Author: Vardiafrica

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, a day after detaining him over alleged fraudulent cash withdrawals totalling N189 billion. A source confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that the senator, who currently represents Sokoto South in the Nigerian Senate, was released from custody on Tuesday. “He has been discharged today (Tuesday), so he has left,” the source said. Mr Tambuwal, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and two-term Sokoto State governor, was detained and interrogated by detectives when he visited the EFCC headquarters in Abuja at about 11 a.m. on Monday.…

Kayode Egbetokun, the inspector-general of police (IGP) has ordered an investigation into Wasiu Ayinde, the veteran Fuji musician, also known as KWAM 1, over allegations of unruly conduct at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. KWAM1, who was onboard a ValueJet plane on August 5, was seen drinking from a flask and was approached by a flight attendant who suspected that the content was alcohol, a substance prohibited onboard aircraft in Nigeria. The attendant was said to have asked the musician to surrender the flask, but Kwam 1 refused, saying it was medication prescribed by his doctor. Following his refusal to…

The new leadership of ESSO Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, affiliate of ExxonMobil corporation on Tuesday paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe.  The ESSO delegation was led by the Chairman and Managing Director, Mr Jabir Baxi, to the Board’s liaison office in Lagos. He was accompanied by the Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer, Femi Ogunbi; Africa Human Resources Manager, Bala Aliyu; and Nigeria Human Resources Manager, Mrs Emem Abraham. At the visit, Mr Baxi affirmed the company’s commitment to developing local content and complying…

The African Democratic Congress, ADC’s unprovoked attack on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,   EFCC, concerning its handling of cases involving politically exposed persons from every divide, came as a rude shock and unwarranted blame game. Every objective and discerning watcher of events in the national political scene, would admit that the Commission has been circumspect and dispassionate in the exercise of its mandate. The ADC’s claims that “Opposition Coalition have received EFCC summons that are clearly politically motivated. These are not fresh cases arising from new evidence but new files opened in reaction to emergent political affiliations to…

Airtel Africa and Vodacom have signed a strategic network infrastructure agreement to drive digital inclusion across key markets to improve access to reliable connectivity across Africa Both organisations will work to support markets such as Mozambique, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), subject to regulatory approvals. The agreement represents a transformative milestone in promoting digital inclusion and expanding access to reliable connectivity across Africa. Initially, the partnership is focusing on sharing fibre networks and tower infrastructure to accelerate the roll-out of digital services across these critical markets. As a result, both companies hope to increase connectivity for customers, while also…

Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has raised the alarm over a new tactic by some politicians to evade anti-graft scrutiny by declaring assets they do not yet own before assuming office. Speaking at the launch of the virtual tool on the code of conduct for public officers in Abuja on Tuesday, Olukoye described the practice as “anticipatory looting” of government funds by public office holders. According to Daily Trust, the event was organised by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) in collaboration with the Technical Unit on Governance and Anti-Corruption Reforms (TUGAR). The EFCC chairman said…

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, August 12, unveiled a groundbreaking initiative—the country’s first-ever National Industrial Manpower Development Policy—reiterating that Nigeria’s greatest asset is its people, not its natural resources. He presented the plan during a keynote address at the National Industrial Manpower Summit (NIMS) 2025, held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja. The president, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, highlighted the urgent need to close the widening gap between educational outcomes and industry needs to unlock Nigeria’s economic potential. “For a nation with a median age of about seventeen, Nigeria is an incredibly young country. This youthfulness…

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as a political tool to intimidate and discredit opposition leaders ahead of the 2027 general elections. The ADC, in response to the detention of former Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal and the EFCC’s sudden probe into ex-Imo Governor Emeka Ihedioha’s brief seven-month tenure, accused the agency of serving as a tool for selective justice. This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi. “When the fight against corruption targets only the opposition, it’s…

Nigeria’s local content successes in the oil and gas industry was a constant reference point in discussions at the opening day of the 2025 Namibia Oil and Gas Conference, which began on Tuesday at Windhoek, Namibia.The event is being attended by policymakers, international oil and gas operating and service companies, Namibian indigenous players and other stakeholders. The goal is to enhance the local content ecosystem in the Southern African country’s evolving oil and gas industry. The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) are participating at the Namibian event in furtherance of…

Sixteen inmates on Tuesday escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Keffi, Nasarawa State. The incident happened in the early hours of the day after a breach of the facility’s security, the spokesperson of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Umar Abubakar, wrote in a statement. The inmates overpowered the personnel on duty during the breakout. “The Nigerian Correctional Service wishes to inform the general public of an incident that occurred in the early hours of today, 12th August 2025, at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Keffi, Nasarawa State,” the statement read. “Some inmates breached the security of the facility and…