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ASUU to EFCC, ICPC:  Make public fraud investigation reports on UNILORIN.

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THE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ibadan Zone has raised an alert over alleged attempt by the University of Ilorin management to sack the chairman and secretary of the branch for whistle-blowing on corruption in the university.

It asked EFCC and ICPC to make public results of their investigations on the whistle blowing of the union against the University of Ilorin.

The union further called on the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu as well as the Chairman Governing Council to call the University management to order before plunging the university to another legal crisis.

It urged the Acting President to ensure that the University of Ilorin is not treated to be above the law by the Buhari-led government.

This was contained in a press statement issued in Ibadan after the Zonal meeting of the Union signed by the Zonal Chairman, Dr Ade Adejumo and Dr Deji Omole, Chairman University of Ibadan Chapter.

They noted that it was shocking the federal government seems to choose to prosecute only whistle blowing adding that the anti-corruption can be seen to be selective in prosecution if only those perceived enemies of the government are prosecuted after whistle blowing.

The duo of UNILORIN ASUU chairman and Secretary, Dr Kayode Afolayan and Dr Solomon Oyelekan respectively had been suspended for four months for signing a document on behalf of ASUU and presenting same at the EFCC and ICPC on alleged corruption and fraud being perpetrated.

“The University of Ilorin Administration is bent on terminating the appointment of Union officials critical of its corruption, lawlessness, dictatorialness and disregard of democratic norms. The union is hopeful that the new Chairman of Council of UNILORIN, Dr. Jubril Oyekan will act positively to prevent the University from sliding down further and being drawn into another round of tussle with our union. We believe he would not be part of a grievous scandal of a Council submitting to the whims of the Administration and terminating the appointments of scholars because they blew the whistle on the wife of the Vice Chancellor or because they alerted the same Council to corrupt practices in the institution. In the meantime, we again call on the relevant agencies to furnish members of the public with the result of their investigations on the petitions submitted by the union. We call on the Visitor to the University and other supervising agencies to prevail on this public institution to stop the continuous harassment of critical voices of dissent.”

Expressing confidence of a positive response to its call, ASUU called for cessation of harassment and victimization of members of the union who are speaking truth to power.

“After series of attempts by the union to make the university return to the path of decency, the union had no choice than to file petitions before the EFCC, ICPC, CCB and the Visitor to the University over the monumental infractions that have become endemic in the University of Ilorin. Also recently, in a three part investigative report, The Nation newspaper of March 14, 15 and 16 2017 brought out many of the gory details of the UNILORIN anomaly in graphic terms. In addition, the immediate past and the current administration have been exposed as corrupt, nepotistic and lawless. To say the least, the university can no longer be regarded as a university in the proper meaning of the word.

“On February 6 the Branch of the Union in the University of Ilorin drew attention to the malfeasance of the VC employing his wife, Mrs Toyin Ambali under shady circumstances and promoting her within a year instead of the three years allowed by regulation. Rather than retrace his steps, the Vice-Chancellor, apparently to avenge the exposure of his wife directed that the Chairman and Secretary be issued with a query.”

 

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Alleged KGB Infiltration: Police in Dilemma as Senator Natasha Abandons Petition, Snubs Summons

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The Nigeria Police Force appears to be in a quandary over its investigation into the alleged infiltration of the National Assembly by Russia’s KGB (Komitet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti), the former Soviet security agency.

Checks revealed that the police had invited the Senator representing Kogi West, Sunday Karimi, for interrogation following a petition filed by his colleague, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central.

In the petition dated March 5, 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently serving a six-month suspension from the Senate, urged the police to investigate Karimi’s claim that the KGB had infiltrated the National Assembly, posing a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

She specifically alleged that Senator Karimi had circulated a report titled “KGB Agent Group Warns Senate: A Call for Vigilance Amidst Threats to Democracy” on the official WhatsApp group of the 10th Senate on February 23, 2025.

Describing the claim as a matter of national security, Akpoti-Uduaghan insisted that the alarm raised by Karimi should not be taken lightly. “No nation can afford to ignore the presence of such a group within its legislative body,” she emphasized in her petition.

Karimi Appears Before Police, Natasha Recoils

Further investigations revealed that Senator Karimi honored the police invitation on Monday, appearing at the Force Headquarters in Abuja to clarify his position.

Sources within the police described his session as “positive and insightful,” revealing that he admitted to sharing the report in question. However, the police were reportedly taken aback when Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan distanced herself from the petition and ignored requests to appear for questioning.

“We reached out to her after our session with Senator Karimi, expecting her to provide further clarification, but she has continuously ignored our invitation,” a senior police source disclosed.

“What is disturbing is how she suddenly abandoned such a serious petition against her colleague. First, she claimed to be outside the country, but a viral video has since surfaced showing her in her constituency. It is difficult to reconcile her claims with the information available to us,” the source added.

The police official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, further hinted at possible political undertones behind the petition.

“We do not want to meddle in the ongoing power play within the Senate. However, it would be scandalous if she attempted to use the police as a tool in her political battles.”

When asked about the possible next steps, the source stated that his superiors would determine the fate of the petition, which he described as “frivolous.”

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Twelve Inmates Escape in Kotonkarfe Jailbreak

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Twelve inmates have escaped from the Federal Correctional Centre in Kotonkarfe, Kogi State, following an early morning jailbreak on Monday.

Confirming the incident, the Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, described it as “unfortunate” and assured the public that the government, in collaboration with security agencies, was taking measures to prevent a recurrence.

According to Fanwo, law enforcement officers have already re-arrested one of the escapees.

“The theory that the inmates escaped through the tower without causing any structural damage raises serious concerns. This calls for a thorough investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the escape, arrest the fleeing inmates, and identify possible saboteurs within the system,” he stated.

The commissioner further disclosed that Governor Usman Ododo has directed security agencies to ensure that such breaches do not happen again.

“We call on the public to report any suspicious individuals in their communities. Anyone found harbouring an escaped inmate will be held accountable,” Fanwo warned.

Reassuring residents, he added: “There is no cause for panic. We encourage citizens to go about their daily activities as normal, knowing that the security of lives and property remains our top priority.”

Authorities have yet to disclose further details about the escapees or ongoing efforts to apprehend them.

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Trump Ends Legal Status for Over 500,000 Immigrants, Orders Mass Expulsions

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The United States has announced the termination of legal status for over 500,000 immigrants, ordering them to leave the country within weeks, as President Donald Trump pushes forward with what he calls the largest deportation campaign in American history.

The sweeping directive, issued on Friday, affects approximately 532,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans who arrived under a programme launched by Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, in October 2022 and later expanded in January 2023.

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the affected immigrants will lose their legal protections 30 days after the order is published in the Federal Register on Tuesday. This means they must leave the United States by 24 April, unless they secure another immigration status permitting them to stay.

Welcome.US, an organisation that supports asylum seekers, has urged those impacted to “immediately” seek legal counsel regarding their options.

A Reversal of Biden’s Immigration Policy

The Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV) programme, introduced in January 2023, allowed up to 30,000 migrants per month from these nations to enter the United States for two years. The initiative was designed to offer a “safe and humane” alternative to the dangerous crossings at the US-Mexico border, which had seen a surge in arrivals.

However, the DHS reiterated on Friday that the programme was never meant to provide permanent residency.

“Parole is inherently temporary, and parole alone is not an underlying basis for obtaining any immigration status, nor does it constitute an admission to the United States,” the agency stated.

Mass Deportations Under Trump

Trump, who has made immigration control a cornerstone of his presidency, has vowed to crack down on migrants—particularly those from Latin America.

Last week, he invoked rare wartime legislation to deport more than 200 alleged members of a Venezuelan gang to El Salvador, a country that has controversially offered to imprison both migrants and U.S. citizens at a discounted rate.

The latest order signals Trump’s intent to follow through on his hardline immigration policies, raising concerns among human rights advocates about the humanitarian impact of such mass deportations.

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