Author: Vardiafrica

Omobayo Godwins has been inaugurated as the Edo Deputy Governor, hours after Philip Shaibu was impeached by the state house of assembly.  The 37-year-old who was beaming with a smile, was sworn in around 1:40 pm on Monday by the Chief Judge of Edo State Justice Daniel Okungbowa. In a day that began with the impeachment of Shaibu as the state’s deputy governor, Omobayo’s inauguration at the Edo State Government House in Benin City marks a major twist in the political history of the state. After he took the oath of office, an excited Omobayo who was dressed in a…

Philip Shaibu says his impeachment as the Edo State deputy governor is a threat to the nation’s democracy and believes it was a “flagrant abuse of power” by the Edo State House of Assembly.  “It is a dangerous descent into dictatorship and a threat to the foundation of our democracy. Let it be clear that this impeachment was hatched because of my ambition to contest the Edo State 2024 governorship election under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. An ambition that is a legal right to all citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” The Edo State Assembly impeached Shaibu on Monday in…

The political atmosphere in Edo State took a new shape on Monday when the state’s House of Assembly impeached embattled Philip Shaibu as deputy governor, ending a long-drawn drama between him and Governor Godwin Obaseki. He was impeached during the House’s plenary session in Benin City, the Edo State capital in a move that began months ago following the soured relationship between Obaseki and Shaibu. Shaibu’s impeachment followed the adoption of the report of a seven-man committee set up by the chief judge of Edo State Justice Daniel Okungbowa to investigate allegations of misconduct against the deputy governor. During plenary at…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said it has sold a total of $10, 000 to 1, 588 Bureau De Change (BDC) operators to meet retail market demand for eligible invisible transactions. A statement by the apex bank on Monday said the $10, 000 sale was at the rate of N110/$1, adding that the BDCs are to sell to eligible customers at a spread of not more than 1.5 per cent above the purchase price. The statement read, “We write to inform you of the sale of $10,000 by the CBN to BDCs at the rate of 1101/$. The BDCs…

The Ikeja High Court in Lagos State has ordered the remand of a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).  He is to be remanded till the next adjourned date, Thursday, April 11 when the court will give its ruling on bail. Justice Rahman Oshodi also ordered the remand of Emefiele’s co-defendant Henry Omoile at the Ikoyi Prison pending the court’s ruling on his bail on Thursday. The court ordered the remand of both men after listening to the bail applications filed by their counsel…

A former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor Godwin Emefiele has pleaded not guilty to charges against him. He was arraigned at the Ikeja High Court over alleged abuse of office and allocation of billions of dollars. The trial judge, Justice Rahman Oshodi entered the courtroom at 9 am to begin proceedings. The 26-count charge was read to Emefiele and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile. But both defendants pleaded not guilty to all counts. The defendants asked for bail pending the hearing and determination of the proceedings Godwin Emefiele is specifically asked the court to grant him bail on self-recognizance pending the…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned Binance Holdings Limited, a cryptocurrency firm, and Tigran Gambaryan, the company’s head of financial crime compliance, over allegations of money laundering. The company and its executive were arraigned on a five-count charge before Emeka Nwite, judge of a federal high court in Abuja. On February 28, Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, Binance’s regional manager for Africa, were detained by the Nigerian authorities. Although Anjarwalla escaped from the custody of the office of the national security adviser (ONSA), both executives, alongside Binance, were charged by the federal government for tax evasion. Gambaryan and Binance…

The Rivers State Police Command has warned feuding parties in the political crisis in the state to shun acts capable of causing a breakdown of peace. The command said it would not sit and allow any individual or group to disrupt the existing peace in the state under any guise. The command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Sunday.. Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, said the command was aware of recent comments by politicians in the state which are capable of igniting violence and advised them to be guided. The…

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…