Tag: USA

Donald Trump’s election fraud trial will be live-streamed – US Court

Aminu Imam

Former United States (US) President, Donald Trumps trial in the State of Georgia over charges of election fraud will be live streamed and televised, a judge has ruled. According to a BBC report, all the hearings will be available live on Fulton County Courts YouTube channel, according to Judge Scott McAfee. Though proceedings in Fulton Countys courts are usually live streamed, it will be the only one of Trumps four trials that will be broadcast, and could be one of the most watched trials in recent years. A date for…

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Niger: U.S. wont declare soldiers who removed President Bazoum, coup plotters – Official

Aminu Imam

The United States (U.S) government is refraining from labelling the overthrow of Nigers democratic government a coup and the military junta coup plotters as a precautionary move to preserve Americas interest. The visit of U.S. acting Deputy Secretary of State, Victoria Nuland, to Niger on Monday met a dead-end, as she disclosed that the junta refused to grant her an audience with the deposed President Mohamed Bazoum and junta leader, General Abdourahmane Tchiani. She, however, met with the coupists chief of defence, Moussa Salaou Barmou, a general trained by the…

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Blinken accuses Wagner Group of taking advantage of Niger crisis

Aminu Imam

United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken has said that the Russias Wagner mercenary group is taking advantage of instability in the Republic of Niger. Recall that Niger experienced a change of government after the military ousted democratically-elected President, Mohamed Bazoum two weeks ago. There have been suggestions the coup leaders have asked for help from Wagner, which is known to be present in neighbouring Mali. Speaking with the British Broadcasting Corporation, (BBC), Blinken said he did not think Russia or Wagner instigated the coup, but said they are trying…

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US-IP urges ECOWAS to deploy force against coupists in Niger

Aminu Imam

The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) has urged the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to go ahead with its planned use of force to dislodge the coupists in Niger Republic. Interim USIP Country Director Nigeria, Dr. Chris Kwaja stated this in a virtual news conference on Friday, in Abuja. He said, “Weve seen the communique issued by ECOWAS a few days ago to the coupists in Niger, telling them to return the ousted president, and have given an ultimatum. So we are waiting to see what ECOWAS…

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Military Coup: “Detained Bazoum still Niger president”, U.S. insists

Aminu Imam

The United States government says Mohamed Bazoum is still the President of the Niger Republic, and that it is in touch with the West African countrys former President Mahamadou Issoufou, amidst a military take-over. The Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, Vedant Patel, during a press briefing on Thursday, said, There are some important pieces in here. First, President Bazoum is still president. He has not resigned.  Patel noted that the situation in Niger was fluid. We, of course, will continue to pay close attention and remain…

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U.S. Govt reiterates support for Tinubu’s administration

Aminu Imam

The U.S Government has reiterated its support to the new Nigerian government being led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Charge dAffaires ad interim for the U.S. Mission, David Greene, reiterated the support for Tinubu administration while speaking at the commemoration of the 247th Independence of America in Abuja on Thursday. He noted that the U.S. government had always supported Nigeria with many positive impacts across several sectors; agriculture, health, security, economy, information technology, and renewable energy, among others. We look forward to partnering with President Tinubus Administration to ensure that…

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US recovers over $53m in bribes to Diezani, expects $16m more

Aminu Imam

The United States (US) Department of Justice has announced the final resolution of two civil cases of foreign corruption offences and were laundered in and through the United States, among which is involving the payment of bribes to Nigerias former Minister for Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke. The announcement was made by the US Justice Department, in an issued statement on its website on Wednesday, by the US Assistant Attorney-General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Departments Criminal Division. The US State Department is seeking the forfeiture of various luxury…

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US hikes student, tourist visa fees by 15%

Aminu Imam

The United States (US) Department of State has increased non-immigrant visa application fees, including travel visas by, 15 percent. In an issued statement yesterday, the US Department said the fee for B-1/B-2 visitor visas, Border Crossing Cards for Mexican citizens aged 15 and above, and student and exchange visitor visas will increase from $160 to $185. Also, the fees for certain non-immigrant visas for temporary workers (H, L, O, P, Q, and R categories) will increase from $190 to $205. Meanwhile, the fee for treaty traders, treaty investors, and treaty…

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Nigeria targets $50m export to U.S from AGOA – Minister

Aminu Imam

The Federal Government has inaugurated a technical committee on the utilisation of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, (AGOA), with a target export volume of 50 million dollars to the United States. In an issued statement yesterday in Abuja by the Director of Press in the ministry, Adebayo Thomas, quoted the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, as saying the committee is mandated to streamline a work plan on AGOA utilisation with a target export volume of 50 million dollars to the United States. Further, the committee…

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2023: UK, US Envoys, IRI adjudge elections peaceful, orderly in Abuja

Aminu Imam

The United States (US) Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, and the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, have expressed confidence in the electoral process, noting that voting was peaceful and orderly in some of the polling units visited in Abuja yesterday. Leonard made the remarks in an interview with newsmen when she visited the Tudun-Wada Secondary School polling units in Zone-4 Abuja, which has three polling units where the polls opened pretty on time, where there was a large turnout of voters. She said further that the US…

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