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(Nigeria) The United States has said it would consider all available actions, including additional visa restrictions on individuals believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic process in N igeria's just concluded general elections. The US, in its assessment of the just concluded Presidential, National Assembly, governorship and state House of Assembly elections, condemned the act of violent, voter intimidation and suppression that took place during the polls. US in a statement, while reacting to the elections said: “ Nigeria carried out the second round of its electoral process with gubernatorial and state assembly elections on March 18.   The United States is deeply troubled by the disturbing acts of violent voter intimidation and suppression that took place during those polls in Lagos, Kano, and other states.   “ Members of the U.S. diplomatic mission observed the elections in Lagos and elsewhere and witnessed some of these incidents fir...

*Mr Joe Biden,  US President (Nigeria) Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project , SERAP , has urged the US President Joe Biden to exercise his powers “pursuant to the Presidential Proclamations 7750 and 8697 and the Immigration and Nationality Act to ban Nigerian officials, politicians and other perpetrators and sponsors of violence during the just concluded elections.” SERAP also urged Mr Joe Biden to “use the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act to block or revoke the visas of anyone suspected to be responsible for cases of intimidation, harassment and violence during the elections, and to impose asset freezes and property sanctions on them and their families.” The letter followed reports of cases of election-related intimidation, harassment and violence in several states of the country, including in Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Gombe, Lagos, Edo, Ogun, Osun, Rivers, and Taraba states, and Abuja. In the letter dated February 25 , 2023 , by SERAP deputy director, ...

*Gen Sani Abacha (Nigeria)  Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project , SERAP , has filed a lawsuit against President Muhammadu Buhari over “the failure to publish copy and details of the agreement the Federal Government recently signed with the United States for the repatriation of $23 million stolen by the late dictator Sani Abacha.” Joined in the suit as Respondent is the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami , SAN.   The United States government had in August signed an agreement with the Federal Government to repatriate $23 million Abacha loot to Nigeria. The $23 million adds to the $311.7 million Abacha loot repatriated from the U.S. to Nigeria in 2020. In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1700/2022 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, SERAP is asking the court to “direct and compel President Buhari and Mr Abubakar Malami to release and widely publish copy of the agreement on the Abacha loot with the U.S.” SERA...

*R. Kelly Embattled R&B superstar,  R. Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison, yesterday, for using his fame to subject young fans, some just children to systematic sexual abuse. Ann M. Donnelly, the judge, delivered his verdict,  despite the defense lawyers’ request for a sentence of 10 years or less. Prosecutors had asked for at least 25 years. Kelly’s lawyers had argued he should get no more than 10 years in prison because he had a traumatic childhood “involving severe, prolonged childhood sexual abuse, poverty, and violence.” As an adult with “literacy deficiencies,” the star was “repeatedly defrauded and financially abused, often by the people he paid to protect him,” his lawyers said. The hitmaker is known for work including the 1996 hit “I Believe I Can Fly” and the cult classic “Trapped in the Closet,” a multi-part tale of sexual betrayal and intrigue. Allegations that Kelly abused young girls began circulating publicly in the 1990s. He was sued in...

*Abba Kyari (Nigeria) The Police Service Commission, PSC,  has suspended Abba Kyari, a Deputy Commissioner of Police and Head, Intelligence Response Team, IRT, of the Nigeria Police Force from the exercise of the Powers and functions of his office. PSC in a statement by its Head, Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, on Sunday, said: “Abba Kyari's suspension took effect from Saturday, July 31, 2021, and would subsist pending the outcome of the investigation in respect of his indictment by the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States. “The Commission has also directed the Inspector General of Police to furnish it with information on further development on the matter for necessary further action. “The Commission's decision which was conveyed in a letter with reference, PSC/POL/D/153/vol/V/138 to the Inspector General of Police today, Sunday, August 1, 2021, was signed by  Justice Clara Bata Ogunbiyi, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court and Honourable Co...

United States Consulate General in Lagos has warned its citizens to be on alert following reports of robberies/smash-and-grabs on the roads by armed men, which have increased significantly on both Ikoyi and Victoria Island, Lagos.  The US Consulate General in the advisory on Tuesday, said, “The United States Consulate General in Lagos has recently seen a notable increase in crime in Lagos.   Reports of robberies/smash-and-grabs on the roads by armed men have increased significantly on both Ikoyi and Victoria Island.   “Typically, men on a motorcycle will follow a vehicle until it stops at a traffic light or intersection then approach the vehicle, present a weapon, and rob the occupants.   Although most of these incidents happen at night, the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos has received reports of robberies taking place during daylight hours. “Please remember to be aware of your surroundings, especially when driving at night.   The following personal safety...

Chairman Imo State Traditional Institution and Community Policing, HRM Eze Dr Emmanuel Okeke(middle) HRH Eze Goddy Okeke representing Okigwe Zone (left) and HRH Eze Akujobi Osuagwu representing Owerri Zone( right) addressing Newsmen after their meeting held at the Eze Imo Palace, Mbari Street, Owerri (Nigeria) Traditional rulers in Imo State on Tuesday condemned in strong terms the recent attack on the country home of Governor Hope Uzodimma at Omuma and called on security agencies to carry out thorough investigations into what transpired and ensure that the culprits and their sponsors are brought to book. Rising from a critical meeting that lasted for hours at their office in Owerri, the traditional rulers also threatened to invoke curses on those behind insecurity in the State should they refuse to   change. In a communiqué at the end of their meeting that was well attended, the Chairman of the Traditional Institution and Chairman Imo State Community Policing, HRH Eze   E...

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN (Nigeria) Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has urged the United States to lend its weight to the call for a just global transition to zero emissions, lead the effort to ensure easy access to COVID-19 vaccine by all countries, and generally reset its foreign policy agenda with the African continent in ways that bring about economic prosperity, increased security, and improved governance. Osinbajo expressed these views today in a speech delivered virtually at the 2021 Johns Hopkins University’s African Studies Programme Conference on the theme “Africa-US Re-engagement: A New Foreign Policy Agenda”. The conference was organized by the School of Advanced International Studies, SAIS, of the university. According to the VP, “the United States and Africa should work together to tackle climate change and moderate global warming including through an energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable energies.   African countries have made commitments in...

*Senate President, Ahmad Lawan (Nigeria) President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has said that the National Assembly was focused on strengthening regulatory mechanisms to ensure that our values as Nigerians do not suffer degeneration as a result of drug abuse. Lawan made this known in a keynote address delivered to declare open a Public Hearing on the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency Act 2004. The Senate President who was represented at the event by the Chairman, Committee on Health, Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe (APC, Kwara Central), said the issue of drug abuse in the country “has become a hazard” too difficult to ignore. Lawan said: “Equally important is that drug abuse has become a hazard. While we may often identify abuse with the youths, emerging evidence reveals that it cuts across all social strata. “What this means is that more and more people are resorting to dangerous mechanisms for escape. The consequence of this is multiple, as has been proved.   “We (National ...

(Nigeria) Ahead of its proposed conference on security, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,  has called on the White House  and other members of the  international community to prevail on President Muhammadu Buhari to take decisive steps to protect Nigerians and curb escalated violence, terrorism and banditry ravaging our country under his watch. The party also tasked President Buhari to respond to widespread cry for credible elections in our country by making personal commitment towards accelerated amendment to the Electoral Act, to among other things, give statutory force to simultaneous electronic transmission of results and use of card readers in elections. National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, presented the position of the party at a crucial meeting with the Political Officer with the US Embassy in Nigeria, Mr. Jerry Howard, at the PDP national secretariat, Abuja on Tuesday. Prince Secondus lamented the horrible level of insecurity; increased terrorism, wanto...

Member countries of the International Criminal Court, ICC, have joined together in support of the court’s crucial work and independence from political pressure, Human Rights Watch said on Tuesday.

*Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State (Nigeria) Two groups based in the United States of America,  Ikwerre Peoples Forum, USA and Rivers Development Forum, have commended Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State for taking proactive measures to check coronavirus in the state.

*Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture (Nigeria) The Federal Government has rejected the US designation of Nigeria as a country that engages in or tolerates severe violations of religious freedom, saying the iniquitous tag stems from an orchestrated narrative that has long been discredited.

*US President Donald Trump  (Nigeria) Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has sent an open letter to the United States President Donald Trump asking him to exercise his constitutional powers “pursuant to the Presidential Proclamations 7750 and 8697 to instruct the US Secretary of State and US Ambassador in Nigeria to temporarily ban Nigerian state governors and other senior public officials misusing the criminal justice system to jail journalists, bloggers and activists reporting on allegations of corruption from entering the US.”

L-R: Annette Dixon, World Bank Vice President For Human Development; Henrietta Fore, Executive Director, UNICEF; Godwin Obaseki, Governor of Edo State, Nigeria; Mabel Van Oranje, Chair- Girls Not Brides, Peter Tabichi, 2019 Global Teacher Prize Winner at the World Bank Group event on Ending Learning Poverty. (Nigeria) In recognition of the significant education reform recently embarked upon by the Edo State Government under the leadership of Governor Godwin Obaseki, the World Bank Group at the United Nation General Assembly in New York, held a seminar on Moday, September 23,2019 as a side event to discuss and highlight how institutions and Edo State, in particular, are working to eliminate learning poverty.

Rivers State governor, Mr Nyesom Ezenwo Wike (r) and the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Stuart Symington  at  the Government House Port Harcourt on Tuesday during a high profile meeting on the promotion of the health of Rivers people. (Nigeria) Rivers State governor, Mr Nyesom  Wike has commended the United States Government for working with the State Government to reduce the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the state.

*Governor Udom Emmanuel of f Akwa Ibom State. (Nigeria) The Governor of Akwa Ibom State,  Mr. Udom Emmanuel has been honoured by the United States Congress for his industrialisation policy in the state.

Boeing announced Wednesday it would give $100 million to communities and families affected by two crashes on its 737 MAX planes that claimed 346 lives.

(Nigeria) The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, re-arraigned an American, Marco Antonio Ramirez, before a Special Offences Court, Ikeja, Lagos, for allegedly defrauded some Nigerians of the sum of $1.229,800 million, under the pretence of securing them America's Green Card.

(Nigeria) Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has said that it's leader,  Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, visit to United States of America and other countries of the world was aimed at bringing Biafrans together to pursue a common cause under one dominant ideology.