Author: Vardiafrica

South Africa’s top court ruled Monday that graft-tainted former president turned firebrand opposition challenger Jacob Zuma is ineligible to stand for parliament in next week’s general election. The decision will outrage Zuma’s supporters and stoke fears of violent unrest in the run-up to the May 29 poll, already the most competitive since the advent of post-apartheid democracy in 1994. The top court threw out Zuma’s complaint against an electoral commission decision that a previous conviction for contempt prevents him from becoming an MP, ruling that the constitution bars anyone sentenced to more than 12 months in jail. ‘Not eligible’ Zuma,…

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the request by alleged terrorist negotiator, Mohammed Tukur Mamu, seeking his transfer from the custody of the Department of the State Service (DSS) to the Kuje Correctional Centre. Delivering the ruling on Monday, Justice Ekwo held that the Federal Government had raised the issue of incessant jailbreaks in prisons as a major ground to oppose the request for transfer to Kuje. The judge added that Mamu did not contradict or dispute the averments as required by law. According to the judge, since the averments were not challenged by…

Iran’s first vice president, Mohammad Mokhber, is expected to assume the presidency after Ebrahim Raisi’s death in a helicopter crash as the country gears up for early elections The Iranian constitution stipulates that the first vice president take over “in the event of the president’s death, dismissal, resignation, absence or illness for more than two months”. Raisi, who died on Sunday along with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and other officials, was nearing the end of his first four-year term as president. Mokhber’s interim appointment requires the approval of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final word in…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has withdrawn its earlier circular directing banks to implement a controversial 0.5% cybersecurity levy on electronic transactions. The decision of the apex bank to withdraw the circular followed the public outrage that trailed the announcement of the policy two weeks ago and the suspension of the levy by the Federal Government last week. The CBN in its latest circular dated May 17, 2024, referred to the earlier May 6, 2024 circular and advised financial institutions that the initial circular on implementing the cybersecurity levy “is hereby withdrawn”. The CBN’s latest circular was co-signed by…

Iranian state media said President Ebrahim Raisi died on Monday after his helicopter crashed in a mountainous region of the country Raisi was travelling with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian who also died in the accident. Rescue teams had been scouring the area since Sunday afternoon after a helicopter carrying Raisi, the foreign minister and other officials had gone missing. Early Monday, relief workers located the missing helicopter, with state TV saying the president had died. “The servant of Iranian nation, Ayatollah Ebrahim Raisi has achieved the highest level of martyrdom whilst serving the people,” state television said Monday, with Mehr…

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku-led Executive management committee is chatting a new course in delivering the dividends of the Commission’s mandate. With a forward-looking, innovative and result-oriented roadmap, the commission is well equipped towards ensuring a holistic and sustainable development of the Niger Delta into a region that is economically prosperous, socially stable, ecologically regenerative and politically peaceful That is why, in pursuing the mandate of development, the Managing Director pointed out in his address during the last Board and Management Retreat from February 9th – 10th, 2024 held at Four Points…

Manchester City on Sunday made English Premier League history by becoming the first side to clinch four consecutive titles after beating West Ham at the Etihad stadium Pep Guardiola’s team had been vying with Arsenal for the 2023/24 title, holding a two-point lead over the Gunners before kickoff. Man City broke the record previously held by cross-town rivals Manchester United from 2006/07 to 2008/09 under then manager Sir Alex Ferguson. The defending champions needed only two minutes to show they meant business as Phil Foden found the back of the net. Foden would put his side two goals up in…

A helicopter carrying Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi was involved in “an accident” amid poor weather conditions on Sunday, state media reported, with a search underway and no news yet on his condition. “An accident happened to the helicopter carrying the president” in the Jofa region of the western province of East Azerbaijan, state television said. Rescue team were headed to the area to locate him and other officials, state media in the Islamic republic reported, adding that Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian may also have been aboard the aircraft. “The harsh weather conditions and heavy fog have made it difficult for…

Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, CFR, Oba of Benin has taken custody of two looted Royal stools from the German government in a symbolic milestone. According to historical records, the artefacts — Bronze and wooden Royal stools (Ekete), made during the reign of Oba Eresoyen and Oba Esigie several centuries ago, were looted from the Oba’s Palace during the punitive expedition in 1897. They were handed over to the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) on behalf of the Nigerian government by the German authorities in 2022 The Director-General of National Commission for Museums and…

The Nigerian government has approved N110 billion to revitalise the National Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) for 2024, focusing on youth empowerment and entrepreneurship. The Minister of Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim, announced this during the closing ceremony of the Ministry’s Management Retreat on Presidential Priorities and Deliverables with the theme: “Achieving the Eight Presidential Priorities and Deliverables” in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital. She said the fund is not just a financial reservoir but a catalyst for youth entrepreneurship and innovation aimed at bridging the gap between ambition and opportunity. Dr. Ibrahim further stated that this administration is committed to empowering every Nigerian youth through actionable…