Author: Vardiafrica

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) on Wednesday warned businesses against anti-competitive practices such as price-fixing, price gouging and cartel formation. The commission said it was deploying personnel to monitor and investigate unusual hikes in prices of consumer goods and services in the country and would apply sanctions against businesses found culpable. Adamu Abdullahi, acting executive vice chairman/CEO of FCCP, in a statement on Wednesday, said it was unacceptable that despite the recent appreciation of the naira against the dollar, consumers continue to face escalating costs without a corresponding decrease in prices. He added that while it could…

Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), are currently in a closed-door meeting at the Akwa Ibom governor’s lodge in Abuja. The agenda for the meeting is still unknown at the time of filing this report. However, already present for the meeting are six out of the 11 governors namely; Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta State), Douye Diri (Bayelsa State), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers State), Bala Muhammed (Bauchi State), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom State), and Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State. This meeting is happening ahead of the PDP caucus meeting which has been scheduled for 8 pm tonight. The…

A State High Court sitting in Lokoja on Wednesday restrained the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from arresting, detaining and prosecuting ex-governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello. Justice I.A Jamil of High Court IV gave the order in a two hour judgement delivered in suit no HCL/68/M/2020 in Lokoja on Wednesday. The judge said that infringing on the fundamental human rights of the former Kogi is null and void except as authorised by the Court. “By this order, the EFCC is hereby restrained from arresting, detaining and prosecuting the applicant except as authorised by the Court. “This is a…

The Federal High Court Sitting in Abuja has granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) permission to arrest the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, preparatory to his arraignment on Thursday. Justice Emeka Nwite granted the warrant this afternoon at the instance of the EFCC. This is as a Kogi State High Court in a conflicting ruling restrained the EFCC from arresting, detaining or prosecuting the ex-governor. The EFCC Counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Rotimi Oyedepo, had approached the court by an exparte application dated 16th of April, but filed today, 17th of April, 2024. In the application,…

The Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, has paid a solidarity visit to his predecessor, Yahaya Bello, at his Abuja residence despite the heavy presence of armed operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the ex-governor’s residence. Ododo, who was at Bello’s residence located at Wuse Zone 4 in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), cheered loyalists of the former governor who were present to give support to their embattled principal Eyewitnesses said EFCC officials barricaded the ex-governor’s residence since 9am on Wednesday though the reason for their action was unknown as of the time of filing this report. Mid-March,…

President Bola Tinubu has commended the enterprising feat of Dangote Oil and Gas Limited, in reducing the gantry price of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), also known as diesel. The Group recently reviewed downwards the gantry price of AGO from ₦1,650 to ₦1,000 per litre for a minimum of one million litres of the product, as well as providing a discount of ₦30 per litre for an offtake of five million litres and above. The price review represents a 60% drop, which will, in no small measure, impact the prices of sundry goods and services. A statement signed by Special Adviser to the President…

The Kano State High Court has issued an ex parte order affirming the suspension of ex-governor Abdullahi Ganduje as the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) This development followed a tumultuous period of internal strife within the APC. Justice Usman Malam Na’abba, presiding over the court, granted the order in response to an exparte motion filed by two executive members of the APC from the Ganduje ward, Laminu Sani and Haladu Gwanjo. The motion, filed on behalf of the ward, sought the suspension of the APC chairman, alleging misconduct and breaches of party regulations. The court’s ruling mandated Ganduje to…

Dubai’s giant highways were clogged by flooding and airport passengers were urged to stay away on Wednesday as the glitzy financial centre reeled from record rains. Huge tailbacks snaked along six-lane expressways after up to 254 millimetres of rain — about two years’ worth — fell on the desert United Arab Emirates on Tuesday. At least one person was killed after a 70-year-old man was swept away in his car in Ras Al-Khaimah, one of the country’s seven emirates, police said. Passengers were warned not to come to Dubai Airport, the world’s busiest by international traffic, “unless absolutely necessary”, an…

Popular Instagram celebrity Pascal Okechukwu also known as Cubana Chief Priest has pleaded not guilty for alleged naira abuse. He pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The socialite was arraigned at the Federal High Court, Lagos before Justice Kehinde Ogundare on Wednesday. The anti-graft commission filed a three-count charge against Cubana Chief Priest accused of abusing the naira at a social event, an act said to be contrary to the provisions of the Central Bank Act of 2007. After he pleaded not guilty, the court granted him bail in…

The Kaduna house of assembly has set up a committee to examine the finances of the state under the administration of Nasir el-Rufai, the immediate past governor of the state. The committee has been tasked with looking at loans, grants, and project implementation from 2015 to 2023 — the period in which el-Rufai held sway as governor. Henry Zacharia, chairman of the house committee on information, confirmed the development to TheCable. Zacharia said the 13-member fact-finding committee was set up during plenary on Tuesday “to find out the financial dealings of the state under the former governor”. On March 30, Uba…