The naira appreciated to 1,339.33/$ at the close of trading on the official window on Monday, gaining 9.68 per cent over Friday’s 1,482.81/$. According to FMDQ data, which houses the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market, the daily turnover dropped to $180.80m from $556.25m on Friday, indicating a 67.50 per cent decline. At the official market, the naira traded at an intraday high of N1,501 and an intraday low of N1,310 to the dollar on Monday. At the black market, the naira traded at N1,520, indicating a 1.32 per cent depreciation from N1,500 exchanged on Friday. The local currency on Friday closed flat against the dollar, ending the week marginally strong at the official foreign exchange market after weeks of weakening, a situation that the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, termed seasonal fluctuation. He said this at the post-Monetary Policy Committee meeting press briefing last Tuesday in Abuja. “Members further observed the recent volatility in the foreign exchange market, attributing this to seasonal demand, a reflection of the interplay between demand and supply freely functioning market system,” Cardoso said. Meanwhile, the demand for foreign exchange by individuals and companies seeking to do importation and other forex-related activities fell 42 per cent year-on-year, the latest data from the CBN has shown. An analysis of the total sectoral utilisation of foreign exchange revealed that 19 sectors and services received $21.12bn forex allocation in 2023. The figure was, however, a 41.9 per cent or $8.87bn reduction from the $29.98bn disbursed to the industry players in 2022, according to the quarterly statistics report by the CBN. Forex allocation refers to the process through which the CBN distributes foreign exchange to various sectors of the economy, including individuals, businesses, and government agencies, based on certain criteria and priorities. In June 2023, the CBN adopted a floating exchange rate system for the naira, unifying all forex market segments, consequently leading to a notable depreciation of the domestic currency against the US dollar and other global currencies.

  The UK Home Office has been faulted for the death of a Sri Lankan man identified as Sudharsan Ithayachandran after he was deported to his home country. The 41-year-old, who admitted to the use of false documents and working illegally at a British multinational retailer -Tesco, was sent packing from the UK on December 24, 2019, leaving behind his deaf wife, Subatra; and his two children, aged eight and nine. According to the UK Guardian on Monday, all three are British citizens. The said date of deportation, however, marked his wedding anniversary. Ithayachandran was a member of the Tamil heritage in Sri Lanka. The report noted that during an immigration tribunal ruling in November 2023, Judge Bonavero had accepted Ithayachandran’s appeal, noting that he was allowed by right to live with his family in the UK. However, the Home Office was accused of delaying the process of issuing a return visa to the deceased for several months, causing him to live in perilous conditions, according to a report by the International Justice and Truth project, titled, “Disappearance, torture and sexual violence of Tamils 2015 – 2022.” Before his death, a legal counsel from MTC Solicitors, Naga Kandiah began judicial review proceedings against the Home Office about the delay in return visa issuance. However, on May 19, 2024, Ithayachandran was found collapsed at his accommodation in Sri Lanka and died after being taken to the hospital. His cause of death is thought to be sepsis, although no medical record of such was sighted by PUNCH Online in this report. The family blamed the Home Office, saying Ithayachandran was left in deep depression at home, owing to his separation from his children, adding that he was not eating or looking after himself properly. His mother-in-law, Yasadora Nagendra, 60, described him as “the pillar of the family.” She said, “I don’t know how the family is ever going to get over this. When he was here, he looked after everybody. He was such a kind and supportive man. Nobody can replace him. I believe that if the Home Office had not deported him he would still be alive today. We blame them for his death. “He was treated in a very unfair way by the Home Office. He was so depressed that even after he won his case last November, the Home Office delayed making arrangements for his return to the UK. He couldn’t understand why he still had to wait to come back to his family. “ Kandiah stated that “the tribunal accepted our client had a genuine and subsisting relationship with his children and to live without them would be ‘unduly harsh’. He had spent years battling with the Home Office to simply rejoin his family. He finally won his case but died before he could do this.” On his part, Lou Calvey, the director of a charity organisation, Asylum Matters, noted, “Serious questions must be answered about this heartbreaking case. Why was Sudharsan deported when he had such clear rights to remain here? Why did the Home Office delay implementing the court ruling reversing the deportation, and why did he have to die alone without his family?” An unnamed spokesperson from the Home Office said that “all deportation orders are considered on a case-by-case basis, based on the evidence provided. “Once an appeal has been allowed against the refusal to revoke a deportation order, the responsibility of applying for entry clearance to the UK lies with the individual and their representatives.” On May 21, 2024, a disabled Nigerian man, Anthony Olubunmi George, who had resided in the UK for 38 years, faced the prospect of being forcibly removed from the country by the Home Office. In 2019, he experienced two strokes that had a significant impact on his ability to speak and move. (https://punchng.com/physically-challenged-nigerian-faces-deportation-after-living-in-uk-for-38-years/) On May 21, 2024, a disabled Nigerian man, Anthony Olubunmi George, who had resided in the UK for 38 years, faced the prospect of being forcibly removed from the country by the Home Office. In 2019, he experienced two strokes that had a significant impact on his ability to speak and move.

  The Imo State Police Commissioner, Mr Aboki Danjuma, has ordered the reduction in rank of an Inspector as a disciplinary measure for extorting money from motorists. The action of the Imo state police Boss was in response to a viral video making the rounds on social media where a police officer was seen extorting money from motorists along the Owerri/ Onitsha highway. A statement by the Spokesperson of the command, Mr Henry Okoye (ASP), said: “The erring officer, identified as Inspector Isong Osudueh, attached to the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Owerri, has been recommended for a reduction in rank after the necessary orderly room proceedings, for exhibiting such a shameful and unprofessional act, while the supervisory officer has been issued an official query for lack of supervision. “The disciplinary actions taken against the erring officer underscore the Command’s unwavering commitment to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism, transparency, and integrity among its personnel, while effectively discharging its lawful duties and entrenching public trust and confidence.” It further stated, “While strongly condemning the embarrassing act, the Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, reiterates that the Command under his watch will not condone any act of extortion or misconduct by its personnel and warns that any supervisory officer who fails to carry out his oversight duties will be severely sanctioned. To this end, the CP urges the well-meaning residents of the State to continue to support the Police and other security agencies with timely and actionable information in their unwavering commitment to ensuring public safety.”

  Two persons were on Monday morning feared killed and many others injured as commercial motorcyclists attacked the Ipaja police station. Some of the irate commercial motorcyclists have been arrested with a locally-made pistol recovered from one of them. The attack on the police station created serious panic following sporadic gunshots, which sent residents and workers in the area in different directions. The Nigerian Tribune gathered that the commercial motorcyclists, who were reportedly joined by miscreants were protesting against the seizure of their motorcyclists by policemen from the station. A resident of the area, Akinfenwa told the Nigerian Ian Tribune that; “There were over hundreds of motorcyclists, who were armed with different dangerous objects. “They were trying to retrieve their bikes from the police station but a reinforcement of policemen came and they started throwing irons ,sticks ,broken bottles into the station”. He also stated; “The policemen tried to disperse them with tear gas and gunshots but the motorcyclists were adamant. The image maker in charge of the state police command, Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed the incident to the Nigerian Tribune. Hundeyin in a statement, signed by him, said ” Officers of Ipaja Police Division have successfully repelled an early morning attack on their division by motorcycle operators. “The attack came after police officers commenced the day’s enforcement of the existing ban on motorcycles in Lagos. “The attackers, who came in their hundreds, stormed the station with dangerous weapons, shooting at the officers and attempting to overrun the station. “ “While officers and men of the division held their ground, reinforcement came from the Area Command and the Rapid Response Squad (RRS). Two of the attackers were fatally injured during the attack. “However, this did not deter the officers from accomplishing their mandate as over two hundred motorcycles were impounded and some of the attackers arrested, with one locally made firearm retrieved. “The Lagos State Police Command will not be cowed into abdicating its responsibilities of enforcement of all duly passed laws and maintenance of law and order within the society“.

  After over a week siege on the popular Banex Plaza in Wuse 2 area of Abuja, the military has reopened the market for business. Daily Trust’s correspondent who visited the market on Monday evening learnt that the plaza resumed operations around 2:30pm. Recall that the market was sealed by military authorities on May 18, following a violent clash between traders and military personnel. Trouble started when thugs beat up some soldiers who had a disagreement with a trader in the plaza. The trader had reportedly sold a bad phone to someone who invited soldiers. Rather than resolve the issue amicably, the trader reportedly invited thugs who assaulted the uniform men. They descended on at least two soldiers and another man in mufti. The thugs who broke into groups slapped, kicked and beat up the soldiers. Although the police stepped in to resolve the situation, soldiers later stormed the plaza, forcing traders to shut down immediately. Human rights activists, including Femi Falana, SAN, Civil Society Organisations, among others had condemned the military action. They had said while what the trader involved did was bad, shutting down of the entire business place was not solution. But the army said the market would remain temporarily closed until those behind the attacks were fished out.

  Russia will remove the Taliban from a list of banned terrorist organisations, three years after they returned to power in Afghanistan, the state-run RIA Novosti news agency said Monday. Moscow has for years fostered relations with the Taliban, holding multiple rounds of talks and boosting trade with Afghanistan despite international sanctions. “Kazakhstan has recently taken the decision, which we are also going to take, to remove them from the list of terrorist organisations,” RIA Novosti quoted Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as saying. Kazakhstan removed the Taliban from its list of banned organisations at the end of 2023. The move could further boost diplomacy between Russia and Afghanistan, but would fall short of an official recognition of the Taliban government and what it calls the “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.” The Taliban seized power in 2021 from a US-backed government. They have enforced an extreme form of Islamic law that effectively bans women from public life. Lavrov said Russia’s decision was about recognising the realities on the ground. “They are the real power. We are not indifferent to Afghanistan. And above all our allies in Central Asia are not indifferent,” Lavrov said. Russia also invited Taliban representatives to its flagship Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum, state media reported. The event was once seen as the cornerstone of Russia’s economic relations with the West. Russia has for years fostered ties with the Taliban. The head of US forces in Afghanistan claimed in 2018 that Moscow was providing weapons to the group — accusations Moscow denied at the time. The Taliban has been designated a terrorist organisation in Russia since 2003. Moscow itself has a complicated history with Afghanistan with the Soviet Union having fought a decade-long war against guerilla mujahideen fighters in the 1980s to prop up a Kremlin-backed government. AFP

A Nigerian-American man, Yomi Faparusi, has announced his candidacy for the U.S. Congress to represent Tennessee’s 5th District in the upcoming elections. The election is scheduled for November 5, 2024. Faparusi shared his aspirations during a virtual meeting with reporters over the weekend. He said his election victory will inspire future generations and serve as a unifying force for the country.   As a researcher, Faparusi stated that he is running for Congress because America is currently divided and weakened. He emphasised that his victory would help unite Americans across various divides. Highlighting the issue of hyperinflation, he noted the increasing difficulty for people to survive and the disappearing middle class, which threatens the American dream. He stated, “America is so divided and weakened because politicians now run on divisive and wedge issues. Hence, I decided to run as a unifier, so that things could get done. I also hope my victory in November will inspire the next generation.” “There is inflation, making it hard to make ends meet; the middle class is disappearing, and the American dream is threatened. I want to tackle inflation. I want to create an environment that is conducive to small businesses, the most important unit of job creation. “Congress is in stalemate, and nothing is getting done. I will work across the aisle for the common good. Americans are tired of cyclical threats of government shutdowns. Immigration is in total disarray. Open borders are not a policy; it only makes it hard to have a comprehensive plan. Immigration is not only a social issue; it is a financial/economic issue: you don’t have papers; you can’t get a job. He continued, “The reality is that most legislators would not entertain any immigration relief package unless the border is secure. Hence, we need to secure the border and get back with a bipartisan comprehensive immigration plan. “I still have a political ideology. There is something called the advantage of incumbency, but incumbents lose, as I hope in November. The TN 5th district is ideologically diverse and it needs to be represented by someone who understands and appreciates this diversity. I will represent ALL the people, not just a partisan segment.” He highlighted his experience as a business owner and negotiator, “I am a business owner and I know about job creation. Also, I have had to work with diverse stakeholders, hence I learned how to listen and be humble. These have allowed me to be a good negotiator in any forum. As an immigrant and now an immigration attorney, I know the practicalities of immigration,” he said. Speaking on his agenda, he said, “My agenda is ‘I care’. I care about your concerns and I want to go to Washington to serve you. I hope that you will give me a chance to represent you, and I will always be answerable to you, my constituents. I will advocate for your concerns and needs without fear of retribution because I have placed the people above the party. In the end, everything will be okay.” Born in the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Faparusi’s ancestral hometown is Ode-Ekiti, Gbonyin LGA, in Ekiti State. He graduated as a medical doctor from the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, where he was active in students’ union politics, serving as the Hall Chairman of Alexander Brown Hall. Faparusi is a licensed physician and attorney based in Tennessee, focusing mostly on immigration law. He fled Nigeria during the Abacha regime to escape persecution for his involvement in agitating against military rule.