TheNewsGuru

Tag: UK

  • Why we can’t provide cost of Buhari’s UK treatment – Emefiele

    The Central Bank of Nigeria and its Governor, Godwin Emefiele, have opposed a suit requesting them to provide financial implications of President Muhammadu Buhari’s treatment in London, United Kingdom.

    Recall that President Muhammadu spent about 103 days in the United Kingdom last year treating an undisclosed ailment.

    However, the CBN and Emefiele argued that it was not within their immediate responsibilities to provide such information on the treatment of the President or on what it cost the country to keep the presidential aircraft and crew for 103 days at the Stansted Airport in the United Kingdom while President Buhari’s medical treatment lasted.

    They stated this in their papers filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja in opposition to the suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/1142/2017.

    The suit was instituted by the Incorporated Trustees of Advocacy for Societal Rights Advancement and Development Initiative led by its Executive Director, Adeolu Oyinlola.

    ASRADI said in the suit that the CBN and its governor refused to honour its Freedom of Information request contained in its letter of October 19, 2017.

    But, in their counter affidavit filed on February 13, 2018, the CBN and its governor urged the court to reject the applicant’s prayers and dismiss the suit.

    They equally urged the court to vacate an earlier ex parte order granting leave to the applicant to apply for “a prerogative order of mandamus” compelling them to provide the information requested.

    They admitted receiving the October 19, 2017 letter from ASRADI, but forwarded it to the President’s Chief of Staff, who they believed was the proper person to provide the information sought by the applicant.

    The CBN and its governor accused the applicant of failing to inform the court that they wrote it, informing the group to resort to the President’s Chief of Staff for the information it sought.

    They stated, “Upon the receipt of the applicant’s application for information, the bank (CBN) transferred the same application to the office of the Chief of Staff to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “The particular information sought by the applicant related to the overseas medical expenses incurred on the President of Nigeria, General Muhammadu Buhari and the aircraft parking fees at the Stansted Airport in the UK.”

    The CBN and its governor added that having transferred the applicant’s request to the President’s Chief of Staff in line with the requirement of the Freedom of Information Act, the request should have been made to the President’s Chief of Staff.

    The plaintiff’s letter had sought information on the amount they released for Buhari’s medical treatment in London and the amount they paid on behalf of the Nigerian government as parking fees for keeping the presidential aircraft and crew in the UK while the President’s treatment lasted.

    In the suit, with the CBN, its governor and the Attorney General of the Federation as respondents, ASRADI sought a declaration that the respondents’ refusal to provide it with information sought through its letter of October 19, 2017 “amounts to a wrongful denial of information and is a flagrant violation of the provisions of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2011.”

    It also sought an order compelling the respondents to furnish it with information sought in the letter of October 19, 2017, and a further order, mandating the CBN and its governor to pay the plaintiff N10m in damages “for the wilful refusal of the 1st and 2nd respondents to release information in respect of the applicant’s letter dated October 19, 2017.”

    In a supporting affidavit, Oyinlola contended that it was within the responsibilities of the CBN and its governor to provide the requested information saying they “are responsible for all foreign currency transactions of the Nigerian government or transactions involving the Federal Government of Nigeria and foreign institutions concerning transfer of money outside the shores of Nigeria.”

    Oyinlola further stated that in the interest of the Nigerian public, the court should grant his group’s prayers to compel the respondents to declare the requested information because ASRADI was daily inundated with demands from the public to investigate the amount of taxpayers’ money spent on treating the President in London and keeping a presidential aircraft there for 103 days.

    Justice John Tsoho has adjourned till April 17 for the hearing of the main suit along with any objection filed by any of the respondents.

  • Yam exporters set to ship another consignment to UK, USA

    Prof. Simon Irtwang, Chairman, Technical Committee on Yam Export, on Tuesday said yam exporters were finalising processes to export another consignment of yam in the first quarter.

    Irtwang told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the consignment would also be for the United Kingdom and United States of America.

    According to him, the committee has been touring major yam markets, especially in the South-West, to inspect the quality of yams there.

    “Not all species of yam are good for export. So, yam farmers and traders need to know the species that are good for export.

    “They also need to know how to select, store and preserve them to increase their freshness and ability to stay long without decaying.

    “We also have to let yam farmers know the seed yams they will plant that will be good for export,’’ he said.

    Irtwang said that the second export would not attract publicity as the flag-off had already been celebrated in 2017.

    He said that the exporters and the technical committee were also mindful of the Export Prohibition Act.

    The chairman said that until the act was repealed the committee and yam exporters would carry out the export quietly.

    He said the committee was in touch with the companies that produced cartons for packaging the yams and the companies that received them abroad.

    Irtwang said that having learnt from the challenges of the first consignment, the committee was hopeful that the second one would achieve 100 per cent success.

    NAN reports that the Federal Government flagged off yam export to the UK and USA in July 2017.

     

  • Space: the next frontier to fight climate change

    The UK Space Agency said on Thursday that it would invest 38 million pounds (52.79 million dollars) to help people cope with climate disasters by using satellites.

    The device will monitor unpredictable weather patterns in Rwanda, deforestation in Colombia, the risk of forest fire in Indonesia, and the impact of severe climate swings on Tanzania, Fiji and Vanuatu.

    “The UK Space Agency’s International Partnership Programme will help developing countries tackle big issues like disaster relief and disease control,” Britain’s science minister Sam Gyimah said in a statement.

    From battling illegal mining in Colombian forests to protecting Mongolian cattle from death by extreme weather, researchers are looking to space to cope with earth’s climate challenges.

    Climate change is causing more frequent and severe flooding, droughts, storms and heatwaves as average global temperatures rise to new records, sea ice melts in the Arctic and sea levels rise.

    Now earth is looking to space for answers.

    In countries like Colombia, forests are under threat from farmers seeking grazing land and criminal gangs cutting down trees for illegal gold mining.

    When forests are degraded or destroyed, the carbon stored in the trees is released into the atmosphere, with deforestation accounting for 10 to 15 percent of carbon emissions worldwide.

    In Mongolia, where about 30 per cent of the population depend on livestock herding, severe winters known as ‘dzuds’ are killing off animals and devastating the economy.

    Camels, goats, horses and cows have been dying in record numbers.

    The UK Space Agency’s 10 projects, which will partner with global satellite companies like Inmarsat and CGI.

    It will join more than 20 existing initiatives that use satellite communication to tackle humanitarian issues that occur during cyclones and other natural disasters.

     

  • UK probes €15 million undeclared property linked to Saraki

    Transparency International UK has listed two London houses suspected to be owned by Nigeria’s Senate President, Bukola Saraki for investigation under Britain’s new law, Unexplained Wealth Orders, which became effective from January 31.

    According to TI, Land Registry documents show that the houses at 7 and 8 Whittaker Street, Belgravia, London are owned by Landfield International Developments Limited and Renocon Property Development Limited.

    Based on current market estimates by Zoopla, the properties are worth a combined total of around £15 million.

    According to data released by Premium Times as part of the Panama Papers revelations, these companies were controlled by Toyin Saraki, the wife of the President of the Nigerian Senate, Bukola Saraki, as well as one of his personal aides.

    At the time of these revelations, none of these offshore holdings were reported in Mr. Saraki’s official asset declarations.

    Previous public disclosures by Saraki have indicated he has high levels of unexplained wealth, Transparency International said.

    In 2003, his asset declaration showed he had amassed tens of millions of pounds worth of assets during his time as director of Société Générale Bank and Special Assistant to the President on Budget.

    The explanation he provided for these acquisitions was stated simply as “business”.

    Mr. Saraki is involved in an ongoing court case around allegations of false asset declarations from his tenure as Governor of Kwara state.

    Other assets listed for probe by Transparency International include a £18m property at Kenwood Gate, Hampstead, owned by the First Family of Azerbaijan, Flats 138A and 138B at 4 Whitehall Court, London, linked with Igor Shuvalov, Russian First Deputy Prime Minister. The flats are valued at £11.4million.

    There are also a £1m property in Guildford linked with Ahmed Mahmoud Azwai, former Libyan Major General and two apartments at Park Lane, said to be owned by former Pakistani prime minister, Nawaz Sharif.

    Unexplained Wealth Orders (UWOs) are a new investigative power designed to help law enforcement act on corrupt assets.

    The Orders, Transparency said, are particularly useful where there is no realistic prospect of cooperation or conviction in the country of origin, but there are sufficient grounds for suspicion that an asset has been acquired with the proceeds of corruption.

    After an application from an enforcement authority[1], a high court judge can give notice of a UWO only if she is satisfied that the respondent is likely to be the owner of suspicious wealth beyond his means, and if all of the following tests are met:

    * The respondent is a Politically Exposed Person[2] (PEP) outside of the EEA; or there are reasonable grounds to suspect that the respondent is or has been involved in serious crime

    *The respondent’s known income is insufficient to obtain the asset

    *The value of the asset is greater than £50,000

    The UWO requires the respondent to explain how he lawfully acquired his assets. If he fails to respond or gives an inadequate response then this extra information can be used in a separate civil recovery process (an existing measure under the Proceeds of Crime Act) if law enforcement has gathered sufficient evidence.

    The U.K. estimates that around £90 billion ($127 billion, 102 billion euros) of illegal funds are laundered through Britain every year and this includes money stolen from the Nigerian treasury.

    Now officials will use the new Unexplained Wealth Orders (UWOs), which came into effect this week, to seize suspicious assets and hold them until they have been properly accounted for, Ben Wallace, Security and Economic Crime Minister told The Times newspaper on Saturday.

     

  • Nigerians in UK protest herdsmen killings [Photos]

    Nigerians living in the United Kingdom on Monday protested against the incessant killings of innocent Nigerians by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria. The protest, at Trafalgar Square, London, was convened by Mutual Union of Tivs in the United Kingdom (MUTUK) and was supported by members of the Nigerian community in the United Kingdom.

    The protesters while chanting, ” Buhari, no more killing,” expressed disappointment on the silence of the Nigerian government. They were seen holding placards with inscriptions like “Nigerian Government stop your silence on Fulani herdsmen’ ‘Blood ‘Nigeria life matters,’ ‘Stop killing Nigerians, Enough is Enough’ among others.

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  • Money laundering: UK Court sentences Ontario Oil boss, Wagbatsoma to three years imprisonment

    A court in the United Kingdom has sentenced Chairman of Ontario Oil & Gas Limited, Mr Walter Wagbatsona, to three and half years in prison.

    Wagbatsoma, 47 was also disqualified from being a company director for six years.

    It was learnt that some fraudulently obtained funds in the UK were laundered through an account in Dubai, UAE under the control of a co-conspirator Oluwatoyin Allison, a UK national who was convicted in his absence at an earlier trial in April 2017 and sentenced to seven years imprisonment.

    The funds were then transferred to Wagbatsoma’s account in the UK.

    According to Lincolnshire Police, following a trial at Leicester Crown Court a thirteenth defendant has been convicted of conspiracy to launder money in an international fraud and money laundering investigation.

    This investigation was conducted by Lincolnshire Police Economic Crime Unit under ‘Operation Tarlac’, in which public bodies including hospital trusts, housing associations and councils around the UK were defrauded of over £12million.

    Wagbatsoma was originally detained on a European Arrest Warrant in June 2016 whilst travelling through Germany.

    He was extradited soon afterwards and charged with conspiring with others to launder the proceeds of fraud through his business interests in the UK.

    This is the third criminal trial for this operation and follows the successful conviction of 12 other defendants in the investigation which began with a complaint of fraud from Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust in September 2011, in which £1.28m was fraudulently obtained by the gang.

    Subsequently, a further 20 linked offences was identified resulting in losses of £12.6m.

    After a four-year investigation, those convicted have received prison sentences in excess of 50-years and proceedings are underway to recover the gains of the conspiracy under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

    This is to make sure that victims can in some way be recompensed for what the Judge described as a “sophisticated and widespread fraud in its conception and execution.”

    Deputy Chief Constable Craig Naylor said: “For a small force, this investigation shows that officers in our Economic Crime department have shown real endeavour and determination in investigating what is a huge money laundering and fraud offence.

    “Operation Tarlac has now seen thirteen individuals given lengthy prison sentences for their part in an international offence, which has had a national impact on public bodies in the UK. As a force, we have achieved a significant impact against organised crime in this investigation and this shows the hard work by our officers.

    “Proceedings are now underway to recover a large amount of money, and I want to personally thank partners for their support and co-operation with us in this investigation and congratulate my officers and staff on a job well done.”

    On January 26, 2017, a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja had sentenced the exiled oil mogul and his staff Adaoha Ugo-Nnadi to 10 years in prison for fuel subsidy fraud.

    Justice Lateefat Okunnu, who said the sentence would start to count from January 13, 2016, also ordered restitution for Ontario Oil and Gas, and asked the company to refund N754 million being the amount it defrauded the Nigerian government.

    While Wagbatsoma was sentenced in absentia as he was under house arrest in the United Kingdom at the time, Ms. Ugo-Nnadi was present.

     

  • Trump cancels UK visit, says will not unveil new U.S. embassy

    U.S. President Donald Trump canceled a visit to London scheduled for early this year, saying he was disappointed with the “Obama administration having sold” the U.S. embassy in the British capital.

    “(The) reason I canceled my trip to London is that I am not a big fan of the Obama Administration having sold perhaps the best located and finest embassy in London for “peanuts,” only to build a new one in an off location for 1.2 billion dollars,” Trump said in a tweet late on Thursday.

    However, the embassy website showed that the decision to move the location was taken months before Barack Obama took office in January 2009.

    The U.S. Embassy & Consulates in the UK said in October 2008 the embassy would be relocated for security reasons.

    “Bad deal. Wanted me to cut ribbon-NO!,” Trump said on Twitter.

    The Daily Mail earlier reported the cancellation of Trump’s UK visit in which he was expected to inaugurate the new embassy.

    The U.S. is leaving behind an imposing 1960 stone and concrete embassy in London’s upmarket Grosvenor Square, an area known as ‘Little America’ during World War Two, when the square also housed the military headquarters of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower.

    The new embassy on the South Bank is a veritable fortress set back at least 100 feet (30 meters) from surrounding buildings, mostly newly-erected high-rise residential blocks, and incorporating living quarters for the U.S. Marines permanently stationed inside.

    The one billion-dollar-edifice, overlooking the River Thames, was wholly funded by the sale of other properties in London.

     

  • Yuletide: US, UK warn citizens, insists Boko Haram may bomb Abuja, 12 northern states

    The United States and the United Kingdom have issued stern warnings to its citizens in Nigeria, especially those resident in the North and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja to avoid crowded places as dangerous insurgent group, Boko Haram may carry out its bomb threats during the yuletide.

    The two missions in their security advice cautioned their citizens against all but essential travels to Bauchi, Zamfara, Kano; Kaduna; Jigawa; Katsina, Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, and Yobe states during the Yuletide.

    The two countries stated that the risk of terrorist attacks was still high in the run-up to and throughout the Christmas and New Year holiday period.

    “Terrorist groups have threatened to conduct bombings and attacks in the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) area during this period. You should avoid places where crowds gather, including religious gatherings and places of worship, markets, shopping malls, hotels, bars, restaurants, transport hubs and camps for displaced people,” the UK mission said in the updated travel advisory on its website.

    The same security warning was also echoed by the US mission, which asked Americans to review their personal security plans and avoid the states listed in the travel advisory.

    The two countries had issued the security advice ahead of the December 1 Id el Maulud holiday, which passed without any eventualities. This had made some members of the public assume that the threat was over.

    However, the US Embassy Information Officer, Russell Brooks, said the warning would stand till the end of the year, adding that it was not limited to the last public holiday in the country.

    The embassy had issued a warning thus: “The US Mission remains concerned about potential attacks in the states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, and Yobe; travellers are urged to avoid those states through the end of the year.”

    “If you construed the warning as referring to last Friday’s holiday (December 1), you are mistaken,” Brooks stated.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the police had also on Friday said the plot by Boko Haram to bomb Abuja and other states was real. The FCT Commissioner of Police, Sadiq Bello, however, said the police would work with other security agencies to make sure that the threat was not actualised.

    It was gathered that the police had deployed undercover operatives in strategic locations in the FCT to foil any terrorist plot.

    Security sources stated that agencies were also stepping up intelligence gathering and surveillance of dark spots which suspected Boko Haram members might infiltrate to carry out their dastardly act.

    The police, however, warned Nigerians to avoid extravagance and any act capable of exposing them to unnecessary attacks during and after the festive season.

  • Yuletide: Terrorists may bomb Abuja, other parts of Nigeria where crowds gather – UK, US warn

    British and the United States governments have warned their citizens of terrorist groups’ threat to carry out bomb attacks in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, during the Yuletide.

    In its latest foreign travel advice to British nationals, the country’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office stated that it would raise the terrorism threat alert in Nigeria during the festive periods.

    Around 117,000 British citizens visit Nigeria each year, according to the FCO.

    The US government warned its citizens not to travel to Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa and Yobe till the end of the year.

    “The risk of terrorist attack increases around religious festivals; so (the threat alert) will be elevated in the run-up to and throughout the Christmas and New Year holiday period. Terrorist groups have threatened to conduct bombings and attacks in the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) area during this period.

    “You (British nationals) should avoid places where crowds gather, including religious gatherings and places of worship, markets, shopping malls, hotels, bars, restaurants, transport hubs and camps for displaced people,” the United Kingdom said in a statement posted on the FCO website.

    Last week, the United States Embassy in Nigeria issued a similar warning titled, ‘Security Message for U.S. Citizens: Holiday Security Reminder’.

    “The US Mission urges all US citizens to exercise caution in and around shopping centres, malls, markets, hotels, places of worship, restaurants, bars, and other places where crowds gather in and around the Federal Capital Territory, from now through the Christmas and New Year’s holiday season. Terrorist groups have threatened to conduct bombings and attacks in this area during this period.

    “The US Mission remains concerned about potential attacks in the states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa and Yobe. Travellers are urged to avoid those states through the end of the year.

    “Review your personal security plans, remain aware of your surroundings, including local events, and monitor local news stations for updates. Be vigilant and take appropriate steps to enhance your personal security,” the US Embassy warned.

  • Over 1549 Nigerians deported from Libya, UK, South Africa, others – Official

    Over 1549 Nigerians deported from Libya, UK, South Africa, others – Official

    A development economist and former staff of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Lucy George, has advised Nigerians to remain in Nigeria and contribute to its national and economic development

    George gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday.

    She said Nigerians should pay attention to the overwhelming number of Nigerians that had been deported from various countries while escaping the poor economic level of development in Nigeria.

    “We as Nigerians have a problem that should be tackled and that is the development of Nigeria.

    “We can’t sit down and expect the Federal Government to do everything because developing a country requires the people in it to be productive strengthening the private sector.

    “All the developed countries in the world are dominated by the private sector which creates massive employment opportunities and eliminates poverty,” she said..

    George said that she was surprised that a large number of Nigerians had been sent back, especially from Libya.

    “We have had an overwhelming number of Nigerians deported or voluntarily returned this year which is embarrassing.

    “The largest number of Nigerian deportees for this year comes from Cameroon which deported about 100,000 Nigerians who escaped the Boko Haram disasters and sought refuge in Cameroon.

    “That was seen to be an illegal deportation which still is being denied by some Cameroonian officials however, we are not including that in the embarrassing statistics.

    “I am surprised by the number of Nigerians that have been deported and have volunteered to return to Nigeria from Libya just this week as 161 people arrived on Thursday and 257 people did same on Tuesday.

    “There were also 164 people deported in May, 171 in March and another 171 in February.

    “In February and May, South Africa had deported 97 and 90 Nigerians respectively in midst of the xenophobic attacks.

    “We saw it to be a discriminatory at first but later realised they actually did commit immigration related offences causing them to be deported by the South African authorities,” she said.

    She added that Nigerians should remain in the country to develop it so that they won’t lose out when Nigeria becomes better.

    “If everyone is leaving the county for greener pastures, who is expected to remain in Nigeria to develop it; anyone who doesn’t grow in the system will lose out when the country becomes better.

    “Imagine a scenario where a young man graduates from the university then leaves Nigeria in search of greener pastures but after arriving, fails to succeed in the new land.

    “He realises that things are not as fabulous as portrayed in movies as these countries have tougher systems, especially because he doesn’t meet the requirements for career jobs in their country.

    “He spends time being too embarrassed and broke to return to Nigeria but finally gets deported after many years.

    “In that time, he has lost the opportunity to put his education to practice, develop productive skills and has lost contact with friends who would have helped him develop himself or place him in a prominent position.

    “Nigerians should learn to be hardworking and patient to see their hard work reap its benefits because riches don’t come overnight.

    “The countries they are running to didn’t develop overnight so you can’t expect to comfortably reap what you didn’t sew thinking the roads are paved with gold.

    “In summary, I will emphasise on the fact that there is no place like home so I hope Nigerians learn from these numerous Nigerians that have been brought back home.

    NAN reports that there has been a minimum of 1549 Nigerians sent back to Nigeria with exemption of the controversial 100,000 sent from Cameroon.

    Figures show there was a minimum of 23 Nigerians deported from Spain,187 from South Africa, 924 from Libya, 110 from Italy, 41 from the U.S, 146 from the UK and 118 from six other European countries.

    The countries include Austria, Germany, Hungry, Switzerland, Norway and Denmark.

     

    NAN