Author: Vardiafrica

A Ghanaian boy, Ace-Liam Nana Sam Ankrah, has made the Guinness World Records as the world’s youngest male artist at the age of 1 year 152 days. “At the age of one year and 152 days old, little Ace-Liam Nana Sam Ankrah from Ghana is the world’s youngest artist,” GWR said on Wednesday. Little Ace-Liam who started showing interest in art works and paintings from six-month-old has over 20 paintings created by him. He participated in his first group exhibition, The Soundout Premium Exhibition at the Museum of Science and Technology in Ghana. There, a total of 10 of his…

A former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika; his brother, Ahmad Sirika; and a firm, Enginos Nigeria Limited, have been arraigned on a fresh ten-count charge before Justice Suleman Belgore of the the FCT High Court sitting in Garki, Abuja In the new charge, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission accused Sirika, his brother, and Enginos of a N19.4 billion airport contract fraud. At the reading of the charge to the defendants, they all pleaded not guilty. The fresh 10-count charges read: COUNT 1That you HADI ABUBAKAR SIRIKA, while being the Minister of Aviation, on or about 18 August, 2022, in…

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in 2023, Atiku Abubakar, has vowed that he will continue to contest for presidency as long as he has the health capacity. When asked if he will contest again, Atiku said, “Of course, I will keep contesting again and again as long as I am alive and healthy. “Even the former US President Abraham Lincoln contested seven times before finally winning. “However, given the current state of the PDP, it is clear that a single-handed effort will not suffice to win the election. Strong support and collaboration with other parties are…

The tax evasion case involving Binance Holdings Limited and its executives has being stalled at the Federal High Court Abuja, after their staff, Tigran Gambaryan failed to show up in court. Gambaryan, a top Binance executive was billed to appear in court for arraignment after he was served with the charges levelled against him by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). The company was sued by the FIRS for tax evasion alongside officials of the company – Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, who fled the country on March 22, 2024. Binance is facing a 4-count charge after being accused of failing…

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Shehu Mohammed as the new Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps. Mohammed, an Assistant Corps Marshal, would replace Dauda Biu, who was appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2022. A statement on Wednesday by the Director of Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, said Mohammed’s appointment took effect from May 20, 2024. He noted that Mohammed’s appointment was for an initial period of four years The statement read, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Assistant Corps Marshal Mohammed Shehu as the Corps…

Rt. Hon. Elvert Ekom Ayambem has been impeached as the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assemly The Speaker was impeached on Wednesday by 17 members out of the 25-member House over allegations of misappropriation of funds. Majority of the lawmakers passed a no-confidence vote on the Rt. Hon. Ayambem, about 11 months in office. The impeachment motion was moved by Hon. Effiom Ekarika representing Calabar South 1 Constituency and seconded by Hon. Omang Charles Omang representing Bekwarra State Constituency. Rt Hon Elvert Ayambem was elected Speaker of the 10th Cross River State House of Assembly in June…

Chadian Prime Minister Succes Masra said Wednesday he had handed in his resignation, just over two weeks after his defeat to junta chief Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno in presidential elections. Deby, 40, won the May 6 presidential vote with 61 percent of the ballot, according to final results, and is due to be sworn in at an investiture ceremony on Thursday in the capital N’Djamena. He was proclaimed transitional president in April 2021 by a junta of 15 generals after his father, iron-fisted president Idriss Deby Itno, had been shot dead by rebels after 30 years in power. Masra, also…

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has sworn in the eight commissioner nominees that were screened by the State House of Assembly on Tuesday, charging them to cultivate the culture of keeping accurate records of their dealings in their various ministries The Governor maintained that such culture is essential for the effective functioning of any organised system, particularly the civil service because they provide useful history of events, decisions and actions, including indices of productivity. The swearing ceremony was held at the Executive Council Chamber of the Government last night, hours after the State Assembly led by Victor Oko-Jumbo screened and…

The House of Representatives has asked the Federal Government to review the recent policy on airport toll gates by ensuring that members of the Armed Forces are exempted from payment of tolls. This resolution was reached on Tuesday following a motion by Abdulsamad Dasuki during plenary. It would be recalled that the Federal Executive Council recently announced the withdrawal of the exemption of payment of tickets by some highly placed Nigerians at the nation’s airports. Moving the motion, Dasuki said members of the Armed Forces should be honoured by not being made to pay tolls at the airports and major…

The amended Local Government Law proposed by the Martins Amaewhule faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly has been invalidated by the Rivers State High Court. The lawmakers who were loyalists of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, had proposed an extension of tenure for LG chairmen for six months after the expiration of their term without the consent of the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara. While ruling on a suit numbered PHC/1320/CS/2024, Justice D.G. Kio declared the amendment invalid, citing its inconsistency with the 1999 Constitution and Section 9(1) of the Rivers State Local Government law No. 5 of…