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UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described legal immigration levels as “too high”

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UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described legal immigration levels as “too high”

Net migration in the UK hit a record 606,000 in 2022, official figures showed on Thursday, heaping pressure on the government, which has pledged to cut dependency on foreign labour.

Responding to the figures, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described legal immigration levels as “too high”.

“It’s as simple as that and I want to bring them down,” he told ITV in an interview.

Measures announced earlier this week to tighten the number of international students allowed to bring their families with them would have a significant impact, he added.

Immigration has long been a key political issue in the UK and was one of the main battlegrounds of the Brexit referendum in 2016, which saw the country leave the European Union.

In 2021, net migration — the difference between the number of people leaving the UK and those arriving — was 488,000.

Jay Lindop, director of the centre for international migration at the Office for National Statistics (ONS), said world events such as the end of the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine played a part in the increase.

China’s squeeze on civil rights in Hong Kong, which led to the UK relaxing entry rules for holders of British overseas passports, also had an impact.

“A series of unprecedented world events throughout 2022 and the lifting of restrictions following the coronavirus pandemic led to record levels of international immigration to the UK,” said Lindop.

Drama as man swindles army officer in Abuja

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Drama as man swindles army officer in Abuja

A Grade I Area Court in Karu, Abuja, has ordered that a contractor, Fidelis Ohue be remanded in a correctional centre for allegedly swindling a Colonel of N450, 000.

Ohue is charged with criminal breach of trust and cheating.

The Judge, Mr Umar Mayana, deferred bail for the defendant and adjourned the case until June 6 for mention.

Mayana ordered that the defendant be remanded in Keffi Correctional Centre, pending investigation.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Mr Edwin Ochayi told the court that the matter was reported by Col. Omale Ochagwuba of Army headquarters, garrison magadishu cantonment, Asokoro, Abuja.

Ochayi told the court that sometime in July, 2020 the complainant entrusted and gave the defendant a job to purchase electric armoured cable, prepaid electric meter and PVC pipes for the armored cable that after he gave the sum of N450, 000 for the items, the defendant developed a criminal mind and converted it into his own use.

He said that during the police investigation, the defendant admitted to have committed the offence and was released on bail with the condition of resolving the issue with the nominal complainant.

The prosecutor said the defendant deliberately violated the bail condition and went into hiding on March 7 where the IPO sighted him at Nyanya market, Abuja and was arrested.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravened the provisions of sections 314 and 323 of the Penal Code.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. 

Presidency says Buhari needs funds, so he will continue borrowing days to hand over

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Presidency says Buhari needs funds, so he will continue borrowing days to hand over

The Presidency, on Wednesday, explained that President Muhammadu Buhari gave the nod for last-minute funds a few days away to handover to the administration of Bola Tinubu because the government needs funds to clear debts.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina stated this on Channels Television’s Politics Today while assessing the performance of Buhari’s eight-year tenure in office.

“A wicked man pays and owes not, that is what the good book says. When you owe and you refuse to pay, the Bible says you are a wicked man. If the government is owing all those debts, why shouldn’t it pay? It should pay.

“The government has a mandate from a time to a certain time, that mandate was from 2019 to 2023, so the government is working,” he said.

The President had earlier on Wednesday written to the Senate, seeking approval for a request to pay the judgement debt in the sum of $566,754,584, £98,526 and N226 billion.

Court to declare former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, wanted

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Court to declare former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, wanted

The Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos says it will declare former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, wanted if he fails to appear on the next adjourned date for his trial.

Justice Olubumni Abike-Fadipe frowned upon the constant non-appearance of the defendant, noting that the last time he was in court was November 4, 2022.

Fani-Kayode is standing trial on a 12 counts bordering on the use of false documents, use of fabricated evidence, procuring the execution of documents by false pretense and fabricating evidence.

He pleaded “not guilty” to the charge when he was first arraigned on December 17, 2021.

After his arraignment and commencement of trial, the defendant has been absent at his trial on at least three adjourned dates, a development which the judge frowned upon.

At the last adjourned date, his counsel, Wale Balogun, informed the court of the absence of the defendant on grounds of ill health and some issues he was said to have had with the Department of State Services (DSS).

Balogun had also pleaded with the court to grant him an adjournment with a promise to make his client available at today’s proceeding.

When the matter was called today, Chinozo Eze, who represented the defendant told the court that Fani-Kayode was not in court due to health issues.

He informed the court that a medical report and a letter seeking the leave of the court to vacate the two dates listed for hearing is already in the court file.

The counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Zeenat Atiku confirmed the development and said the prosecution’s hands are tied as to how to forge ahead.

However, the judge frowned upon the constant series of excuses that had been tendered by the defendant for his non appearances.

The court subsequently held that it will issue a bench warrant against Fani-Kayode if he fails to show up on the next adjourned date.

The judge also frowned upon the prosecutor for non-diligent prosecution of the case, noting that the EFCC can withdraw the matter if it is not ready to prosecute same.

Justice Olubumni Abike-Fadipe adjourned the case until November 7, 2023, for the continuation of trial.

See EFCC’s statement:

EFCC Press Release

Alleged Forgery of Medical Report: Court Threatens Bench Warrant Against Fani-Kayode, Adjourns Till Nov 7

Justice O.O. Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, threatened to issue a bench warrant against Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, over his “constant non-appearance” in court on grounds of ill health for his alleged forgery trial.

Fani-Kayode, who is also being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for an alleged N4.9billion fraud before Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, is facing a 12 count- charge before Justice Abike-Fadipe, following his alleged use of forged medical report(s), which he tendered at the Federal High Court to justify his absence in court.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Femi Fani-Kayode, on or about the 11th day of October, 2021 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, by fraudulently used a false document titled: Medical Report On Olufemi Fani-Kayode 60 Years/Male/Hosp. No. 00345 Dated 11/10/2021 before the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division in charge No. FHC/L/251C/2016 which document you purported to have been issued by Kubwa General Hospital.”

Another count reads: “That you, Femi Fani-Kayode, on or about the 23rd day of March, 2021 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently used a false document titled: To Whom It May Concern Re: Femi Fani-Kayode Male/60 Years Hospital. No. 32145 Dated 23rd March 2021 before the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division in charge No. FHC/L/251C/2016 which document you purported to have been issued by Kubwa General Hospital.”

He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when he was arraigned on December 17, 2021.

At the last sitting on February 20, 2023, the defence counsel, Wale Balogun, had informed the court of the absence of the defendant due to ill-health.

“We regret to announce to your lordship that the defendant is not in court due to health reasons; and secondly, due to a running battle he has with both the DSS and the Police,” he had told the court.

Consequently, the matter was adjourned till May 24 and 25, 2023 for continuation of trial.

However, at today’s sitting, the counsel who represented the defendant, Chinozo Eze, informed the court of the absence of the defendant.

“The absence of the defendant in court is due to health issues,” Eze said.

He further informed the court that a medical report and a letter seeking the leave of the court to vacate the dates earlier granted by the court had been filed before the court.

Counsel to the EFCC, Z. Atiku, confirmed the receipt of the said letter, noting that the hands of the prosecution, in the circumstance, were tied.

Justice Abike-Fadipe expressed displeasure with “the constant non-appearance of the defendant”, noting that the last time he was in court was November 4, 2022.

“Series of excuses have been tendered by the defendant for his non-appearance,” the trial judge noted.

The court, therefore, threatened to issue a bench warrant against Fani-Kayode, if he again fails to appear in court at the next adjourned date of November 7, 2023.

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

24/05/2023

“This is the time for me to support him because he supported me” – Wike backs Akpabio for Senate Presidency

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“This is the time for me to support him because he supported me” – Wike backs Akpabio for Senate Presidency

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has declared his total support for the ambition of Senator Godswill Akpabio for the office of the Senate President of the 10th National Assembly.

“This is the time for me to support him because he supported me when I wanted to be the governor of River State,” Wike said.

He said this when he received members of the Stability Group, a group of Senators-elect, rooting for the emergence of Akpabio, led by its Director General, Senator Ali Ndume.

“If truly we want this country to move forward from where we are today, I see nothing wrong in the ruling party picking who it thinks can work with the President-elect as the Senate President of the 10th Assembly. On this Akpabio and Barau project we are together to make sure they win.

“Akpabio supported me during my governorship ambition. He stood by me all through and ensured that I won. I don’t pay back good with evil. This is pay back time for him. I will stand by him until he emerges the next Senate President. Our team would soon meet to take a position on your aspiration.

“Don’t be worried or disturbed with the contending forces against your aspiration, it is normal in politics. Power is not given on a platter, you fight for it. I am impressed that despite your endorsement by your party and the President-elect, you are still consulting your colleagues. That is the way it should be.

“Let us be fair to this country. If we continue this way, Nigeria will not succeed. Don’t waiver stay firm and you will win at the end of the day,” he stressed.

In his response, the Senate Presidential hopeful, Senator Godswill Akpabio, thanked Governor Wike for his support for his aspiration to emerge the next Senate President.

“Let me congratulate you for ending your tenure as the governor of River State on the high. You have done well for your people and Nigerians. History would be kind to you as you exit office in the next few days. You believe in justice, equity and fairness and that is what Nigerians know you for,” Akpabio said.

Ndume had earlier described Wike as a man of his words and very reliable.

“Governor Wike was the first to buy into the Akpabio/ Barau project. Wike is a reliable individual that is always committed to his promises. We need your support at this crucial time because you are very influential in the PDP,” he said.

Festus Keyamo has been working as a minister of state for years, but he finally summoned the courage to tell Buhari, the post is unconstitutional days to handover

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Festus Keyamo has been working as a minister of state for years, but he finally summoned the courage to tell Buhari, the post is unconstitutional days to handover

The outgoing Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo says it is an aberration to appoint a Minister of State.

He stated this while making a speech during a valedictory session chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday.

Citing some portions of the constitution, Keyamo, however, noted that his observation was not out of ingratitude but as his contribution to the nation’s constitutional development as a relatively young democracy and to aid future governments to optimise the performance of those they appoint as ministers.

He explained in a lengthy speech made available to the press that it is difficult to assess the individual performances of the Ministers of State since their discretion were shackled with the discretion of the Ministers as any original ideas developed by a Minister of State are subject to clearance by another colleague in cabinet before they can sail through for consideration by Council.


Meanwhile, at the valedictory session, the President thanked his ministers and State House staff who worked with him in the past eight years.

He said is proud that he and his cabinet gave their best to Nigerians and urged them to support for the incoming President.

“I am proud to say we gave our best,’’ the President was quoted as saying in a statement released by his spokesman, Femi Adesina.

The President directed the ministers to tidy up their work and avoid last-minute rush that could compromise the good deeds they had done over the years.

Presidency defends Buhari’s Niger Republic comment, wants Nigerians to get used to the President’s sense of humour

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Presidency defends Buhari’s Niger Republic comment, wants Nigerians to get used to the President’s sense of humour

Presidential aide, Garba Shehu on Thursday said Nigerians should get used to President Muhammadu Buhari’s sense of humour. 

Buhari had recently said the Niger Republic is a safe haven for him if Nigerians give him issues after handing over next week. The comment did not go down well with many Nigerians who questioned the President’s loyalty to the country.

But Mr Shehu has dismissed the insinuations that Buhari is not loyal to Nigeria.

“That is absolutely not the case. He has a way of throwing banters, a form of easing tension around himself,” he said on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.

“Even after eight years, Nigerians must get used to the President’s sense of humour,” he added.

“This thing about going to the Niger Republic, Nigerians are taking it too seriously.”

Buhari’s comment suggests a cordial relationship with neighbouring nations and not a question of not being loyal to Nigeria, he noted.

“If you are a Nigerien, you would probably feel good about seeing a president that cares,” the presidential aide said.

According to him, President Buhari has done well for Nigeria and deserves to rest after eight years as the country’s leader.

The students will go elsewhere, we’ll suffer the consequences – UK MP kicks against barring students

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The students will go elsewhere, we’ll suffer the consequences – UK MP kicks against barring students

A member of the United Kingdom Parliament, Carol Monaghan, has kicked against the United Kingdom’s new visa policy preventing Nigerian students, and others studying in the UK, from bringing family as dependents except under specific circumstances.

While speaking at parliament on Wednesday, Monaghan stated that students made valuable contributions to the UK’s economy.

According to her, international students enriched the UK’s society in all sectors, including healthcare. “International students make an invaluable contribution to the economy,” she said.

In the video that went viral on Thursday, the lawmaker added, “The reality is that many students who come into the UK look beyond their studies and want their families to be part of their experience.

“Withholding overseas students from bringing their families, many will opt to go elsewhere and any drop in international students numbers will cause further harm to universities that are already facing financial difficulties.”

Video: Speaker Gbajabiamila and his deputy, Idris Wase – Face-off between the two

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Video: Speaker Gbajabiamila and his deputy, Idris Wase – Face-off between the two

There was some tension between the Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila and his deputy, Idris Wase at close of plenary earlier on Wednesday.

Both men openly disagreed over the duration of Thursday’s plenary as the speaker insisted that proceedings should be short enough to allow him and other members attend the official commissioning of the permanent site of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies.

The deputy speaker on his part maintained that the work of parliament should come first and members who would like to attend the commissioning should do so without affecting Thursday’s plenary.

Wase had protested the zoning formula of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the leadership of the about-to-be inaugurated 10th National Assembly while Gbajabiamila had backed the party’s endorsement of Abass Tajudeen (Kaduna) as his successor and Ben Kalu (Abia) as Wase’s successor.

Buhari orders banks to issue national identity cards to Nigerians

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Buhari orders banks to issue national identity cards to Nigerians

The Federal Government says Nigerians can now request their commercial banks issue them with a debit card that doubles as their national identity card.

Prof Isa Pantami, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja. He said this issuance comes at no cost.

Pantami stated that the approval was obtained at the meeting of the Federal Executive Council, which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said the approval followed a memo from the National Identity Management Commission allowing banks to print multipurpose debit cards that double as National identity cards.

The Minister explained that” It is going to be a form of multipurpose card where it will serve as your national identity card on one hand and also your bank card on the other hand, either Mastercard, Visa or any other kind of card.”

According to Pantami, although the NIMC Act 2007 only mandates Nigerians to have a National Identity Number and not necessarily a printout card, demands for cards have swelled nonetheless.

“As in the NIMC Act 2007, section 27, what is mandatory for our citizens and legal residents is the acquiring of the National Identity Number, not the card. However, the card is optional.

“But many citizens, particularly those living in rural communities, always go to NIMC offices complaining that they need the card at hand, even though it’s optional.

“To make it easier, NIMC last year, we introduced a smart ID card you can download from NIMC app. It is just a smart card. You don’t need to have it physically, but that is becoming difficult for our people living in rural communities.”

To ease the difficulty, Pantami said NIMC had partnered with the Central Bank of Nigeria ”so that citizens who are interested in having a card at hand can easily go to the relevant banks.”

According to him, the bank is permitted to print the card along with either a Mastercard or Visa card.

”It is going to be a form of multipurpose card that will serve as your national identity card on one hand and also your bank card on the other. And based on the agreement, it is without any additional costs on our citizens.

“So when you apply for a card at your bank, you can indicate that ‘I want this card to be multiple purposes where it will serve as my bank card and also my national identity card’.

”Both of them are going to be printed on the same card and it is going to serve the same purposes without any additional costs.”

The Minister disclosed that NIMC and the CBN signed a nondisclosure agreement to protect the privacy and confidentiality of card applicants. He assured of the privacy and confidentiality of card users.

Pantami further stated that, when a person requests for the card, the bank will need to connect to the NIMC through their database.

He said that afterwards, the bank verifies the person’s details which must be in tandem with the record in the NIMC database. Then, the card will be printed immediately for the user.

The Minister also said that FEC also approved a memo proposing the deployment of an automated system to integrate NINs with individual SIM cards.

The system, he noted, would consolidate the implementation of the NIN-SIM linkage.

He said, “As we all know that previous administrations made efforts to verify NIN and SIM starting from 2011 without success.

”In February 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the implementation of the policy and the revised version of the policy was also launched and unveiled by Mr. President on May 6, 2021.

“As it stands today, the NIN and SIM policy registration is being implemented. In order to consolidate the implementation.

“The Nigerian Communications Commission came up with a proposal that will enhance the implementation of the policy and bring many more benefits to it.”

Pantami said the automated system would sanitise the database and ease the process of SIM replacement for Nigerians or legal residents.

P-Square set to release album, nine years after

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P-Square set to release album, nine years after

Nine years after their last album together, the Nigerian musical duo, Peter and Paul Okoye, known are P-Square, are working on a new album.

The identical twins made this known to CNN recently where they also hinted at releasing the album within the year.

Since reuniting in 2022, the duo released two singles Jaiye (Ihe g’eme) and Find Somebody) ahead of their ‘100 Cities World Tour,’ which kicked off with North America through Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa last year.

Speaking with CNN about the rift that kept the twins apart, Paul said, “Anything you see that happens to a (music) group, it’s the same thing that happened to us.

“Irrespective of how people want to look at it, we felt the fans were disappointed. We’re humans. It’s normal,” he added.

Reps call for arrest of FIRS boss for aiding tax evasion by oil companies

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Reps call for arrest of FIRS boss for aiding tax evasion by oil companies

The report of the House of Representatives ad hoc Committee investigating the Structure and Accountability of Joint Venture (JV) Business and Production Sharing Contract (PSC)of NNPC has indicted several oil companies for alleged tax evasion.

The report also said the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mamman Nami should be arrested and prosecuted for aiding tax evasion by oil companies.

In the report obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), investigation by the house of representatives committee began from 1991 till date with tax evasion running into trillions of naira.

The report is expected to be laid before the lawmakers this week.

The ad hoc committee investigation, chaired by Rep. Abubakar Fulata revealed that the JVs and PSCs of NNPC sold Nigerian oil at lowest cost to their own subsidiaries in a ”tax haven”.

The committee alleged that the company subsequently sold the same oil to other buyers at full price, while  inflating the cost of their Nigerian production operations and under reported the volume of oil they produced.

This, apart from outright circumvention of the Nigerian tax laws, the committee said is abusive and contrived tax avoidance scheme to minimise their tax liability.

The ad hoc committee is praying the house to adopt the recommendations with a view to bringing sanity in the oil and gas operation in Nigeria.

This according to the report of the committee would be a greater benefits to the citizens.

The committee report also showed that all international and national oil companies who enjoyed capital allowance in Nigeria had no Certificate of Acceptance of Fixed Asset (CAFA) as prescribed by the Industrial Inspectorate Act.

The report however said that all oil companies that benefited from capital allowance without obtaining CAFA as prescribed by the Industrial Inspectorate Act be made to refund all the monies to the government treasury.

NAN reports that on Nov. 1, 2022 the house ad hoc committee investigating the structure and accountability of the Joint Venture (JV) Businesses and Production Sharing Contracts (PSCS) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Limited began probing oil companies accused of tax evasion.

The probe was at the backdrop of alleged tax evasion by some oil companies operating in Nigeria, which led to the constitution of the committee by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila.

Fulata at a meeting with stakeholders in the oil and gas industry cited relevant a sections of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

He said: “This committee is relying on Section 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and we are asking heads of agencies who failed to forward their submissions to do so.

“This committee cannot fail in its mandate and we might resort to the use of Police and other security agencies to compel heads of agencies to do so.”

Fulata decried that tax evasion by oil companies, particularly the International Oil Companies (IOCs) has negatively affected the revenue for the country.

Fulata has expressed disappointment that several letters of invitation sent out to some organisations were not responded, revealing that those who responded did so shabbily.

NAN reports that on Nov. 16, 2022, the house committee summoned chairman of the FIRS.

A representatives of FIRS, a Director and Special Assistant were not permitted by members of the committee to make presentation as they insisted that only the chairman is expected to speak on behalf of FIRS.

The FIRS representatives had earlier told the committee that the service does not have access to the Stock Certificate of crude oil being lifted.

The representatives said they only relied on the invoice produced and presented to it by the oil companies, this, the committee referred to as ridiculous.

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