Author: Vardiafrica

The Federal Government has initiated an investigation into allegations of ticket racketeering on the Abuja-Kaduna rail route following numerous passenger complaints. Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali, announced the directive on Sunday via a statement on his official X (formerly Twitter) account. He instructed Fidet Okhiria, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), to establish a committee tasked with investigating the alleged issues and resolving them. In the statement, Minister Alkali acknowledged the concerns raised by passengers regarding difficulties in purchasing tickets for the Abuja-Kaduna rail service. He emphasized that the committee’s primary objective will be to review the…

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo has appealed to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike not to set his state on fire. Wike had a few weeks ago threatened to ‘put fire and cause a political crisis in the state of any of the PDP governors pushing for the Rivers State Governor, Sim Fubara to take over the structures of the party in the state. Makinde made the plea on Saturday, September 28 2024, during a reception organized for Wike by the Ijaw World Congress in Port Harcourt. Makinde explained that the former governor has done creditably…

The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike has said “nobody has the monopoly of causing violence” in the wake of the political rift between himself and the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara. Wike made the statement in Port Harcourt on Saturday at the Rivers State Ijaw Peoples Congress organised in his honour. Wike also used the opportunity to clear the air about public perception that Fubara was speaking the mind of the entire Ijaw people as both battled for supremacy. “Let me thank this team for this strategic meeting here today. First of all, when I was approached by Senator Johnson…

The Federal High Court in Abuja has approved a lawsuit seeking to compel the Federal Government to investigate the alleged connection between the Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji Bello Matawalle, and the activities of bandits in Zamfara State. The suit, filed by Zamfara-based human rights activist Abubakar Dahiru, names President Bola Tinubu, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and the Inspector General of Police as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd defendants, respectively. The plaintiff, through his counsel Mr. Ojonimi Apeh, is requesting the court to declare that President Tinubu should direct the Inspector General of…

In a bid to create a platform for critical stakeholders to share ideas, explore opportunities for collaboration and co-create pathways for the commercialisation of research outputs, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) is partnering Triple Helix Nigeria (THN) to host the maiden edition of the SciBiz Annual Conference 2024. Themed “Integrating Research Innovation and Policy: Triple Helix Pathway to a Digital Nigeria,” the event, slated for Abuja between 23rd and 25th October, brings together the academia, industry and government – known as the three arms of the Triple Helix – for the purpose of formulating strategies to bridge…

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested the immediate-past governor of Taraba State, Arc. Darius Ishaku, over alleged N27bn fraud it was gathered that Ishaku was picked up at his Abuja residence in the early hours of Friday. When contacted, the spokesman of the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the development to our correspondent but declined further details

The House Committee is also inviting Bobrisky and a social media influencer, Martins Otse, known as Very Dark Man, on social media who released the voice recording. Falana Refutes Bribe Allegation Folakemi Falana, the daughter of renowned human rights lawyer Femi Falana, has vehemently denied bribery and corruption allegations involving her father and her brother, Falz, linked to Bobrisky’s reported prison sentence. Folakemi in a post on her Instagram handle, addressed the claims, which stemmed from accusations made by VeryDarkMan , labeling them baseless and defamatory. “Two different letters from Falana & Falana on behalf of our clients Femi Falana…

The federal government has partnered with Mastercard to provide digital access to critical financial services for one million farmers in Nigeria, Kenya and Tanzania. In a statement by Stanley Nkwocha, special assistant to the president on media and communications, on Friday, the partnership aims to improve agricultural productivity in the countries. The African Development Bank (AfDB) will also provide support. The partnership deal was signed during a meeting between Vice-President Kashim Shettima and executives of Mastercard on the sidelines of the ongoing 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York Shettima, representing President Bola Tinubu at the event, said the…

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says investigations into allegations of bandit sponsorship in the north-west of the country are ongoing. Bello Matawalle, minister of state for defence; and Dauda Lawal, governor of Zamfara; have lobbed allegations of bandit sponsorship each other’s way.  Matawalle challenged Lawal to swear by the Holy Qur’an that he was not involved in sponsoring bandits. Responding, Lawal pledged to reveal evidence against the minister. He said he had reported the issue to Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser (NSA). Edward Buba, director of defence media operations, spoke on the military’s interest in the allegations during a press briefing on Thursday. Buba…

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja has granted bail to Nigerian whistleblower, Isaac Bristol, the man believed to be behind the prominent whistleblower account PIDOM Nigeria, ₦5m bail with one surety in like sum. Justice Nwite gave the order in a ruling on the motion on notice filed by his team of lawyers led by Deji Adeyanju. He further ruled that the defendant must deposit his International Passport with the court. Part of the bail conditions includes that the surety must be resident in Abuja and depose an affidavit of means. The surety must also provide evidence of…