U.S. Secret Service seizes $1.5 million linked to Nigerian fraudster Omokri’s Binance crypto account
The secret service sought forfeiture of the seized $1.5 million, having established they were proceeds of wire fraud and money laundering.
The U.S. Secret Service seized $1.5 million from the Binance wallet of Nigerian serial fraudster Avwerosuo Omokri after numerous complaints from victims triggered a detailed investigation into the suspect’s activities and bank records.
Special agent Katrina Caulfield uncovered the operations of an internet fraud syndicate, running fraudulent trading investment platforms to lure unsuspecting victims. She was seeking a forfeiture in rem of the seized funds, documents seen by Peoples Gazette showed.
Victim 1, a resident of Newton in Massachusetts, March 2024, filed an internet crime complaint form to seek help after she fell for a cryptocurrency scam where she lost 1.33272285 BTC.
She told Ms Caulfield that she joined a group on Facebook in February 2024 named ‘Financial Independence Forum’, where members were promised “financial independence and early retirement through reliable investment.”
Victim 1, who was not named, said she soon began to connect with the members of the Facebook group, including Tom Sheldon Haley. They began to exchange messages on Facebook Messenger.
Mr Haley, an administrator of the group, portrayed himself as an investment expert versed in online trading. Their chats became frequent, and she was asked to invest in Trade Propel, an investment platform that promised high returns.
Mr Haley sent her detailed steps on how to create a new account on Trade Propel.
On March 13, 2024, Victim 1 transferred 1.3 BTC from Coinbase to a destination wallet provided by the Facebook group administrator.
After some time, she observed her deposit had increased on the website and tried to withdraw the funds, only to be told by Trade Propel customer support that she must pay “tax on earnings” before initiating withdrawal.
The U.S. Secret Service special agent said the demand for more money for investors to access their funds was typical of many scammers, as they often tried to squeeze every penny out of victims.
“Based on my training and experience, I know that scammers often attempt to extract additional funds from victims by instructing victims to pay ‘taxes’ to the scammers before the victims can withdraw funds,” said Ms Caulfield in her submission.
Checks on the Trade Propel website ticked all the fraud boxes as the Secret Service special agent said she could not find any relevant company information, policies and company contact details.
Instead, the website had bios of hedge fund billionaires George Soros, Paul Tudor, and Ray Dialo, claiming that the trio co-signed Trade Propel.
“Also, the website falsely claims to be part of FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) and SIPC (Securities Investor Protection Corporation),” wrote the U.S. Secret Service special agent.
Ms Caulfield said the platform owner went to great lengths to make the website look legitimate for the purpose of defrauding people.
A money trail by the Secret Service showed how the syndicate immediately transferred the victim’s 1.3 BTC to an intermediary wallet before sending it to another wallet ending in –HKbIS.
Intermediary wallets are often used by fraudsters to disguise and clean up illicit money trails on the Blockchain in order to throw security agencies off their scent.
“Intermediary wallets support the movement of illicitly obtained funds as they help to conceal and disguise the source of the BTC by layering and severing straight line coordinates of transaction activity on the Blockchain to cash out exchangers,” Ms Caulfied stated in her motion seeking forfeiture.
However, the Secret Service special agent was able to bypass all the layering and cover-ups to track the bitcoin to its final destination wallet.
Account records for user ID ending in XXXXX3280 obtained from Binance showed that the wallet was registered to Nigerian passport holder Avwerosuo Omokri with the registered email address johnrichie513@gmail.com.
Coinbase provided information that showed additional victims had paid into the same intermediary wallet of the fraud syndicate. Victim 2 paid $ 29,000, while Victim 3 paid $35,000. The fourth victim was instructed to pay into a different intermediary wallet.
Further investigations revealed that the Tom Sheldon Haley’s Facebook account was not operated by one person but by a fraud syndicate that often deployed the rank and files to approach victims on social media platforms, including Facebook and LinkedIn.
The higher-level fraudsters were the ones on the wallet backends receiving and trying to cover up illicit money flows. Binance records showed that Mr Omokri’s syndicate used four different devices to access the wallets.
Ms Caulfield, on February 16, 2025, sought a forfeiture in rem of the seized $1.5 million, having established that they were proceeds of wire fraud and money laundering.
The seized funds include 7.23918814 BTC1, 105.75351403 ETH2, 636.11899592 AVAX3, 14120.995091 USDT4; 2380467906.17 SHIB and 319008151.01 PEPE.
The Cherubim & Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria has publicly denounced a video circulating on social media that depicts a controversial Bishop doing a "tongue-to-tongue" anointing ceremony, while calling the act “horrific” and despicable before God and man.
The church in a statement issued on Wednesday distanced itself from the individuals involved, emphasising that they are not affiliated with the Cherubim & Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria and do not represent its doctrines or values.
The church expressed deep concern over the video’s content, particularly the mention of its reverred founder, St. Moses Orimolade Tunolase, and the unauthorised use of its religious symbols.
“Ordinarily, we would not dignify such incidents with a response, but we must set the record straight,” the statement read.
The church said that following an internal investigation, it identified the key figure in the video as Alfred Oluwasegun Okikiola Ogunnusi, who refers to himself as “His Eminence Baba Aladura LAHOJAH.”
The ceremony reportedly took place in Ogijo, Ogun State, while the man being anointed, known as Benjamin (also called Ajigbo), operates a makeshift ‘church’ in Adamo, Ikorodu, Lagos State.
The church condemned Ogunnusi’s attempt to justify the act using Genesis 48:10, stating that his interpretation of the passage was flawed and misleading.
The Church reaffirmed its strict opposition to idolatry, noting that the actions in the video blatantly contradicted its beliefs.
It also clarified that not everyone who wears a white garment is a member of the C&S Church, urging the public not to assume affiliations based solely on appearance.
“We strongly abhor idolatrous practices and reject their satanic and unholy acts in their entirety,” the statement emphasized.
“As a church, we anoint our members with olive oil only and baptise through immersion in water—not through any other practice.”
Additionally, the church disowned an individual in the video seen wearing a robe with the official C&S logo, stressing that he was neither a recognized member nor authorised to wear the emblem.
Urging the public to disregard the video and its misleading portrayal of Christian practices, the church called for a collective condemnation of the incident.
“These impostors are attempting to exploit the name of St. Moses Orimolade Tunolase for personal gain, but invoking his name does not grant legitimacy or membership in our church,” the statement concluded.
The Cherubim & Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria remains committed to upholding its spiritual traditions and maintaining the integrity of its teachings.
Tompolo’s Tantita unveils 250-seater JAMB CBT centre
It was a moment of jubilation in the riverine communities of Ogulagha Kingdom in the Niger Delta as Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited formally inaugurated the refurbished and upgraded Sologha Ekpemukpolo JAMB Computer-Based Test Centre on Monday.
Stakeholders hailed the initiative as a major enhancement to educational infrastructure in Delta State’s riverine communities.
The project, part of TSSNL’s corporate social responsibility, includes the provision of 250 brand-new HP laptops, Starlink internet services, and a solar inverter system to ensure uninterrupted power supply.
Originally donated by Shell Petroleum Development Company in 2012 as an ICT hub, the centre has now been fully transformed into a JAMB-accredited CBT facility.
Speaking at the event, Victor Isereke, who has been associated with the facility since its inception, detailed the upgrades.
“Tantita has renovated the entire facility, painted it, and replaced all the computer systems with 250 brand-new computers. They also built toilet facilities, provided Starlink internet services, and installed a solar inverter system to reduce dependence on diesel,” he said.
The process of converting the centre into a JAMB-accredited CBT facility began in 2021, spearheaded by the lawmaker representing Burutu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Julius Pondi.
Recognising the challenges faced by students from riverine areas—who previously had to travel long distances to hinterlands for examinations—Pondi pushed for a local JAMB centre.
Despite initial resistance due to its location, his efforts eventually led to its approval and subsequent upgrades to meet JAMB’s standards.
Expressing gratitude to TSSNL, Pondi, represented by his Senior Legislative Aide, Tonkiri Apu, lauded the initiative.
“Upgrading the Ogulagha JAMB Centre to an international standard makes education more accessible to our people in rural areas. Our students no longer need to cross the high sea to write JAMB; now, they can do it at their doorstep,” he said.
Ogulagha Community Chairman, Mr. Daniel Okebor, also expressed his appreciation and pledged to safeguard the facility.
“We will do everything within our power to preserve it. Security measures have been put in place to ensure that nobody vandalizes this place,” Okebor assured.
Local students shared their excitement over the development.
Which job? .......efcc is toothless and very corrupt. We have a case of crowdfunding investment fraud ongoing in efcc, their handling is not satisfactory at all.
Nigerian pleads guilty to $3m romance scam targeting elderly Americans
A 47-year-old Nigerian man, Darlington Akporugo, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy in connection with a nationwide romance scam, US Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei announced.
According to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, on Monday, Akporugo played a central role in an elaborate scheme based in Houston that preyed on victims from Chicago to Kentucky.
Working with accomplices, he lured individuals into fraudulent online relationships, eventually convincing them to send money to bank accounts under his control.
According to ICE, Akporugo, who is an illegal immigrant in the US, pleaded guilty in the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, as well as wire fraud, aiding, and abetting in an elaborate scheme that involved more than 25 victims, the majority of whom were either retired or elderly.
“This individual and his co-conspirators preyed on the vulnerability of the elderly and recently widowed to defraud them of their hard-earned life savings.
“Thanks to the victims who bravely came forward to report this matter to law enforcement and the outstanding relationships that we have with our domestic and law enforcement partners abroad; we were able to expose this reprehensible scheme and hold the criminals involved in it accountable,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz.
Authorities revealed that Akporugo, arrested just a month before his wedding, used fake identities to contact victims on social media, build trust, and then manipulate them into sending funds for fictitious business ventures or fabricated personal emergencies.
As part of his plea agreement, Akporugo admitted to soliciting victims primarily through platforms like Facebook and directing them to deposit money into accounts belonging to him or his co-conspirators.
Much of the stolen money was then funneled overseas.
Beyond cash and wire transfers, Akporugo also convinced victims to open lines of credit in his name and, in at least one instance, purchase a luxury vehicle for his personal use.
During a multi-year investigation, conducted by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, authorities identified more than 25 victims, most of them elderly or retired.
“As we unfortunately have seen, victims of romance scams suffer tremendous financial loss, sometimes amounting to their entire life savings.
“Those have fallen prey to such fraudsters are often too embarrassed to come forward and report the incident to law enforcement. Although this is an understandable reaction, we encourage victims to nonetheless come forward, as their story may help the future victimization of others,” said Ganjei.
Akporugo is set to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Charles Eskridge on June 6.
He faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.
He will remain in custody pending hearing.
In May 2024, The PUNCH reported that a highly anticipated wedding took an unexpected turn when the bride and groom, Darlington Akporugo, 46, and Jasmin Sood, 35, were arrested just days before their ceremony.
The couple faces charges of defrauding elderly Americans out of more than $3 million through online romance scams.
According to details from their wedding website, the ceremony was set for May 25, 2024 in Houston, Texas.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas revealed that Akporugo and Sood allegedly orchestrated a seven-year scheme, preying on widowed victims through social media and dating platforms.
‘Buy land again,’ AY questions Nigerians’ cycle of selling lands to relocate, then repurchasing
Nigerian comedian and actor, Ayo Makun, widely known as AY, has shared his perspective on the trend of Nigerians relocating abroad in pursuit of better opportunities.
AY pointed out that many Nigerians sell their properties at home to move overseas, hoping for a more stable and prosperous life.
However, upon arrival, he noted, they often find themselves juggling multiple jobs to make ends meet while adjusting to the challenges of a new environment.
He then highlighted that many of these individuals eventually send money back to Nigeria to buy land—essentially repeating the same cycle.
Reflecting on this pattern, AY posed a question to his followers, seeking insight into what he described as a recurring experience for many Nigerians.
He wrote: “Nigerians abroad are working so hard doing multiple jobs to buy land back home, while Nigerians back home are selling their lands to relocate abroad so they can do 3 jobs to buy land again in Nigeria. Please explain to me what type of cycle is this?”
Why guests had to squeeze between 2 naked models to enter an art show
An art exhibition in London featured a unique installation where visitors must squeeze between two nude models to enter.
The exhibition was part of a career retrospective of Serbian performance artist Marina Abramović. According to Royal Academy head of exhibitions Andrea Tarsia, the installation forces visitors to confront unclothedness, gender, sexuality, and desire.
Two naked performance artists are standing on either side of a small entryway in a piece named Imponderabilia, according to the description. The performance by Abramovic and Ulay explored the notion of "the artist as a door to the museum."
They entice the spectator to move diagonally between them. Other pieces in the exhibition include Nude with Skeleton, in which a performer is exposed beneath a skeleton, and Luminosity, in which a naked artist is hanged from a bicycle saddle put on the wall.
Abramovic and her then-partner, Ulay, performed the odd work for the first time in 1977. In the 255-year history of the Royal Academy, Abramovic is the first female artist to hold a solo exhibition in the main galleries.
The exhibition has received mixed reviews, with the Guardian calling it "vital" and the Times calling it "remorseless."
Justice Lilian Abai, in her ruling on Friday, February 28, 2025, ordered the defendants to deposit their international passports with the court registrar as part of the bail conditions.
The Federal High Court in Umuahia, Abia State, has granted bail to former Abia State Governor, Theodore Ahamefule Orji, and four others in the sum of N50 million each.
Justice Lilian Abai, in her ruling on Friday, February 28, 2025, ordered the defendants to deposit their international passports with the court registrar as part of the bail conditions.
Additionally, the court in a statement directed each defendant to provide one surety with a landed property in Umuahia, supported by a Certificate of Occupancy.
The court said the sureties must also depose an affidavit of means and submit two recent passport photographs to the court.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Orji alongside Engr. Chinedum Orji, Dr. Philip Nto, Onwumene King Obioma, and Romanus K. Madu on a sixteen-count charge of conspiracy, official corruption, stealing, and diversion of public funds totalling more than N34billion.
One of the charges reads: “That you Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji, ENGR. Chinedum Orji, Dr. Phillip Nto, Onwumene King Obioma and Romanus K. Madu, sometime between 2011 and 2015 in Umuahia, Abia State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court stole and converted a sum of N22,500,000,000.00 (Twenty-Two Billion, Five Hundred Million Naira Only) being the allocation to the Abia State Government as security votes and thereby committed an offence contrary to the provision of Section 390 (5) of the Criminal Code Law of Abia State.”
Another count states: “That you Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji, ENGR. Chinedum Orji, Dr. Phillip Nto, Onwumene King Obioma and Romanus K. Madu, sometime between 2010 and 2011 in Umuahia, Abia State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired among yourselves to commit unlawful acts to wit, stealing and conversion of the sum of N12,000,000,000.00 (Twelve Billion Naira Only) being the funds due to Abia State from the Paris Club Refund and thereby committed an offence contrary to the provisions of Sections 516 and 516(a) of the Criminal Code Law of Abia State.”
The defendants pleaded “not guilty” to all charges. Prosecution counsel, Dr. Pinheiro SAN, requested the court to fix a date for trial.
Defence counsels, led by Bode Olanipekun SAN, Chika Osolu Ojukwu SAN, K.I. Odeh, Oke Amaechi SAN, and Isaac Anya, all sought bail for their clients.
After reviewing their applications, Justice Abai granted bail under the specified conditions and adjourned the case to June 18 and 19, 2025, for trial.
helinues: Kogi constituency where Natasha is representing. I hail una
At least una senator is known for being controversial even though nothing like development based news whenever we read about her.
That one too na achievements.
Natasha, tell us how many Kogi women you have empowered sincerely.. She's not even making any different from the men in politics
Don't always be one sided ......always full of bias. If you want to speak on the matter, speak about both. I don't support anyone but another woman openly said she slapped Akpabio over sexual harassment, both Akpabio and wife never said kpim......till this day.
Paul Okoye and Jude Okoye at FHC Lagos Photo: TheCable
Singer Paul Okoye aka RudeBoy has accused his twin brother Peter of being responsible for the case of fraud instituted against their elder brother Jude.
On Wednesday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Jude, the former manager of Paul and Peter who made up the defunct group P-Square, on charges of laundering ₦ 1.38 billion, $1 million and £34,537.59.
Jude was arraigned alongside his company, Northside Music Ltd before Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on a seven-count charge. He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
Justice Owoeye remanded Jude in the Ikoyi correctional facility pending hearing for his bail application after the prosecuting lawyer Larry Aso countered Jude’s lawyer Inibehe Effiong who wanted his client remanded in the EFCC’s custody.
In a trending video recorded at the court’s premises on Friday, Paul promised to secure his release.
He told journalists that he and Peter were guilty of what Jude was being accused of.
“I’m supporting him because I know the truth,” said Paul.
“The truth is Peter is the one putting Jude through these things. It’s Peter who is doing these. He is putting him in prison and I’m here to bring him out.
“I’m only standing for the truth because the same crime that they accused him of doing, then Peter is guilty, Paul is also guilty too.”
The Rise of Agbero (From Bus Conductors to a Cartel)
There was a time when being Yoruba meant something. It meant intellect, industry, and innovation. It meant producing great minds in all aspects of life. But today, we witness a slow, deliberate erosion of that legacy
The Yoruba political elite have discovered a dangerous truth: an educated population is harder to manipulate. So, what did they do? They crippled education, and turned knowledge into a privilege instead of a right.
Instead of raising critical thinkers, they are raising political foot soldiers, àgbèrò, whose only job is to protect their masters’ interests.
Originally, Agbero simply meant a bus conductor, a young man who helped fill up public transport vehicles in motor parks. It was a humble, informal job for survival. But when politics got involved, it became something else.
In the 1980s, during the military era, politicians began using Agbero as political thugs. They needed enforcers to intimidate opponents, rig elections, and control street politics. By the 1990s, Agbero had formed a cartel. They were no longer just thugs; they had become a political force, wielding influence that surpassed traditional rulers in some areas. And when democracy returned in 1999, they fully infiltrated the system.
They collect illegal levies in broad daylight. They intimidate traders. They disrupt elections. They enforce the will of their political sponsors. And yet, they walk freely.
The worst part? They are now entering politics themselves. Some of these àgbèrò lords are winning elections. Many have become LG Chairmen, Councillors, and even lawmakers. They have climbed from bus stops to political seats. They have also entered key government institutions. They are in the police, CBN, port authorities, and more. Their children are in top universities abroad, preparing to take over leadership positions
Like in the film The Departed, they have completely infiltrated the system. You think you are dealing with a politician? You are dealing with an Agbero in disguise.
Some people still believe that Agbero will one day be banned. That is a foolish dream. You cannot ban what feeds the system. Agbero generates billions for the political elite. Even local governments depend on them for revenue. Any governor that tries to remove them is removed. Ambode attempted to reform the system. He was kicked out before he could run for a second term.
Politicians empower these men with money and weapons, turning them into war machines for elections. And after the elections?
They are left to roam the streets, collecting ‘taxes’ from innocent citizens and terrorizing communities.
And what happens when a society rewards thuggery?
The educated elite, the real thinkers, start leaving. Brain drain increases. The best Yoruba minds are now in Canada, the UK, and the US, while àgbèrò run things back home.
The Rise of Agbero Yoruba Dialect
There was a time when speaking Yoruba carried a certain elegance, a rich sophistication that reflected the depth of our culture.
The aristocratic Yoruba spoken in Ibadan, Ijebu, and Lagos high society was refined, poetic, and full of wit. It was the language of the educated elite, traders, and philosophers.
Today, that Yoruba is fading, replaced by the coarse, vulgar, and aggressive Agbero dialect.
Go to any Lagos motor park, and you will hear it, loud, fast, and filled with unnecessary slang, curses, and distorted words. Unfortunately, this Agbero Yoruba is what the younger generation is adopting. Even in entertainment, Nollywood and Afrobeats are now exporting it as the mainstream Yoruba.
Èdè la fi dá ilé, èdè la fi ń bá ilé je." (Language builds a home; language also destroys it.)
When a language loses its refinement, a culture loses its dignity. The Yoruba identity is being dragged down by this street-infused dialect.
It is almost as if speaking proper Yoruba is now considered "too posh" or "too bookish."
But language is power. The moment we start speaking like Agbero, we start thinking like Agbero. And when we think like Agbero, we become Agbero.
This is how the culture spreads, through the mind first, before it takes over every other part of society.
A Final Warning
If we continue on this path, Yoruba children of the future will grow up thinking àgbèrò culture is Yoruba culture. They will believe that loudness is wisdom, that force is leadership, and that education is unnecessary. We must not let that happen.
We must return to omolúàbí values. We cannot let àgbèrò redefine what it means to be Yoruba. Our culture must be about intelligence, innovation, and respect, not street violence, political servitude, and other 'ronu' antics.
Olufemi Aduwo is the Permanent Representative of the Centre for Convention on Democratic Integrity to the United Nations
In this era of historical conventions and national retrospection, it has become evident that the Nigerian state must confront its past with unflinching honesty. Recent remarks by General Ibrahim Babangida, in which he attempted to provide his perspective on Nigeria’s history, have set a precedent. It is now incumbent upon General Yakubu Gowon to exhibit a similar level of candour and address, with absolute sincerity, the lingering questions surrounding the Aburi Accord. The Nigerian people deserve clarity on what precisely was agreed upon between him and Colonel Chukwuemeka Ojukwu during that fateful meeting at Aburi.
The Aburi Accord, reached in January 1967, was meant to provide a framework for resolving the deepening political crisis that threatened Nigeria’s unity. However, what transpired following that agreement remains a matter of intense debate. History, however inconvenient, cannot be rewritten to suit the interests of any individual or institution. There has been a persistent claim that the Federal Government, under General Gowon’s leadership, reneged on the agreements reached in Aburi, thereby exacerbating tensions and ultimately leading to the Nigerian Civil War. If there was indeed a deviation from the original commitments made at Aburi, then it is only fitting that it be acknowledged, not with defensiveness or obfuscation, but with the dignity befitting a statesman.
It is also crucial to recognise the stark contrast in intellectual and academic exposure between the principal actors at Aburi. Ojukwu, a man of formidable intellect, obtained a master’s degree in history from the esteemed University of Oxford before he enlisted in the Nigerian Army. His understanding of historical precedent, governance structures, and negotiation principles was thus firmly rooted in rigorous academic training. In contrast, General Yakubu Gowon transitioned directly from Barewa College into military service, rising through the ranks with little exposure to structured political discourse or historical analysis. This disparity in scholarly grounding must be considered when evaluating the breakdown of the Aburi Agreement. Did General Gowon fully comprehend the weight of his commitments at Aburi? Or was there a fundamental failure in interpretation, possibly exacerbated by external influences, particularly from the British government and other vested international interests?
The Nigerian people demand the truth—unsullied by revisionist attempts or political expediencies. The events that followed Aburi shaped the course of Nigerian history in ways that continue to be felt today, particularly in matters of governance, federalism, and ethnic relations. There can be no national reconciliation without a thorough, unbiased examination of our historical missteps. If General Gowon remains steadfast in his belief that the collapse of the Aburi Accord was justified, then let him articulate his position clearly and provide the Nigerian people with an unambiguous account of his actions. However, if there were errors—whether in judgment, implementation, or external manipulation—then history would demand nothing less than an admission of responsibility.
The time has come for General Gowon to reaffirm his integrity or accept accountability before posterity renders its judgment. History is an impartial judge, and its verdict, though sometimes delayed, is inexorable. A nation that fails to confront its past with honesty is doomed to repeat its mistakes. The Nigerian people, having endured the consequences of this unresolved chapter, deserve no less than the unvarnished truth. Legacy is not one of greatness but of squandered potential and irredeemable perfidy.
King invites Trump for 'unprecedented' second state visit
US President Donald Trump has been invited to the UK for a second state visit by the King.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer used his trip to the White House to present Trump with the invitation letter from King Charles.
Sir Keir said the president's last state visit in 2019 had been a "tremendous success" and that the invite for a second visit was "truly historic" and "unprecedented".
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office after reading the letter, Trump said he accepted the invite and that it would be an "honour" to visit the "fantastic" country.
He added that King Charles was a "beautiful man, a wonderful man".
Will Starmer's defence hike win over Trump? Traditionally second-term US presidents are not offered a state visit and have instead been invited for tea or lunch with the monarch at Windsor Castle.
King Charles' letter proposed a meeting to discuss details of the state visit at either Dumfries House or Balmoral, both in Scotland, a country to which Trump has connections.
His mother was born and brought up on the Hebridean island of Lewis. This year he is planning to open a new golf course in Aberdeenshire, to be named after his mother.
The letter, which Trump showed to the cameras, read: "Quite apart from this presenting an opportunity to discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest, it would also offer a valuable chance to plan a historic second state visit to the United Kingdom.
"As you will know this is unprecedented by a US president. That is why I would find it helpful for us to be able to discuss, together, a range of options for location and programme content.
"In so doing, working together, I know we will further enhance the special relationship between our two countries of which we are both so proud."
Trump joked that he would have to check if the signature was real.
PA Media Donald Trump laughing with Queen Elizabeth II at a state banquet. PA Media Donald Trump was hosted by the late Queen during his three-day state visit in 2019 At a joint news conference later, Trump said a trade deal between the US and UK could happen "very quickly" and could see the UK avoiding the kind of tariffs the president has been threatening on other countries.
Sir Keir said the two countries would begin work on a new economic deal which would be centred on the potential of artificial intelligence.
During his visit Sir Keir also hopes to influence Trump as he seeks to reach a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia.
Speaking on the plane to the US, Sir Keir told reporters that a deal would not stop Vladimir Putin from invading Ukraine again, unless the US were able to provide security guarantees.
Asked if the US could offer such support, Trump said a proposed deal with Ukraine over access to critical minerals would provide "a backstop".
"We are a backstop because we will be over there, we will be working in the country," he said.
Since becoming prime minister, Sir Keir, who had previously been critical of the president, has sought to build a close relationship with Trump.
However, he did feel compelled to contradict the US president when he accused Volodymyr Zelensky of being a dictator.
Asked about his dictator comments, Trump said: "Did I say that? I can't believe I said that. Next question."
Pressed over whether he would approve the UK's potential deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, Trump said: "We're going to have some discussions about that very soon, and I have a feeling it's going to work out very well.
"I think we'll be inclined to go along with your country,"
In an interview after arriving in the US on Wednesday, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the controversial deal would not go ahead unless the US supported it.
Under the proposal, the UK would cede sovereignty of the Chagos archipelago to Mauritius but would still be able to use one of the islands, Diego Garcia, which includes a UK-US military airbase.
The Federal Government said there are plans to boost power generation and phase out the use of power generators in individual homes and offices.
This is as the government concluded plans to unveil the Integrated Resource Plan for the power sector.
The Special Adviser to the Minister of Power on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji, told our correspondent that the resource plan is to ensure Nigerians “stop using generators.”
According to him, the Integrated Resource Plan will be unveiled on Thursday (today) in Abuja with the support of the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office and the UK Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility.
The event, which he said will highlight critical milestones in Nigeria’s electricity reform and transformation journey, will include the presentation of a comprehensive policy designed to guide Nigeria’s power sector towards universal electrification, inclusivity, and sustainability.
Tunji stated the IRP is a strategic roadmap to ensure least-cost electrification and alignment with Nigeria’s energy transition goals, saying it will also “phase out self-generation practices.”
He added that the unveiling will also witness a stakeholder engagement session with the private sector to explore investment opportunities and foster collaborations for private sector participation in the National Integrated Electricity Policy/Strategic Implementation Plan and IRP implementation process.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, will deliver the keynote address on Strategic Vision for Nigeria’s Energy Future at the event, which will be attended by members of the inter-ministerial working group.
The PUNCH reports that Nigeria is still battling low power supply as the country’s 200 million population still struggles with a paltry 5.5 megawatts of electricity.
Amid incessant grid collapses, over 250 companies and institutions have abandoned the national grid to generate their own electricity.
Efforts made in 2024 to ramp up power generation to 6,000 MW failed as vandals attacked critical power infrastructure across the nation.
The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has announced that the first Made-in-Nigeria helicopter is nearing completion and will soon take its maiden flight.
Speaking at a Focus Group Engagement in Kaduna, Engr. Kareem Aduagba, Project Manager at NASENI’s Aeronautics and Air Vehicle Development Institute, confirmed that significant progress had been made on the indigenous helicopter, which would soon be officially recognized as the “Nigerian Chopper.”
The engagement session, organized by NASENI, brought together inventors, manufacturers, government officials, industry leaders, and academics to promote local innovation and discuss policies that will drive Nigeria’s industrial and technological advancement.
“What we are doing now is not reinventing the wheel. We have one of our projects that started from the ground up, including the Made-in-Nigeria helicopter and some Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs),” Aduagba explained.
“Additionally, we have acquired some aircraft components from developed countries in Semi Knock Down (SKD) and Complete Knock Down (CKD) forms. Using scientific and engineering expertise, we are working on assembling and modifying them.
“Very soon, we will conduct the first test flight of the Made-in-Nigeria helicopter as we approach the final stages of development,” he added.
Also speaking at the event, Engr. Abdulfatai Ambali, Head of the Manufacturing Services Department at NASENI’s Hydraulic Equipment Development Institute, Kano, emphasized the agency’s renewed commitment to commercialization, collaboration, and innovation under its current leadership.
“Many Nigerians are unaware of NASENI’s contributions, but with the leadership of the Executive Vice Chairman, Khalil Suleman Halilu, we are prioritizing awareness, stakeholder engagement, and community impact.
“Our goal is to develop homegrown technology that reduces Nigeria’s reliance on foreign products. Many of our innovations are already being deployed across various sectors,” Ambali stated.
Facilitator of the program, Saleh Kwaru, urged Nigerians to support local industries, stressing that national development depends on patronizing homegrown products.
“We must look inward and leverage our resources. Constant reliance on foreign products weakens our economy,” he noted.
Similarly, Yusuf Suleman, Acting Zonal Coordinator for the North West Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), commended the event for tackling challenges affecting locally made products, such as quality and finishing.
“Innovation and modern technology are key to improving the acceptance of Nigerian products. This kind of engagement will help solve production challenges and create more job opportunities.
“SMEDAN and NASENI share common goals, including marketing, technological advancement, and job creation, ensuring sustainable industrial growth,” Suleman added.
BREAKING: Sacked Lagos Assembly Clerk Onafeko Threatens Contempt Action Against Speaker Meranda For Defying Court Order
The warning follows a ruling by the National Industrial Court ordering Onafeko's reinstatement after he was removed amid a leadership crisis in the Lagos State legislature.
Lawyers for Olalekan Onafeko, the Clerk of the Lagos State House of Assembly, have threatened to take legal action against Speaker Mojisola Meranda for contempt of court.
The warning follows a ruling by the National Industrial Court ordering Onafeko's reinstatement after he was removed amid a leadership crisis in the Lagos State legislature.
Onafeko was removed from office on January 13, 2025, following the impeachment of former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa. The court instructed Babatunde Ottun, who was appointed as his replacement, to stop parading himself as the Clerk until the substantive case is resolved.
Justice M. N. Esowe delivered the ruling, granting Onafeko's ex parte application and directing that the status quo ante bellum—the state of affairs before the crisis—be maintained.
However, Speaker Meranda's alleged non-compliance with the court's order has prompted Onafeko's lawyers to consider pursuing contempt proceedings against her.
SaharaReporters learnt that Olalekan Onafeko and his legal team visited the Lagos State House of Assembly to enforce the Industrial High Court's order.
However, they were unable to access his office as it had been padlocked.
Speaking to journalists at the complex, one of Onafeko's lawyers argued that Speaker Mojisola Meranda's actions amounted to contempt of court, and the legal team is determined to hold her accountable.
The lawyer warned that if they return and the office remains padlocked, they would have no choice but to file Form 48 for contempt proceedings against "whoever is there as speaker".
In a video obtained by SaharaReporters, one of the lawyers is seen addressing the situation and emphasizing their commitment to upholding the court's order.
He said: "We are here this morning to give effect to the order of court made on the 19th of February 2025. The court by Honourable Justice Maureen Nkechinyereuho Esowe of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), sitting in Lagos, has ordered that Olalekan Onafeko, resume his office as the Clerk of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
“That order was made and we have served the order on the House of Assembly duly acknowledged by the House of Assembly.
"We are here today to give effect to the order of the court. We got here this morning we were not welcomed but the office is not open. As law-abiding citizens, we have to leave and look for another day to come back because we need to effect that order of court.
“He is a civil servant of up to 30 years in service and he has served the Lagos State government meritoriously with several letters of recommendations and promotions till he was appointed the Clerk of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
"So you can't just by a motion of one honourable who has not even put five years, 10 years into the service of Lagos State government, just wake up and say you are suspending someone for financial misappropriation without any letter stating what he has done at any point in time.
“Today makes it about 40-something days no letter has been served on him of any infractions he has committed in service of Lagos State government.
"We don't know why this is going on and that's why we are here this morning to give effect to the order of court. He is a civil servant and there are rules and procedures under the Lagos State Public Service 2015, where someone who is on level 13 should be suspended or be dealt with. None of these things have been abided by."
However, he cautioned that the next course of action would be to cite the current Speaker for contempt for disobeying a lawfully issued court order.
“They have joined issues with us in court, they have filed their processes, they have engaged lawyers including a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), they should interpret the law for them and its consequences," the lawyer said.
This development highlights the ongoing power struggle within the Lagos State House of Assembly, which has been plagued by controversy and leadership changes in recent months.
The National Industrial Court in Lagos had ordered the reinstatement of Onafeko, who was removed as Clerk of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The ruling followed an ex parte application filed by Onafeko through his lawyer, Yusuf Nurudeen, in a lawsuit against the Lagos State Government, Lagos State Civil Service Commission, Lagos State House of Assembly Service Commission, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, the Attorney-General of Lagos State, and Mr. Ottun Babatunde.
Onafeko was serving as Clerk of the House until January 13, when Obasa was removed as Speaker, and Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, the then Deputy Speaker, was elected as the new Speaker.
TV/Movies / You're Born In This Era, Mention That Movie Title And We Guess Your Age by Morbeta11(m): 8:38pm On Mar 06
