Author: Vardiafrica

Following the resolution reached by the service chiefs on Tuesday in a meeting in Abuja to deal with perpetrators of oil theft and increase crude oil production in the country, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, has held a meeting with top security officers within the South-South geopolitical zone as well as relevant bodies. The meeting was held on Wednesday at the headquarters of the Nigerian Army, 6 Division in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. The closed-door meeting lasted over five hours. It was a meeting between the CDS and top General Officers Commanding divisions within…

The three-year dispute between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Nigeria has been resolved — but not without some caveats. On Monday, Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, announced that the UAE and Nigeria had reached an agreement for the resumption of travel for citizens beginning July 15.  Idris said the resolution was reached following “successful talks and extensive, mutually beneficial negotiations”. However, the minister said the new deal includes “updated controls and conditions” to facilitate obtaining a UAE visa. One of the new requirements is obtaining a document verification number (DVN). According to the DV hub, the process is a…

A 24-year-old Nigerian man has broken a world record by continuously playing a soccer videogame for more than three days. Oside Oluwole aka “Khoded” performed the longest videogame marathon playing a soccer game, registering a time of 75 hours. He far surpassed the previous record of 50 hours, set by Englishman David Whitefoot in 2022. Oside, a qualified biochemist who currently works as a car dealer, attempted this record to raise money for a local hospital in his hometown of Ijebu Ode. Unlike all seven previous record holders who played either FIFA or Pro Evolution Soccer during their attempts, Oside played mobile game Dream League Soccer…

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Dr Abraham Ehizojie, the Medical Doctor at the health facility of the Kuje Correctional Centre, over alleged refusal to produce the medical report of the detained executive of Binance Holdings Ltd, Tigran Gambaryan. Justice Nwite gave the order following an application by Gambaryan’s lawyer, Mark Mordi, on Tuesday. Gambaryan was whisked into the court building in a wheelchair earlier in the day. He, alongside the cryptocurrency firm, is facing a money laundering charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes…

Governor Abba Yusuf has signed the Kano State Emirate Council Establishment Bill 2024 into law. The legislation, passed by the State House of Assembly, aims to bridge the gap between the grassroots and the government while sustaining the rich cultural values and norms of the people. The new law establishes second-class Emirate Councils in Rano, Gaya, and Karaye, each responsible for specific local government areas. Governor Yusuf said, “The Rano Emirate consists of Rano, Kibiya, and Bunkure Local Government Areas. Gaya Emirate consists of Gaya, Albasu, and Ajingi Local Government Areas while Karaye Emirate consists of Karaye and Rogo Local…

The Court of Appeal Abuja, has dismissed the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party and its governorship candidate, Samuel Anyawu, challenging the decision of the Imo State tribunal, which affirmed the election of Hope Uzodinma as the authentic governor of the state. The court held that the appeal lacked merit having resolved all issues formulated against the appellants in the suit. In the same vein, the appellate court also dismissed the appeal by the Labour Party and its candidate, Achonu Nneji, and that of the Allied Peoples Movement for also lacking in merit. The appellants who were dissatisfied with…

The detained Binance Holdings Limited’s executive, Tigran Gambaryan, was on Tuesday, whisked into the courtroom at the Federal High Court, Abuja in a wheelchair. Gambaryan, who was dressed in a black T-shirt with blue jeans trousers, is facing a money laundering charge by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alongside the cryptocurrency firm. When the matter was called, Gambaryan stood up from the wheelchair and walked slowly into the dock. The EFCC lawyer, Ogechi Ujam, told the court that though the matter was scheduled for the continuation of trial, the commission’s lead counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, was not in court.…

In a monumental achievement, the self-proclaimed African Giant, Burna Boy, has made history once again, becoming the first African artist to surpass 2 billion streams in the United Kingdom The Grammy winner received the prestigious plaque backstage at his sold-out concert in Koko Camden, London during the fifth-anniversary concert of his 2019 album, African Giant. This milestone is particularly significant as it marks a full-circle moment for Burna Boy, whose international acclaim skyrocketed with the viral success of the hit single “Ye” off the awarded album. This honor follows his sold-out concert at London Stadium where he also received a…

French superstar Kylian Mbappe was officially unveiled as a Real Madrid player on Tuesday, telling 80,000 fans “my dream has come true”. The striker, who had completed his medical earlier on Tuesday morning, signed a five-year contract and was handed a No. 9 shirt by club president Florentino Perez. “Wow,” Mbappe said in Spanish to roars from a packed Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. “For years I’ve dreamed of playing for Real Madrid and today my dream has come true,” said the 25-year-old former Paris Saint-Germain player. “I’m a happy boy. I’m going to give my life for this club,” said Mbappe.…

Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has secured over 99% of most of the counted votes, the country’s electoral agency said on Monday.Paul Kagame of Rwanda is almost certainly going to bag a fourth term as president. / Photo: AA Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has scored a crushing election victory that will extend his rule by another five years, according to partial results issued on Monday. De facto leader since the end of the 1994 genocide and president since 2000, Kagame scored 99.15% of the vote, the National Election Commission announced after 79% of ballots had been counted. It tops the 98.79%…