Author: Vardiafrica

Essien Etop Andrew, the deputy comptroller in charge of revenue at the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), is dead. The customs officer was fielding questions from members of the house of representatives committee on public account when he coughed and slumped. Andrew was rushed to the national assembly clinic where he was confirmed dead. Bamidele Salam, chairman of the committee, said the panel will suspend other hearings for one week to honour the late customs chief. “It was a very sad incident. He was very eloquent and clearly understood the issues being considered,” the lawmaker told TheCable. “He suddenly said he…

The Sokoto State Government says contrary to speculations by some persons and groups, the current administration of Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State has no plan to depose the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III. In a statement on Tuesday, a spokesman for the state government, Abubakar Bawa, condemned campaigns “to smear the cordial relationship existing between the state government and the Sultanate Council”. A religious organisation, the Muslims Rights Concern (MURIC), had alleged a plot by the state government to dethrone the Sultan. Subsequently, Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday said the throne of the Sultan is an…

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered celebrity bartender and business man, Pascal Okechukwu popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest to forfeit the sum of ₦10m to the Federal Government as a fine in lieu of the charge made against him for alleged abuse of the Naira. This was contained in the terms of settlement agreement with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which was adopted before the trial judge, Justice Kehinde Ogundare on Tuesday. At the proceedings, Counsel for the EFCC, Bilkisu Buhari-Bala, informed the court that parties in the charge entered into the out of-court…

Women from the Ipo community have blocked the entrance to the Port Harcourt airport. As early as 7:30 am on Tuesday morning, the women from Ipo which is one of the host communities of the airport, blocked the gate at the airport roundabout, waving placards, singing, wailing, and even cooking at the gate. Some of the inscriptions on their banner include ‘We Demand Our Citizens Rights’, ‘Ipo Women Peaceful Protest’, among others. Channels Television gathered that the aggrieved women were trying to get government’s attention to their lack of electricity, good roads, and poor schools despite their community playing host…

Top political leaders from the different wards of Obio/Akpor are currently showing their solidarity for the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike in a protest march. As of the time of filing this report, the protesters were at the Rumueme Civic Center in Port Harcourt, and the likes of Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Ogundu Chinda, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and former Council Chairman, George Ariolu were leading the march. They are demanding that the Inspector General of Police, continues to occupy the councils and not succumb to any form of intimidation. The solidarity…

President Bola Tinubu has announced that the efforts of the security forces in the fight against insecurity in the North-West is yielding results and has resulted in disrupting and dismantling of criminal networks. The President said this at the North-West Peace and Security Summit organised by the North-West Governors’ Forum in Katsina, the capital of Katsina State on Monday. Represented by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, Tinubu assured Nigerians that the progress made so far is just the beginning as the government is making more effort in providing a better secured environment for all citizens in every region of the…

The Kano State High Court has adjourned the sitting in a case filed by the Kano State Government, to restrain the 15th Emir Ado Bayero and four other emirs, from parading themselves as emirs. The motion on notice was filed by the plaintiffs on interlocutory injunction, after the interim order was granted by the court and the first defendant, in the suit served the plaintiff with a counter affidavit which they were to respond to. The presiding judge, Justice Amina Adamu listened to both counsels, and adjourned the hearing of the suit till 2nd July, 2024. The development comes after…

Vice President Kashim Shettima says the throne of the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III is an institution that must be jealously guarded and protected. The Vice President stated this at the North-West Peace and Security Summit in Katsina State on Monday There have been rumours that the administration of Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State allegedly plot to depose the Sultan and some traditional rulers in the state But Shettima, who spoke shortly after the Sultan at the Monday event, said the Sultan is not just a monarch in the North-West state but an institution that must be…

Muhammad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, says it will take decades for the north-west to be free from the menacing security challenge. The Sultan spoke in Katsina on Monday at the ‘Inaugural north west peace and security summit’. “What we must do is challenge these bandits because we all know the consequences of banditry and insurgency on our lives,” the Sultan said. “But it will take decades to get out of it if at all we get out of it. We all know the consequences and the problems. The monarch expressed the readiness of traditional rulers in the region to…

Former council chairpersons from 21 of the 23 LGAs in Rivers have led protests in their respective council areas. Last week, Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, asked the heads of local government administration to immediately assume control of the 23 council areas. This followed the end of the three-year tenure of the council chairpersons. Despite the governor’s directive, some of the former LGA chairpersons reportedly attempted to resume duties at the council secretariat, but were chased away by youths The development heightened the political tension in Rivers as residents protested at some of the LGA secretariats. Police officers fired multiple shots to disperse…