The United States of America has announced an updated deportation list featuring 124 Nigerians.

This was disclosed in a statement released on the website of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Wednesday.

The DHS claimed that these individuals have been placed on what it described as its “worst-of-the-worst” criminal register.

While the names and photos have been made public, the timeline for deportations remains undisclosed.

However, the US immigration authorities explained that the deportations are part of ongoing immigration enforcement, stressing that those listed were convicted of serious crimes, but declined to provide details about the offences or when deportations would take place.

The statement read: “The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is highlighting the worst of worst criminal aliens arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“Under DHS leadership, the hardworking men and women of DHS and ICE are fulfilling President Trump’s promise and carrying out mass deportations – starting with the worst of the worst – including the illegal aliens you see here.”

The website then listed: “Sunday Adediora, Sunday Kunkushi, Mkpouto Etukudoh, Marcus Unigwe, Olaniyi Ojikutu, Boluwaji Akingunsoye, Ejike Asiegbunam, Emmanuel Mayegun Adeola, Bamidele Bolatiwa, Ifeanyi Nwaozomudoh, Aderemi Akefe, Solomon Wilfred, Chibundu Anuebunwa, Joshua Ineh, Usman Momoh, Oluwole Odunowo, Bolarinwa Salau, Oriyomi Aloba.”

Others are Oludayo Adeagbo, Olaniyi Akintuyi, Talatu Dada, Olatunde Oladinni, Jelili Qudus, Abayomi Daramola, Toluwani Adebakin, Olamide Jolayemi, Isaiah Okere, Benji Macaulay, Joseph Ogbara, Olusegun Martins, Kingsley Ariegwe, Olugbenga Abass, Oyewole Balogun, Adeyinka Ademokunla, Christian Ogunghide, Christopher Ojuma, Olamide Adedipe, Patrick Onogwu, Olajide Olateru-Olagbegi and Omotayo Akinto.

There are also Kenneth Unanka, Jeremiah Ehis, Oluwafemi Orimolade, Ayibatonye Bienzigha, Uche Diuno, Akinwale Adaramaja, Boluwatife Afolabi, Chinonso Ochie, Olayinka A. Jones, Theophilus Anwana, Aishatu Umaru, Henry Idiagbonya, Okechukwu Okoronkwo, Daro Kosin, Sakiru Ambali, Kamaludeen Giwa, Cyril Odogwu, Ifeanyi Echigeme, Kingsley Ibhadore, Suraj Tairu, Peter Equere, Dasola Abdulraheem, Adewale Aladekoba, and Akeem Adeleke.

Also listed were Bernard Ogie Oretekor, Abiemwense Obanor, Olufemi Olufisayo Olutiola, Chukwuemeka Okorie, Abimbola Esan, Elizabeth Miller, Chima Orji, Adetunji Olofinlade, Abdul Akinsanya, Elizabeth Adeshewo, Dennis Ofuoma, Quazeem Adeyinka, Ifeanyi Okoro, Oluwaseun Kassim, Olumide Bankole Morakinyo, Abraham Ola Osoko, Oluchi Jennifer and Chibuzo Nwaonu.

The latest action is part of the sweeping immigration enforcement measures introduced by the administration of US President Donald Trump after his return to office on January 20, 2025.

On his first day back in office, Trump signed a series of executive orders declaring illegal immigration a national emergency and directing federal agencies to intensify border security and accelerate the removal of undocumented migrants.

One of the orders, titled: “Protecting the American People Against Invasion, instructed immigration authorities to prioritise the arrest and deportation of removable migrants, particularly those considered threats to public safety and national security.”

Defending the policy, the DHS said the administration was delivering on Trump’s campaign promise to carry out mass deportations, beginning with what it described as the “worst of the worst” criminal offenders.

The department said officers of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement had been directed to intensify operations nationwide against non-citizens convicted of serious crimes.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has also defended the crackdown, saying the administration remained committed to enforcing immigration laws and removing undocumented immigrants with criminal records in line with President Trump’s immigration agenda.Executive Branch

Official US immigration data indicate that Guatemala has recorded the highest number of deportees since the renewed crackdown began, followed by Honduras, Mexico and El Salvador, reflecting the administration’s focus on migrants from Latin America.

The US has also expanded deportation flights to countries across Africa, Asia and the Caribbean as enforcement operations continue.

Nigeria has also come under increased scrutiny by the Trump administration. In June, Washington imposed partial visa restrictions on Nigerian citizens, citing concerns over identity management, information sharing, visa overstay rates and security screening.Demographics.

The PUNCH

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has demanded the establishment of an independent commission of inquiry to probe the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).

The PFIPC has come under scrutiny over the N1.3 billion budgetary allocation made to the council in the 2026 budget.

On June 11, Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu, issued a public disclaimer disowning the appointment of Adeniyi Adeyemi as the head of the council.

The former speaker of the house of representatives said such an office “does not exist” under Tinubu’s government, and no appointment has been made in that regard.

But Adeyemi rejected Gbajabiamila’s claim, describing it as a contradiction in official government records.

The presidency would later accuse Adeyemi of forging documents, including an appointment letter, to present himself as the head of the alleged non-existent government agency.

On Tuesday, Tinubu directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to conduct a “thorough investigation” into the PFIPC controversy.

‘FG MUST SET UP AN INDEPENDENT PANEL’

In a statement issued on Wednesday through Phrank Shaibu, his senior special assistant on public communication, Atiku said Tinubu’s directive to the ICPC to investigate the matter was a response to the seven-day ultimatum he had earlier issued demanding a transparent probe.

He said Tinubu’s directive to the ICPC exposed contradictions in the presidency’s previous position that the matter had already been comprehensively investigated by the police, with a suspect arrested and criminal charges filed.

“If all of that is true, what exactly is the ICPC expected to spend another 30 days investigating?” Atiku asked.

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) said if the police probe was indeed comprehensive, another investigation by a government agency would be unnecessary.

“What Nigerians demanded was never another internal government investigation. We demanded an independent investigation,” he said.

Atiku proposed the immediate establishment of a special independent commission of inquiry comprising 10 eminent Nigerians nominated by the federal government, the ADC, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), civil society organisations (CSOs), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and retired judicial officers.Politics (Left)

He said the proposed panel should be empowered to conduct a comprehensive investigation into every aspect of the PFIPC affair, review investigative records compiled by the police and other security agencies, summon serving and former public officials where necessary, publish a white paper containing its findings and recommendations, and conclude its assignment within one month.

Atiku said only an independent commission, with representation from the government, opposition parties and CSOs, would command public confidence and restore trust in the outcome of the investigation.

Justice Peter Kekemeke of the FCT High Court on Wednesday awarded N10 million in damages against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for defaming the reputation of former Minister of Power, Dr Olu Agunloye.

The judge found the commission guilty of defamation while delivering judgment in a N10billion suit filed against the EFCC by Agunloye.

Agunloye claimed that the publication on the commission’s Website and X (formerly Twitter) handle, entitled “EFCC arraigns Agunloye over $6billion fraud”, damaged his reputation.

Agunloye had, through his counsel, Adeola Adedipe SAN, suit marked FCT/HC/CV/1199/2024, claimed that the EFCC caused harmed his reputation.

He added that he (Agunloye) was said to be a corrupt and fraudulent individual through a post published on its official website and other allied online platforms, with the caption, “EFCC arraigns Agunloye over $6billion fraud”.

Delivering judgment , Justice Kekemeke held that there were elements of defamation in the posts.

The judge held that in the instant case, the contentious publication is in permanent form, adding that Agunloye’s name was mentioned.

The court further held that EFCC’s sole witness in the case, Assistant Commissioner of Police Umar Babangida, inspite of the fact that he initially denied knowledge of the said publication, later owned up and admitted that it was from the defendant’s media department.

He held that the case before him does not challenge EFCC’s power to investigate economic and financial crime as claimed by the defendant.

“Having gone through the charge in the criminal case against the claimant before a FCT high court in Apo, there is no where in it that claimed fraud, contrary to the EFCC publication.

“The issue of fraud is not in any of the exhibits tendered before the court in the course of hearing the case.

”The EFCC failed to prove the truth in the said publication. That is not fair and does not represent the court’s proceedings,” the judge held.

He held that the EFCC was not a news agency but an investigative agency.

Justice Kekemeke held that the commission knew that Agunloye was not involved in a fraud of six billion Naira.

The court declared that the contentious publication on EFCC official website and X handle as false and defamatory.

The judge ordered the commission to retract the publication and offer public apology on its website and two other national dailies.

The court further ordered a perpetual injunction restraining EFCC from defaming the former minister.

Reacting to the judgment in an interview with newsmen, counsel for the EFCC, Dr Wahab Shittu SAN, declared the commission will appeal the judgment.

“Though the court has made it pronouncement, the case is premature as the claimant’s criminal charge is yet to be concluded and judgment delivered,” he said.(NAN)