and barred Nigerians. The facility manager of the complex Shaibu Sanusi confirmed that Nigerians from outside the complex do not shop but Nigerians within…

Andy Cole and John Terry have been inducted into the Premier League’s Hall of Fame, joining Ashley Cole who was also voted in earlier this year. The Hall of Fame honours those players and managers that have made huge contributions to the historic success of the top-flight, with 22 figures already inducted. Terry, 43, captained Chelsea to five Premier League titles between 2005 and 2017, making 492 appearances in the division. Former striker Cole is the Premier League’s fourth-highest scorer, with 187 goals to his name, and won the title five times with Manchester United. The pair were voted in…

The Martins Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly has passed the Rivers State Local Government Bill into Law, overriding Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s veto. The House had initially passed the Local Government Bill and sent it to Fubara for approval on March 13, 2024, which was denied. The bill was reintroduced by the Leader of the Amaewhule-led Assembly, Major Jack, (representing Akuku/Toru) constituency 1. A statement made available to newsmen said the bill was thoroughly debated by members. The Amaewhule-led lawmakers also screened and confirmed nominees for the positions of chairman and members of the Assembly Service Commission. The confirmed nominees…

U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged Monday that the country’s first deportation flights to Rwanda could leave in 10-12 weeks as he promised to end the Parliamentary deadlock over a key policy promise before an election expected later this year. Sunak made the comments at a news conference, making his case directly to the public after vowing last week that Parliament would remain in session until the legislation is passed. The House of Commons will take up the bill later in the day, followed by consideration in the House of Lords. Sunak demanded that the unelected House of Lords to…

President Bola Tinubu has reiterated the call for the strengthening of regional standby force, to serve as a rapid deployment tool in combating both existing and emerging threats, while also serving as a deterrence to large-scale weapon smuggling. While speaking at the opening ceremony of the African Counter-Terrorism Summit in Abuja on Monday, President Tinubu listed the African region that must be strengthened to include existing counter-terrorism structures, such as the Regional Intelligence Fusion Unit (RIFU) in Abuja, the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT) in Algiers, and the Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of…

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun believes the country is not “mature” for state policing despite the myriad of security challenges facing it. He spoke on Monday during a national dialogue on state police held in Abuja with the theme ‘Pathways to Peace: Reimagining Policing in Nigeria’. “On the issue of state police, it is the submission of the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) that Nigeria is not yet mature and ready for the establishment of state-controlled police,” the IGP, represented by AIG Ben Okolo, said at the event organised by the Speaker of the House…

Vice President Kashim Shettima; former President Goodluck Jonathan and elder statesman Abdulsalami Abubakar are among dignitaries attending a dialogue on state police The event held in Abuja was organised by the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives with the theme Pathways to Peace: Reimagining Policing in Nigeria. While speaking at the event, the Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun said the country is not ripe for state police. The police chief represented by AIG Ben Okolo cited abuse by those who want to score political points. He argued that some governors may likely use state police against perceived…

The Presidency on Sunday said it was ready to launch about 2,700 CNG-powered buses and tricycles before May 29 when President Bola Tinubu turns one year in office. It said the Federal Government is set to deliver 100 conversion workshops and 60 refuelling sites spread across 18 states before the end of 2024. The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, revealed this in a statement he signed Sunday titled ‘Presidential CNG initiative set for rollout.’ “From the end of May, Nigeria will take some baby steps to join such nations that already have large…