African News Today

Garba Shehu: Kukah’s Criticism Of FG Led To Delayed Delivery Of Tucano Jets

26Apr

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Religion, Security, Terrorism, United States of America

Garba Shehu: Kukah’s Criticism Of FG Led To Delayed Delivery Of Tucano Jets

Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, says criticism of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari contributed to delaying the delivery of the Super Tucano fighter jets ordered from the United States. In October 2021, the federal government announced the delivery of 12 A-29 Super Tucano fighter jets expected from the United States. In a statement on Sunday, Shehu said the jets were requested in 2015, but the delivery of the jets was initially delayed over concerns raised by the US on religious issues in Nigeria. The presidential spokesman said the persistent lobbying of the US congress by opponents of the Buhari administration “who had lost the previous election” also exacerbated the situation. According to the him, “religious supporters”, including Matthew ...

DSS Stopped American Lawyer, Others From Visiting Kanu —Counsel

3Sep

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Biafra, Nigeria, Security, United States of America

DSS Stopped American Lawyer, Others From Visiting Kanu —Counsel

Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Lead Counsel for the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has said that the Department of State Services stopped the detainee from seeing his lawyers on Thursday. Ejiofor, in a statement on Friday, said the secret police denied himself and other lawyers including “IPOB’s Attorney in the United States, Bruce Fein”, from meeting with Kanu. He described the denial as a violation of the order of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja which ordered that the DSS should allow the lawyers to visit Kanu twice a week. The lawyer had previously alleged maltreatment by the DSS during the routine visits. See Also: IPOB Members Arrested During Meeting in Ghana Ejiofor’s statement on Friday was titled, ‘Update On Yesterday’s Visit Being 2nd Day Of...

Gov. Abiodun’s Aide, Abidemi Rufai Reportedly Stole $350,000 From US Government

11Aug

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Crime, News, Nigeria

Gov. Abiodun’s Aide, Abidemi Rufai Reportedly Stole $350,000 From US Government

Abidemi Rufai, the suspended Senior Special Assistant to Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, allegedly defrauded Washington State Employment Security Department using 10 different means, a court document has revealed. In the document, Rufai was said to have submitted over 100 claims to the Washington Employment Department, and had also submitted additional claims to the state workforce agencies for other states. The Nigerian reportedly carried out the scheme by using the stolen identities of American workers. “In so doing, Rufai caused and attempted to cause, the Employment Security Department to pay out federal and other unemployment benefits in excess of $350,000, and fraudulently caused other states to pay out additional benefit payments,” part of the document reads. Rufai’...

Mexico vs. Nigeria: Super Eagles Get US Visas

29Jun

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Sports, Youths

Mexico vs. Nigeria: Super Eagles Get US Visas

The home-based Super Eagles have been granted visas by the US embassy for their high-profile friendly match against Mexico this weekend. 23 players from Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) will part in the match at the Los Angeles Coliseum due to the unavailability of Gernot Rohr’s regular side, who are preparing for their respective clubs’ pre-season. The team is expected to depart for the US from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja tomorrow. Three–time African champions Nigeria will clash with the CONCACAF Gold Cup holders on 3rd July in what is part of the Mexican’s MexTour Series. The match, which kicks off at 7.30pm LA time will be the sixth confrontation between the senior teams of both countries, four of which have ended in draws. The only win in the ser...

Gov Abiodun Suspends Aide Arrested in US Over Alleged Fraud

18May

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Crime, Employment, News, Nigeria

Gov Abiodun Suspends Aide Arrested in US Over Alleged Fraud

Ogun Governor Dapo Abiodun has suspended his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Special Duties, Abidemi Rufai, following his arrest in New York by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) over alleged involvement in $350m unemployment benefits fraud in respect of COVID – 19 pandemic. Reacting through his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, Abiodun said the news of his aide’s involvement in fraud is disturbing. He however said the “Governor cannot be held responsible for the actions of a full-grown adult.” According to him: “We received the very disturbing news of the arrest of one of the governor’s political appointees, Mr Abidemi Rufai in New York over alleged unemployment benefits and fraud in the United States, this morning. “While the Governor cannot be held responsible for t...

I Was Surprised Trump Opposed My Candidacy – Okonjo-Iweala

16Feb

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Economy, Finance, Interview, News, Nigeria, Trade, Women Empowerment

I Was Surprised Trump Opposed My Candidacy – Okonjo-Iweala

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria's former Finance Minister, says she was surprised that President Donald Trump's administration could stand in her way of leading the World Trade Organisation (WTO). At a press briefing, the new Director-General of WTO said she did not see it coming. She said she felt she had a good understanding with the US government, which interviewed her about the job twice. "I think I was quite surprised when that came (opposition from Trump) because there was no indication that there was any problem with the US. "I had two good interviews with the authorities and with the administration, so it was a surprise. But that's the way life works. When things happen, you take them in your stride and you move on. "It was wonderful when the Biden/Harris administration b...

Biden Cancels Travel Ban on Nigeria, Eritrea, Sudan, others

21Jan

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Nigeria, United States of America

Biden Cancels Travel Ban on Nigeria, Eritrea, Sudan, others

U.S President Joe Biden on his first day in office issued some executive orders undoing some of former President Donald Trump’s policies. Among the 17 executive orders and presidential actions Biden signed on Wednesday were the order to end travel restrictions and immigration from countries including Nigeria, Eritrea, Yemen, Sudan and others. “There’s no time to waste,” Biden said before signing the executive orders in the White House. “These are just all starting points,” he added. The American Civil Liberties Union, a non-profit civil rights organisation, applauded the move calling the travel policy a “cruel Muslim ban that targeted Africans.” However, the ban was changed, in part due to legal challenges, and included some non majority-Muslim nations. President Biden de...

I’ve Forgiven Americans for Voting Racist Trump —Soyinka

20Jan

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Interview, News, Nigeria

I’ve Forgiven Americans for Voting Racist Trump —Soyinka

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, says he has forgiven Americans for electing former President Donald Trump whom he described as a “racist” and a “xenophobe”. Soyinka said this during an interview with Arise Television on Wednesday. The Nobel Laureate, who had in 2016 torn his American immigrant visa to shreds for voting Trump, said he would not be renewing the green card since he usually visits the United States even without it. The playwright, who displayed pieces of his torn green card, stated that America had redeemed itself with the removal of Trump Soyinka said, “I feel honoured to be associated with the democratic forces of the United States for correcting the unbelievable error that they committed four years ago.” On the green card issue, he said, “I consider mysel...