Foreign
FG seeks stronger US ties amid Trump’s deportation threats
The message was conveyed in a statement issued by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, on Tuesday.
Nigeria stressed the strong and historic ties between the two nations, highlighting their shared cooperation in areas such as the promotion of good governance, sustainable development, and the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
The statement expressed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening its strategic partnership with the United States under President Trump’s leadership, to advance the interests and well-being of both nations’ citizens.
The Federal Government said Nigeria looked forward to continued collaboration with the US in addressing global challenges and fostering mutual growth.
The statement read, “Nigeria and the United States of America have enjoyed cooperation in diverse areas of mutual interest, especially in the promotion of good governance, sustainable development, and the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
“Nigeria, therefore, looks forward to further strengthening our historic, strong, and vibrant strategic partnership for the benefit of all our people.”
Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Monday during a historic inauguration ceremony held inside the Capitol Rotunda due to inclement weather.
Meanwhile, Nigerians in the United States were on Tuesday reassured that large-scale deportation efforts are unlikely to materialise, even as immigration policies are expected to become stricter.
Fears of mass deportations under Donald Trump’s administration may be overblown, according to experts who cite constitutional and logistical challenges as significant barriers.
During his speech, Trump touched on issues including immigration, border control, economic reforms, and energy policies.
Among the first executive orders signed by Trump was an attempt to end birthright citizenship, a right enshrined in the US Constitution and upheld by the Supreme Court for over 125 years.
Trump also declared a national emergency at the southern border, announcing measures to combat illegal immigration and pledging to halt all illegal entry.
However, the Chairman Emeritus of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Americas and Director of the African Diaspora Congress, Obed Monago, who spoke to our correspondent reassured Nigerians in the US that fears of mass deportations under the Trump administration are unfounded.
According to Monago, the US Constitution does not allow mass deportations through executive orders, as such measures typically require Congressional approval.
He stressed the significant resources needed for such an initiative, resources that have not been allocated. Additionally, opposition from many border towns and counties further complicates the feasibility of implementing mass deportations.
Monago believes the Trump administration’s deportation threats are likely to remain unfulfilled campaign promises, though he acknowledges that US immigration policies are likely to become stricter.
“I don’t envision deportations of that magnitude to take place, so, the level of fear and anxiety should be minimal.
“For one, the constitution of the United States does not empower such actions through executive orders, but usually, through the act of the congress. So, expect some checks and balances.
“The deportation at the magnitude he is talking about can only be taken at the face value, because it is not feasible, given the amount of resources it will require. Such resources have not been appropriated for.
“The Trump administration will also need the cooperation of border towns and counties, some of which have out-rightly and openly kicked against such massive deportation initiatives.
“So, in the final analysis, Trump’s deportation threat can only be taken simply as an unfilled campaign promise. But, do not discount the fact that immigration policies of the United States will change,” he explained.
With the Republican Party in control of both the legislative and executive branches, more drastic measures are anticipated.
However, Monago argued that deporting millions of people is unrealistic. He noted that individuals with criminal records are the most likely to face heightened scrutiny under any new policies.
Also, a Nigerian technocrat living in Minnesota, Chief Azuka Aghenu, raised concerns about how specific policies could impact Nigerians, particularly undocumented immigrants and those holding visitor or business visas.
Aghenu advised Nigerians to avoid applying for employment illegally, engaging in unlawful activities, or driving under the influence, as these actions could attract the attention of immigration authorities.
He also warned that Nigerians traveling to the US to give birth for the purpose of securing citizenship for their children may face stricter enforcement under the administration’s policies.
“Two policies of Trump would affect Nigerians; those Nigerians without proper documentation residing in the US and those with visitors or business visas.
“If Nigerians in the US have immigration issues, they must not apply for employment, get drunk, or drive around.
“Those Nigerians that have plans of coming to the US to give birth to their children all in the name of citizenship, the policy would affect them,” he stated.
Additionally, Aghenu highlighted another area of concern: rising medication costs under new executive actions.
“One of executive actions that will affect Nigerian living in the USA will be on medication drug cost for those on Medicare and Medicaid, the lowered prices for drug cost will go up exponentially,” he noted.
A Nigerian resident in the US, who spoke on condition of anonymity, raised concerns about how specific policies could impact Nigerians, particularly undocumented immigrants and those holding visitor or business visas.
The source also warned that Nigerians travelling to the US to give birth to secure citizenship for their children may face stricter enforcement under the administration’s policies.
“Two policies of Trump would affect Nigerians; those Nigerians without proper documentation residing in the US and those with visitors or business visas.
“If Nigerians in the US have immigration issues, they must not apply for employment, get drunk, or drive around.
“Those Nigerians that have plans of coming to the US to give birth to their children all in the name of citizenship, the policy would affect them,” the source stated.
Additionally, the source highlighted another area of concern: rising medication costs under new executive actions.
“One of the executive actions that will affect Nigerian living in the USA will be on medication drug cost for those on Medicare and Medicaid, the lowered prices for drug cost will go up exponentially,” he noted.
Furthermore, a retired ambassador, Rasheed Akinkuolie, advised Nigerians abroad to have a clear plan for their future, particularly for retirement and urged them to invest prudently in Nigeria.
Akinkuolie emphasised the importance of building a sustainable life in their home country and adhering to cultural values in relationships.
“Nigerians leaving the country should think twice and weigh the options and opportunities available to them in Nigeria. There are good opportunities in Nigeria, for those who can dare and endure.
“The Nigerians living abroad should have a plan for the future, especially plan for old age when they can no longer work. They will not like to face the indignity of ending up in old people’s homes.
“The trend is that many people, especially the elderly are returning home to settle down.
“The younger people working abroad should be prudent with their earnings, invest wisely in Nigeria and avoid being defrauded. Nigerian couples should follow the excellent examples of Indians, who do not resort to extreme violence in settling their differences. There should be adherence to African culture and traditions in relationships,” he stated.
Also, a research professor at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Prof. Femi Otubanjo said Donald Trump’s threat of mass deportation was due to the perception among some white Americans of being under siege due to immigration.
According to Otubanjo, the growing influx of non-white immigrants is perceived as one that could alter America’s political balance, which has fueled Trump’s rhetoric and policies.
In an interview with The PUNCH, Otubanjo described Trump as a “racist” and an “extreme rightist” who aligns with the interests of Christian nationalists and far-right groups.
Otubanjo noted that Trump’s stance on immigration is rooted in a broader fear among white Americans of losing political and cultural dominance.
“He (Trump) believes America has decayed because of the inclusion of foreigners. This ties into fears that immigrants might shift the political balance in favour of non-whites,” Otubanjo said.
He explained that Trump’s administration targeted individuals with incomplete or inaccurate immigration documents, leading to a higher risk of deportation.
“Many people who overstayed their visitor visas or converted them into long-term stays are at greater risk. The policy also aims to eliminate automatic citizenship for children born in America to non-citizens,” he added.
Democrat states sue Trump
Meanwhile, Democrat-led states and civil rights groups on Tuesday filed lawsuits challenging Trump’s executive order that seeks to end birthright citizenship in the United States.
The order, issued shortly after Trump took office, denies US citizenship to children born in the country to mothers who are undocumented or temporary visa holders, and whose fathers are not citizens or lawful permanent residents.
A coalition of 18 states, along with the District of Columbia and the city of San Francisco, filed a lawsuit in federal court in Boston, arguing that the order violates the 14th Amendment’s Citizenship Clause.
This clause affirms that anyone born in the United States is a citizen.
“State attorneys general have been preparing for illegal actions like this one, and today’s immediate lawsuit sends a clear message to the Trump administration that we will stand up for our residents and their basic constitutional rights,” New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a statement, as reported by Reuters.
The lawsuits reference the US Supreme Court’s 1898 decision in United States v. Wong Kim Ark, which established that children born in the United States to non-citizen parents are entitled to citizenship.
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell criticized the order, stating it could strip citizenship from more than 150,000 children born in the US each year.
“President Trump does not have the authority to take away constitutional rights,” she said in a statement.
Among the plaintiffs is a Massachusetts woman with temporary protected status who is due to give birth in March.
Additional lawsuits were filed in New Hampshire, with cases likely to be reviewed by the 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals. This court, based in Boston, is notable for having judges appointed exclusively by Democratic presidents.
In addition to the birthright citizenship order, other lawsuits have been filed against Trump’s executive actions, including one that eases the firing of federal employees and another challenging the Elon Musk-led “Department of Government Efficiency.”
The White House has not commented on the lawsuits.
Four Nigerians have been sentenced to a combined 17 years and nine months in prison by a United Kingdom court for their roles in a fraudulent scheme involving thousands of fake Nigerian marriage documents used to facilitate illegal immigration.
The four were sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court after being found to have participated in a network that allegedly produced more than 2,000 forged Nigerian customary marriage certificates between 2019 and 2023.
The fake documents were reportedly used to support applications under the UK’s EU Settlement Scheme, enabling people who were otherwise ineligible to obtain immigration status in the country.
The convicts were identified as Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, 41; Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo, 38; Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi, 31; and Adekunle Kabir, 54.
Onifade was sentenced to six years in prison for conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry and fraud, while Shodipo received five years for the same offences.
Gbadamosi was sentenced to six years after being convicted of obtaining leave to remain by deception.
Kabir received a nine-month prison sentence for possession of a false identity document.
The case highlights the serious criminal and immigration consequences of using forged documents to obtain UK immigration status.
Investigators have recovered the flight recorders from an Amazon cargo plane that crashed while attempting to land at Miami International Airport, as authorities continue efforts to recover victims and determine what caused the deadly incident.
Five people were killed and five others seriously injured when the Boeing 767-300, operated by 21 Air, overran the runway shortly before 2pm local time on Sunday.
The aircraft, which had two crew members aboard, was arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico, on its third flight of the day when it crashed.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the plane struck airport navigational equipment before breaking through a perimeter fence and hitting two vehicles—a white Ford cleaning van carrying seven people and a Toyota Corolla with three occupants.
The aircraft eventually came to rest about 1,300 feet (394 metres) beyond the runway.
NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said investigators were still in the fact-finding stage and warned against drawing conclusions about the cause of the crash.
She described the scene as “devastating” and said the immediate priority was recovering the victims.
“The investigation and access to the aircraft, as well as evidence, can wait,” Homendy said.
The flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder have been recovered and will be transported to NTSB headquarters for detailed analysis.
Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft’s flight history, the crew’s experience and training, radar information, aircraft performance, mechanical systems and engines.
A meteorologist will also assess weather conditions at the time of the crash.
Earlier analysis by BBC Verify indicated that an active thunderstorm was near the airport shortly before the incident, with winds reportedly gusting to about 26 knots (48km/h).
The NTSB will also investigate whether the runway should have been equipped with an Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS), which is designed to help stop aircraft that overrun runways.
Homendy described the issue as a key part of the investigation.
The NTSB has appealed to members of the public who may have photographs or videos of the crash to submit them to investigators.
The agency said it would issue safety recommendations at the conclusion of the investigation, with Homendy stressing the need to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Meanwhile, two of Miami International Airport’s four runways remained closed following the crash, with passengers warned to expect further disruption.
The incident occurred during the US Labor Day holiday weekend, one of the country’s busiest travel periods, resulting in flight cancellations and disruption to aircraft and crew movements.
Amazon expressed grief over the loss of lives and said it was working closely with authorities.
21 Air, the company operating the aircraft, also expressed condolences to the victims and their families and said it was cooperating fully with the investigation.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing.
A 68-year-old British woman, Dawn Ottewell, has claimed that her 31-year-old Nigerian husband, Bright Emokpae, disappeared from their home months after moving to the United Kingdom on a spouse visa.
Ottewell, from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, told The Sun UK that she met Emokpae, an Edo State native, on dating platforms Tinder and Plenty of Fish in 2021 while she was experiencing loneliness and depression.
According to her account, Emokpae initially introduced himself as “Brian Thomas” before later revealing that he was a fashion student from Benin City.
The relationship reportedly developed through regular video calls, after which Ottewell travelled to northern Cyprus, where Emokpae was studying on a student visa.
The couple married at a registry office in Nicosia on March 22, 2022, with two Turkish friends acting as their best man and maid of honour.
Following the wedding, Emokpae returned to Nigeria to process his UK spouse visa. About a year later, after the visa was granted, Ottewell travelled to Heathrow Airport to welcome him to Britain.
However, Ottewell said their relationship deteriorated after his arrival in the UK.
She alleged that Emokpae became increasingly distant, regularly asked her for money and refused to contribute to household expenses, while allegedly sending money to Nigeria.
Her 72-year-old brother, Rory, reportedly helped Emokpae secure a job with a local door manufacturing company.
The couple separated briefly in October 2023 but later reconciled, about six months after the separation. Ottewell said the reconciliation occurred after she received a £63,000 settlement following what she described as a botched NHS prolapse operation.
She now says she regrets taking him back.
Ottewell recalled that shortly before Christmas 2024, she went on a £2,000 Caribbean cruise with her brother. When she returned home, she allegedly discovered that Emokpae had left.
She said he has not returned since and has blocked her on social media, leaving her unable to contact him.
Ottewell believes her estranged husband may now be living in Scotland, where she suspects he runs an online clothing business.
“He’s done a runner and is refusing to sign the divorce papers because I believe he wants to cling on to his spouse visa,” she said.
The woman also expressed concern about what could happen to her estate if she dies before their marriage is legally dissolved.
“My biggest fear is that I’ll die before this is sorted out and he’ll run off with the money my three children should inherit,” she said.
Ottewell said she does not currently have a will and fears Emokpae could potentially make claims against some of her assets, including jewellery, cash and furniture.
She is now seeking assistance from Citizens Advice to help locate her estranged husband and serve him with divorce papers.
“I feel I’m being used,” Ottewell said.
She also advised people to exercise caution when entering relationships that involve international partners, saying she believed her husband had married her primarily to obtain a UK visa.
However, her claims about Emokpae’s motives have not been independently established.
A UK-based Nigerian taxi driver, Kolawole Erunkulu, 45, has been sentenced to six years in prison after falling asleep at the wheel and fatally hitting a 59-year-old man.
Erunkulu, from Bexleyheath, was driving an Audi on August 17, 2025, when he suffered a “microsleep”, causing the vehicle to leave the road and collide with Philip Dray, who had stopped in a lay-by.
Dray was getting into his Volkswagen after taking a break from driving when he was struck.
According to reports, Erunkulu had worked for about 12 hours on the day of the crash, taking only short breaks. In the three days before the fatal collision, he had driven for 53 hours, with his longest rest period being seven hours.
Footage from inside his vehicle showed Erunkulu falling asleep briefly before the Audi swerved off the road and hit Dray. The vehicle continued moving for about 10 seconds after the collision.
A microsleep is a brief episode of sleep that can last only a few seconds, during which the brain fails to properly process information.
Erunkulu pleaded guilty in June 2026 to causing death by dangerous driving.
He was sentenced to six years in prison and disqualified from driving for eight years. He will also be required to pass an extended driving test if he seeks to regain his licence.
Sentencing him, Her Honour Judge Lees said the footage demonstrated that Erunkulu was extremely tired and should have known that he was not fit to drive.
“The footage shows the defendant was extremely tired and, in my view, has continued to drive when he must have known that. He was driving commercially,” the judge said.
She added that the incident could have been prevented if Erunkulu had stopped driving and slept.
Acting Detective Inspector Rob Baldwin of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit said the case highlighted the potentially devastating consequences of driving while fatigued.
He said Erunkulu had worked long hours with insufficient rest, resulting in a “sleep debt”.
“Fatigue can seriously impair a driver’s ability to remain alert and react safely, particularly during the early hours of the morning when the natural drive to sleep is at its strongest,” Baldwin said.
He urged motorists who feel tired not to continue driving.
Dray’s family described him as “an amazing partner and man” who was dependable, caring and respectful.
His sister said Philip was a quiet man who cared deeply about others and had spent his life as a careful and conscientious driver.
“The fact that he, someone who worked every day to keep others safe, had his life taken in such a way makes this loss even more incomprehensible and tragic,” she said.
Dray’s partner described him as “a sweet, gentle, and caring man” and her “soulmate”.
She said his death had left an “enormous emotional and physical void” in her life.
“He would ring me several times a day whenever he was waiting for a client or at lunch, just to see how my day was going. I miss those calls very much,” she said.
Foreign
UK: 11 Drug Couriers Convicted Over £13.8m Cannabis Smuggling Plot Through Birmingham Airport
Eleven drug couriers have been convicted for their roles in a plot to smuggle cannabis worth an estimated £13.8 million into the United Kingdom through Birmingham Airport.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) investigated the group after Border Force officers arrested them in August 2024 and seized 460kg of cannabis concealed in 22 suitcases.
According to an NCA statement published on Wednesday, the couriers had travelled to the UK from Thailand via Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport on the same flights.
The convicted couriers were identified as Carsten Kyei, 21, from Newham, East London; Bradley Lloyd, 27, and Claire McCullough, 36, both from Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester; Lewis Ross, 35, from Bolton, Lancashire; Nathan Vitorino, 26, from Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire; Ryan Boachie, 32, from Edmonton, North London; Gideon Oluwasetemi Olumoyegun, 26, from Dagenham; Tasia Nelson, 22, from Newquay, Cornwall; Jaden Ramen, 23, from Colliers Wood, South London; Paige Crisp, 24, from Broomhall, Worcester; and Jamal Clarke, 22, from Walthamstow, London.
Birmingham Crown Court heard that each courier had two suitcases, with each suitcase containing about 20kg of cannabis.
The suitcases were reportedly so heavy that the couriers had to pay excess baggage charges at Bangkok Airport to have them placed in the aircraft hold.
The cannabis had been vacuum-packed and concealed beneath a thin layer of clothing. Eight of the suitcases also contained Apple AirTag trackers, which NCA investigators established were connected to the same Apple ID account.
Suspicion was raised after Border Force established that four passengers had travelled from Birmingham to Charles de Gaulle Airport earlier on August 9, 2024, each carrying two large suitcases.
Border Force officers subsequently fully staffed the Nothing to Declare channel and intercepted the group.
One of the couriers had also been instructed by an associate: “my man gonna be on the other side – don’t leave the airport until you see him leave.”
Kyei and Vitorino were convicted on May 26, 2026, following a three-week trial, while Ross and Lloyd changed their pleas to guilty during the trial.
Crisp, Nelson and Ramen were convicted on Wednesday, August 19, following a four-week trial.
McCullough, Boachie, Olumoyegun and Clarke had previously pleaded guilty.
Those convicted on August 19 will be sentenced on October 22, while the others will be sentenced on September 3.
NCA Senior Investigating Officer Paul Boniface said the operation involved extensive planning.
“A huge amount of planning went into this sophisticated attempt to bring hundreds of kilos of cannabis into the UK,” Boniface said.
He said the coordination of flights and luggage demonstrated “the lengths criminals will go to in order to hide their offending.”
“With thanks to Border Force, we were able confiscate these drugs and stop criminals from benefitting financially from the damage they cause,” he added.
Boniface warned people against agreeing to smuggle drugs into the UK, saying anyone who attempted to do so would face justice.
Adam Chatfield, Head of Border Force Midlands Command, said the convictions should serve as a warning to anyone considering transporting cannabis into the UK.
He said the young people involved now faced serious consequences, including criminal records that could affect their employment opportunities and future prospects.
Victoria Norman of the Crown Prosecution Service said prosecutors and investigators had pieced together evidence of a coordinated attempt to smuggle large quantities of drugs into the country.
She said the evidence resulted in six members of the group pleading guilty, while the others were convicted following trial.
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