Author: Vardiafrica

Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has demanded the immediate recusal of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from an ongoing investigation involving him. Malami, in a statement on Monday by his spokesman, Muhammad Doka, alleged bias, personal vendetta and political persecution linked to his recent defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The ex-minister accused the anti-graft agency of what he described as illegal detention, media harassment and procedural abuse, insisting that the investigation was driven not by law enforcement considerations but by deep-seated historical animosity on the part…

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Sunday rejected a transition programme announced by Guinea-Bissau’s military rulers and demanded an immediate return to constitutional order, warning of targeted sanctions against those obstructing the process. Guinea-Bissau’s Military High Command toppled President Umaro Sissoco Embaló on November 26, installing Major-General Horta Inta-a as interim president the following day. The move marks the ninth coup in West and Central Africa in five years, intensifying concerns over democratic backsliding in a region already facing political instability and insecurity. At ECOWAS’ annual summit in Abuja, Nigeria, regional leaders called for the immediate release…

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court in Gwarimpa, Abuja, has ordered that Chris Ngige, former minister of labour and employment, remains in Kuje Correctional Centre till December 18, pending ruling on his bail application. Maryam Hassan, the presiding judge, issued the order on Monday, after taking arguments from both the prosecution and defence on Ngige’s bail application. Patrick Ikwueto, counsel to Ngige, prayed the court to admit his client to bail for several reasons, especially on health grounds. Ikwueto told the court that the former minister would not jump bail or interfere with witnesses. However, Sylvanus Tahir, counsel to the…

Forty-one young graduates shortlisted from the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Joint Qualification System (NOGIC JQS) on Thursday commenced a 12-month training on Turn-around Maintenance (TAM) under the Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) Nigerian Content Human Capital Development (HCD) programme. The hands-on training will focus on plant management, non-destructive testing techniques for inspection and evaluation of materials or structures to detect flaws or determine their integrity, welding booths, and use of ceiling boards manufactured from a combination of different materials to optimise strength), among other courses. In an address at the kick-off ceremony in Port Harcourt, Manager, Human Capital Development…

Nigerian doctors seeking greener pastures abroad will benefit from Canada’s latest plan to open a new express entry pathway for foreign doctors in 2026. The Canadian government announced this in a statement by its Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Office, saying the move followed persistent physician shortages and is part of broader efforts to stabilise Canada’s health system while attracting high-skilled professionals. Under the new measures, Canada will introduce a dedicated express entry category for international doctors who have accumulated at least one year of eligible Canadian work experience within the last three years. The category targets physicians currently in Canada…

Former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has described the late Paramount Ruler of Ayakoro Community, King Righteous Inegbagha, as a man whose name truly reflected his character. Jonathan made the remark at the weekend when he joined the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, at the funeral service of the monarch held in Ayakoro, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. He said the late ruler lived a righteous life and that his reign brought significant development and progress to Ayakoro Community. The former President noted that King Inegbagha was not only a…

Two key agencies of The Presidency, the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) and Service Compact with All Nigerians (SERVICOM) on Friday attested to the operational soundness of strategies and processes of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) as the agency inches towards 70 per cent local content level by 2027 as set out in its Nigerian Content 10-Year Strategic Road Map.    In the 2025 Business Facilitation Act (BFA) Performance Report released on December 2 by the PEBEC Secretariat, the NCDMB emerged as Number One with 90.6 per cent among 69 Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs)…

Aliko Dangote, Chairman of Dangote Refinery, has promised that petrol from his company will be sold at N739 per litre even at filling stations from Tuesday, December 16, 2025. The business mogul disclosed this in Lagos on Sunday while speaking on new developments in the refinery. According to him, the new price will make a remarkable drop from the old and reflect the new pricing regime which fixed the new ex-depot price of N699 price litre. Dangote gave assurance that the new price would be reflected by MRS and other retail outlets lifting petrol from the refinery rom Tuesday. Meanwhile,…

Prominent opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, and PDP elder statesman Bode George, on Sunday, accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of deliberately undermining opposition parties ahead of future elections. In a joint statement released on Sunday, also signed by ADC National Chairman David Mark, former APC National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun, and Lawal Batagawara, the opposition called for an independent audit of federal, state, and local government accounts from 2015 to 2025, alleging that state authority is being weaponised against political opponents rather than used to combat economic crimes. The statement follows…

Founder and President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has accused the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, of corruption, alleging that he spent about five million dollars on secondary school education for his children in Switzerland. Dangote made the allegation on Sunday during a media briefing at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Fertiliser Plant in Lekki, Lagos. He described the alleged expenditure as inconsistent with the earnings of a public servant and said it raises serious concerns about transparency and integrity within regulatory institutions. According to Dangote, the alleged five million…