Britain on Wednesday condemned Iran’s missile attacks on Iraqi bases housing coalition military, and voiced concern over “reports of casualties” from the strikes.
“We condemn this attack on Iraqi military bases hosting Coalition – including British – forces,” said Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.
“We are concerned by reports of casualties and use of ballistic missiles.”
First Lady, Aisha Buhari has finally departed the United Kingdom for Nigeria amid ‘presidential wedding’ rumour.
Wife of the Nigerian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Mrs. Modupe Oguntade, saw her off.
The First Lady gave the information via her verified Twitter handle on Saturday night:
Wife of the Nigerian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Mrs Modupe Oguntade seeing me off. Thank you so much madam pic.twitter.com/nzpQenhq78
— Aisha M. Buhari (@aishambuhari) October 12, 2019
Mrs. Buhari had not been seen in public since she traveled for the Hajj last August.
She was not in the country during the last Eid when the President hosted eminent Nigerians and other citizens in his country home of Daura.
President Muhammadu Buhari was only photographed with his children who had celebrated the Muslim festival with him.
While Aisha was absent from Nigeria’s public scene, the President was rumored to be planning to wed one of his ministers.
As far as Nigerians are aware, the wedding did not happen, though the Presidency did not address the issue.
Throughout Aisha’s absence since August, the Presidency did not tell Nigerians where the First Lady had been.
Her Saturday evening announcement seemed to suggest that she was at least leaving the United Kingdom for Nigeria, though it could not be readily ascertained where the First Lady had been, and for what, precisely.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alh. Lai Mohammed has said that the judgment of the United Kingdom’s Commercial Court saved Nigeria’s assets from being seized by an Irish firm, Process and Industrial Developments (P&ID).
He also said the Federal Government has mandated its lawyers to file an appeal against the court order for a security deposit of $200million to make the stay of execution of the $9.6billion award given to P&ID effective.
He said contrary to the claims of P&ID, the Federal Government had a good outing in the UK Court.
The minister made the clarifications at a briefing in Abuja on the outcome of the proceedings in the UK Commercial Court.
Mohammed said: “Finally, and this is the most important point: For those who may still not understand the gravity of the judgement of the Commercial Court in London last week, let me say this: Had we lost our quest for a stay of execution and application to appeal in London last week, P&ID would by now be attempting to seize our assets all over the world.
“Remember they boasted, before the judgment, that they have started compiling a list of our assets which they will attach. But now, that’s an empty boast, thanks to the successes recorded in the court of law and the court of public opinion last week.”
He said Nigeria did not lose out in the UK Commercial Court.
He added: “Gentlemen, I have gone the extra mile to summarize our week-long activities in London as well as the judgement of the London-based Commercial Court on the arbitration award of 9.6 billion US dollars to P&ID in order to put the record straight and knock the bottom off the argument by P&ID and its cohorts that we did not score a big victory in London last week.
” It was indeed a huge victory, and P&ID has every reason to be worried that the 9.6 billion US dollars arbitration award to it has a good chance of being overturned.”
Details shortly…
…orders FG to deposit $200m within 60 days
A United Kingdom Commercial Court has ordered a stay of execution of the $9.6billion damages secured against Nigeria by Process and Industrial Developments pending the determination of an appeal by the Federal Government.
It however asked the government to make a security payment of $200million to the court within 60 days
The court also granted Nigeria’s leave to file an appeal against the award.
But the court upheld the award and refused to reverse the damages.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) said the battle to quash the award has shifted to the UK Court of Appeal.
He, however, hinted of the possibility of challenging the legality of the $200million security deposit within the 60-day window.
P&ID secured the damages against Nigeria following a failed Gas Supply Project Agreement (GSPA) contract between it and the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
A brief from London by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) said: “Leave to appeal has been granted. Stay of execution is also granted subject to payment of $200m security payment to court pending the determination of the appeal the leave for which has been granted by the commercial court.
“The steps we will consider are to study the ruling and act in a way beneficial to the interest of the nation.
“We will study the court rulings, exercise the right of appeal and consider the legal options available at our disposal as it relates to the payment of $200m in view of the 60 days window stipulated by the court.”
Malami, who admitted that he was pleased with the judgment, said: “I see this as a positive resolution that constitutes an important step in the government‘s efforts to defend Itself in a fair and just process.
“We look forward to challenging the UK Commercial Court’s recognition of the Tribunal’s decision in the UK Court of Appeals, uncovering P&lD’s outrageous approach for what it is: a sham based on fraudulent and criminal activity developed to profit from a developing country.”
The leak of confidential memos from Britain’s ambassador to the U. S. describes President Donald Trump’s administration as “dysfunctional” and “inept” could damage relations, a British minister said on Monday.
The Trade Minister, Liam Fox, who is on a visit to Washington, said he would apologise to the president’s daughter Ivanka Trump, who he is due to meet during his trip.
“I will be apologising for the fact that either our civil service or elements of our political class have not lived up to the expectations that either we have or the U. S. has about their behaviour, which in this particular case has lapsed in a most extraordinary and unacceptable way,’’ he said.
“Malicious leaks of this nature are unprofessional, unethical and unpatriotic and can actually lead to damage to that relationship which can therefore affect our wider security interest,’’ he told BBC radio.
Detectives from the UK are currently in Nigeria to gather more evidence in the probe of Diezani Alison-Madueke, former minister of petroleum resources, who has been standing trial on allegations bordering money laundering.
According to The Nation, the detectives, who met with officials the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), have been in the country for a week in what appeared a final lap of the investigation.
“It is a major case the National Crime Agency (NCA) in the UK has been collaborating with the EFCC to probe,” the newspaper quoted a source as saying.
“A few weeks ago, EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, was also in London to compare notes with similar agencies on this case. You will recall that Magu in November 2018 made it clear that Nigeria was tired of waiting for the trial of Diezani by the UK.
“But after the initial issues between EFCC and UK agencies, there were talks which revealed that those at the London end were making painstaking investigations.
“After Magu’s visit to London, the investigation of Diezani assumed enhanced dimension because some grey areas were cleared.
“The coming of the detectives from London was meant to fill some gaps, get additional evidence and crosscheck a few findings on their part.”
The source added that the mutual assistance in criminal matters bill, 2019, signed into law recently by President Muhammadu Buhari, might help in confiscating Diezani’s assets at home and abroad.
“The new law will certainly assist the EFCC and other security agencies in bringing some of these looters to justice,” the source said, adding that the law will hasten EFCC’s action on Diezani and suspicious assets traced to her.
In November, the EFCC had started a process to extradite the former minister, and the following month, the international police issued an arrest warrant for her following a request by the federal government.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said the British Military Assistant Training Team has assisted the Service in the training of Regiment personnel as well as over 2,000 Special Forces to enhance Force Protection capabilities of the Nigerian Air Force.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, made this know during the NAF Day 2019 Lecture on Saturday in Abuja.
The Lecture is one of the activities lined up by the NAF to celebrate its 55th anniversary.
The air chief noted that the Service has grown in size, spread and equipment holding in a bid to fulfill its statutory obligations of protecting and defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria from the air.
” In the area of force protection, the British Military Assistant Training Team has assisted the Nigerian Air Force in the training of Regiment personnel as well as over 2,000 Special Forces to enhance Force Protection capabilities of the Nigerian Air Force,” he said
Abubakar noted that the service was also doing so much in further developing and improving her capacity for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions.
“This era also had the Nigerian Air Force expanding its reach through establishment of units in many of the troubled areas such as Zurmi Local Government of Zamfara , Nguroje in Taraba , Agatu in Benue among others.
‘’Albeit, these efforts may not yield expected results if proper integration with sister Services; which form the Land and Sea components of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, is not achieved.
The air chief said that the choice theme is apt, relevant and timely ‘’ in view of contemporary challenges the nation is facing.’’
‘’ Our gathering at an intellectual forum like this will go a long way in eliciting cogent resolutions that will pave way for a seamless integration of our operations.
He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his continued show of uncommon commitment to meeting the needs of the Nigerian Air Force.
In his remarks, the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, represented by Mr Peter Ashibe, the Director Air Force, in the ministry of Defence, said the NAF had transformed over the years.
Dan-Ali said “Appraising NAF activities in retrospect while keeping current realities in mind, it gives me great joy to note the speedy rate at which the NAF has metamorphosed into an efficient arm of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.’’
‘’ Its fortunes have steadily improved operationally and administratively to the extent that the Nigerian Air Force of today is progressively building capacity and capabilities to effectively respond to internal security challenges, while efficiently projecting air power in defence of Nigeria’s territorial integrity,’’ he said.
The minister thanked Abubakar for the great strides and numerous successes recorded so far by the NAF.
‘’ The tremendous successes the Service has achieved under your watch, most especially in the enhancement of the welfare of personnel, conduct of air operations, manpower development and overall service delivery are really remarkable,’’ he said.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned President Muhammadu Buhari’s private trip to the United Kingdom, saying it was a wrong move sequel to the worsening security challenges bedevilling the nation.
Speaking during a media briefing on the state of the nation, Secondus said it was condemnable that Buhari travelled to the United Kingdom without notifying the National Assembly and did not allegedly hand over to power to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
He lamented the killing of innocent citizens in Zamfara, Benue, Taraba and many other states of the federation and asked the government to stem the tide.
Secondus also said the presidency was artwisting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to stop the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar’s legal team from inspecting the election materials despite a court order in that regard.
Secondus said it was wrong for INEC to disobey court order, adding that it was part of alleged efforts by the commission and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to frustrate Atiku and stop the PDP from “reclaiming” the presidential mandate.
“Nigerian leaders should speak up for the country before Nigeria slides into something else.
People are being murdered everyday and Buhari is going on private visit.
Nigeria is in crisis. “The President has embarked on a private trip to the UK to spend 11 days without writing the National Assembly. He has not asked the Vice President to act. We condenm it.” “The presidency is also armtwisting INEC. INEC has no reason to stop our legal team from inspecting the election materials. Our politics and governance here is sentimental,” Secondus said.
President Muhammadu Buhari will on Thursday proceed to the UK on a private visit, Mr Femi Adesina, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity has disclosed.
Adesina, in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, however, said the president would pay official visit to Maiduguri from where he would proceed to the UK.
The presidential aide further revealed that President Buhari would return to Nigeria on May 5.
The statement read in part: ”Further to the official visit by President Muhammadu Buhari to Lagos Wednesday where he commissioned a number of projects executed by the State Government, the President is scheduled to depart for Maiduguri, the Borno State capital for another official visit Thursday.
”He is expected to commission developmental projects especially in the sectors of education, healthcare and roads.
”At the end of the visit, President Buhari will be proceeding to the United Kingdom on a private visit. He is expected to return to Nigeria on May 5, 2019.”
President Donald Trump has accepted Queen Elizabeth’s invitation to make a state visit to Britain in June, Buckingham Palace said on Tuesday.
Trump and his wife Melania will make the trip from June 3 to June 5, the palace said, adding that further details would be announced in due course.
Trump will hold a meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May in Downing Street and the trip also coincides with events to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings during World War Two.
“The UK and U.S. have a deep and enduring partnership that is rooted in our common history and shared interests,” May said in a statement.
“The State Visit is an opportunity to strengthen our already close relationship in areas such as trade, investment, security and defense, and to discuss how we can build on these ties in the years ahead.”
The Trumps met the queen for tea at Windsor Castle on their last trip to Britain in July, which was not deemed a state visit.
Similarly, Trump and his wife will travel to France on June 6, where Trump will meet with French President Emmanuel Macron, the White House said in a statement on Tuesday.