Author: Vardiafrica

The trial of detained Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan, at the Federal High Court in Abuja took a dramatic turn following the defendant’s collapse in court on Thursday. At the resumed trial, the defendant failed to enter the dock when he was called upon by the court registrar for continuation of trial as he remained seated at the back seat. Following the failure of the defendant to enter the dock, the trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, asked after him. One of the lawyers in the defence team, who sat beside Gambaryan, assisted him by the side while holding his hand towards…

Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has assented to the bill earlier passed on Thursday by the state assembly which reversed the creation of new emirates by the then Governor Abdullahi Ganduje administration. The governor assented to the bill on Thursday after a closed-door meeting with the members of the state assembly and some traditional leaders believed to be kingmakers at the Government House in Kano. Yusuf also reinstated the 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, who was earlier deposed in March 2020. With the governor’s proclamation, Emir Aminu Ado Bayero, who initially succeed Sanusi, has been removed. Emir Ado…

General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, who has led Chad’s military junta for three years, was sworn in as president on Thursday after an election victory contested by the opposition. Deby officially won 61 percent of the May 6 vote that international NGOs said was neither credible nor free and which his main rival called a “masquerade”. Taking the oath of office, Deby said he swore “before the Chadian people… to fulfil the high functions that the nation has entrusted in us”. Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu and seven African heads of state as well as Constitutional Council members and hundreds of…

The Federal Ministry of Education recently released names of nominees for chairmen, Pro-Chancellors, and members of the boards and councils of universities, Polytechnics, and colleges of education. It also announced that the inauguration and retreat for the nominees will take place on 31 May. However, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy in a statement on Thursday, said public reactions showed that the nominations did not reflect the federal character of the country as some states got just one nomination, while some others got many. “In directing a complete review of the list of members, President Tinubu acknowledges the…

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has rejoiced with the 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, on his “reinstatement” on the throne. Conveying the governor’s congratulatory message in a statement on Thursday, Fubara’s spokesman, Nelson Chukwudi, said his principal received the report of the reinstatement of the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), with great excitement. According to Fubara, it came at a time when Khalifa Sanusi II was in the state to add impetus to his administration’s initiative to reshape the economic trajectory of the State. “I wish the 14th Emir of Kano a successful and…

The Kano State House of Assembly on Thursday passed a bill dissolving the establishment of four additional emirates created by Abdullahi Ganduje’s administration in the state. It is titled, ‘The Kano State Emirates Councils (Repeal) Bill, 2024.’ This was announced by the Senior Special Assistant on Digital Media to the state governor, Tuwita on X, stating that the bill was passed after it scaled third reading before the lawmakers. He wrote: “The Kano state house of assembly has passed Kano emirates council law (repeal bill) 2024 after scaling 3rd reading. “The law has abrogated establishment of 5 new Emirates in…

The House of Representatives has passed a bill to revert to the old national anthem “Nigeria, We Hail Thee”. The bill was quickly passed through first second and third reading within minutes. The lead debate for a return to the old anthem by the House Leader, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, pointed to the need for Nigerians to see the anthem as a national symbol and sign of authority, one which does not deny the realities. The old anthem “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” was replaced with the current one “Arise, O Compatriots in 1978. The Minority Leader, kingsley Chinda, however, opposed the…

Justice Suleiman Belgore of the FCT High Court sitting in Garki has granted bail to a former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika who is standing trial for Alleged fraud to the tune of nineteen point four billion naira. Justice Belgore granted bail to the former Minister in the sum of one hundred million naira (₦100,000,000) and two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties must have landed property within the jurisdiction of the court. The court also added that the former Minister must not travel out Nigeria without the permission of the court. Furthermore, the Court admitted that the…

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…