Tag: USA

October-end Deadline: Tinubu moves to block FBI, CIA, other U.S. agencies from releasing confidential files

Aminu Imam

President Bola Tinubu is in yet another scramble to block records relating to him from being disclosed by the United States (US) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Central Intelligence Agency, (CIA) and other agencies. According to court filings, Tinubu’s lawyers in the U.S. have filed Motions to appear in an ongoing Freedom of Information (FoI) action brought against the U.S. organisations, where records that may help answer questions about the President’s real identity and decades-long endeavours are domiciled.  One of the lawyers who represented Tinubu in the recent Chicago…

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U.S. hails creation of Blue Economy Ministry in Nigeria

Aminu Imam

Ambassador Jessye Lapenn, the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation’s inaugural Senior Coordinator, praised the Nigerian government for establishing the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, saying it was the right step toward realizing the benefits of the partnership. During a round table with journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, the diplomat said the Atlantic was the world’s most travelled ocean, adding that the potential for economic gains through the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation was enormous. The new multi-lateral forum, launched on September 18, brings together several coastal Atlantic countries, including Nigeria, from…

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Former US president, Trump found guilty of committing $3.6bn fraud

Aminu Imam

Former President of the United States, Donald Trump has been found guilty of committing N2.8 trillion ($3.6bn) fraud. Trump and his family business were found liable for fraud on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, by a New York state court in Manhattan. Justice Arthur Engoron, of the court, ruled that ‘repeatedly’ misrepresented his wealth – by up to $3.6bn (about N2.8trillion) – to banks and insurers. The decision resolves a key claim made by New York’s attorney general in her civil lawsuit against the former president. The judge wrote: “The documents…

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Artificial Intelligence: UK warns advance forms could be used to create bioweapons

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

The UK government says it plans to address the risks posed by advanced artificial intelligence (AI), including its possible use to create biological weapons, at the AI Safety Summit to be held in November. The UK government disclosed this in a statement on Monday “There are two particular categories of risk that we are focusing on: 1. Misuse risks, for example where a bad actor is aided by new AI capabilities in biological or cyber-attacks, development of dangerous technologies, or critical system interference. “Unchecked, this could create significant harm, including…

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Ukrain-Russia War: Zelensky confirms arrival of Abrams Tanks from U.S

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

Ukraine war: Zelensky confirms arrival of Abrams tanks from U.S.The first U.S. Abrams tanks have arrived in Ukraine and are already being prepared for deployment, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Telegram on Monday. In total, the United States had announced the handover of 31 battle tanks of the type to Ukraine. Zelensky did not provide details on the number of U.S, tanks already in the country. He thanked the allies for their arms assistance. The U.S. is considered Kiev’s most important military supporter. Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale…

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Stable Naira: “International partners ready to help Nigeria” – Treasury Secretary

Aminu Imam

…Tasks new CBN governor on strategy to address exchange rate United States Deputy Secretary of Treasury, Wally Adeyemo, has disclosed that the international bodies/partners were ready to help Nigeria towards addressing the exchange rate. Adeyemo disclosed this at a media parley in Lagos on Tuesday, while on a visit to Nigeria to highlight the economic and cultural ties between the two countries. This comes as he expressed hope in the appointment of the new governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), urging him to come up with a clear strategy…

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Nigerian-born U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary to visit Nigeria

Aminu Imam

The United States Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, Wally Adeyemo, is expected in Nigeria as part of the Biden administration’s commitment to deepening the U.S.-Africa economic and trade relationship. This is contained in a statement by the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria on Friday, stating that Adeyemo’s visit aims to build on the already deep people-to-people ties between the United States and Nigeria, a strong and historic partner. Adeyemo, the highest-ranking Nigerian-American official in the Biden Administration, will be in Lagos State as from Sunday to Tuesday, September 17–19.…

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

Aminu Imam

Former United States (US) President, Donald Trump’s 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 Court’s YouTube channel, according to Judge Scott McAfee. Though proceedings in Fulton County’s courts are usually live streamed, it will be the only one of Trump’s 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. won’t declare soldiers who removed President Bazoum, coup plotters’ – Official

Aminu Imam

The United States (U.S) government is refraining from labelling the overthrow of Niger’s democratic government a coup and the military junta coup plotters as a precautionary move to preserve America’s 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 Russia’s 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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