UK | African News Today

<strong>Why UK Is Experiencing Visa Application Surge From Nigerians – UK Envoy</strong>

20Nov

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

News, Nigeria

Why UK Is Experiencing Visa Application Surge From Nigerians – UK Envoy

Catriona Laing, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, explained why there is a spike in the number of visa applications from Nigerians seeking to enter the United Kingdom recently. Laing stated this on Sunday in Abuja when he appeared on the News agency of Nigeria Forum. She acknowledged that the UK government took note of the situation and was in contact with the Nigerian government to avoid brain-drain in Nigeria, especially in the health sector. She said, “You know, there is obviously people of Nigerian origin in the UK. So, people like to go where they have family or where they have friends. Secondly, the English language obviously makes it a lot easier. “Thirdly is the education; and people who have studied, they will want to return. And I think y...

More PDP Governors to Defect – Presidency

28Jul

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Education, Nigeria

More PDP Governors to Defect – Presidency

The Presidency took swipe on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for saying that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has turned the Presidential Villa into its headquarters. At their meeting in Bauchi on Monday, PDP governors accused the APC of “parading” coerced PDP members who defected into the ruling party. But, Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina chided the governors for belly-aching over the misfortune of their party. Speaking from the United Kingdom (UK) in a television interview, Adesina claimed some of them (PDP governors) come to the Villa at night unannounced. According to him, some PDP governors have been talking with the APC leadership on plans to defect, saying that many of them will dump their party next year when Presi...

Nnamdi Kanu Not Arrested in the UK – British Govt

30Jun

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Biafra, Justice, News, Nigeria

Nnamdi Kanu Not Arrested in the UK – British Govt

The British High Commission in Nigeria has said the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, was not arrested in the United Kingdom. It was reported that Kanu’s arrest was announced on Tuesday by the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF Abubakar Malami. The AGF, however, failed to state how and where the IPOB leader was arrested. Responding to questions from newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, the spokesman, British High Commission in Nigeria, Dean Hurlock, said, ‘We are aware of reports that Nnamdi Kanu has been detained in Nigeria by the Federal Government of Nigeria. “We can confirm that Nnamdi Kanu was not arrested in the UK for extradition purposes.” Meanwhile, Kanu who was arraigned before a Federal High Court on Tuesday was ordered to be remanded in the cus...

IPOB/MASSOB asylum: UK replies Federal Govt, Says Offer is to Protect those who Need It

22Apr

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Biafra, News

IPOB/MASSOB asylum: UK replies Federal Govt, Says Offer is to Protect those who Need It

The United Kingdom has disclosed that all asylum and human rights claims from Nigerian nationals are considered on their individual merits in accordance with its international obligations. The British government states that it has a proud history of providing protection to those who need it, in accordance with its international obligations under the Refugee Convention and European Convention on Human Rights. The British High Commission stated this on Wednesday, in response to inquiries by The PUNCH on the Federal Government’s allegations that the UK’s asylum offer for persecuted members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra undermined Nigeria’s security. The UK Visas and Immigration had released new guidelines to...

Supreme Court Rejects Request to Unfreeze Abacha’s Accounts in UK, others

22Jan

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Corruption, Finance, Judiciary, News, Nigeria

Supreme Court Rejects Request to Unfreeze Abacha’s Accounts in UK, others

The Supreme Court, on Friday, declined the request by a brother to the late Gen. Sani Abacha, Alhaji Ali Abacha, to unfreeze the accounts traced to him and relatives of the late Head of State in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Jersey, Liechtenstein, and Luxembourg. The apex court in a unanimous judgment of a five-man panel led by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta held that Ali Abacha’s case was statute-barred as at when it was commenced in April 2004 at the Federal High Court in Kaduna State. The judgment was in the appeal marked: SC/359/2010, filed by Alhaji Ali Abacha, said to be a brother of the late Gen. Sani Abacha. In the lead judgment prepared by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, but read on Friday by Justice Ejembi Eko, the court held that having dismissed a similar appeal in an earlie...

UK Speaks on Gowon’s Alleged CBN Looting

27Dec

By Obiajulu Joel Nwolu1 Comment

Corruption, Crime, Finance, News, Nigeria

UK Speaks on Gowon’s Alleged CBN Looting

The United Kingdom has distanced itself from the indictment of former Nigerian Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, by a member of its parliament, Tom Tugendhat. The UK lawmaker had on November 23, accused Gowon of looting half the Central Bank of Nigeria while he was the head of state. Tugendhat disclosed this during a debate by the parliament on Nigerian government officials embroiled in human rights abuses during the #EndSARS protests in Nigeria. Commenting on the allegation, the UK in a letter signed by a member of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Nigeria Unit, identified as Angela stated that Tugendhat spoke in his own personal capacity, and his statement does not reflect the views of the British Parliament or the United Kingdom. The clarification followed a petition...

FG Faults US, UK Over Visa Restriction on Election Riggers

19Sep

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, United States of America

FG Faults US, UK Over Visa Restriction on Election Riggers

The federal government has kicked against the visa restrictions imposed on some Nigerians by the United States (US) owing to election rigging during the governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States. According to a statement by Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of state, actions have also been taken against persons in the run-up to the September and October 2020 governorship elections in Edo and Ondo. The United Kingdom (UK) had also threatened to impose severe sanctions such as visa ban on persons who work against credible elections in Nigeria. Reacting to the development, the federal through the ministry of foreign affairs in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Ferdinand Nwonye, said such actions by the US and UK were disrespectful to the country’s sovereignty. Nwonye stated ...