ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, permission to present evidence of her acquittal by the Southwark Crown Court in the United Kingdom in her ongoing legal battle over forfeited assets.

Justice Inyang Ekwo approved the application on Wednesday after counsel to Alison-Madueke, Godwin Iyinbor, moved the motion and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) indicated it had no objection.

The EFCC was represented in court by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mofesomo Oyetibo.

The development follows the June 17 decision of the Southwark Crown Court in London, which discharged and acquitted the former minister of criminal bribery charges brought against her in the United Kingdom.

Alison-Madueke is currently challenging the forfeiture of her assets before the Federal High Court in Abuja in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/21/2023, with the EFCC listed as the sole respondent.

At Wednesday’s proceedings, both parties first regularised their court filings before Iyinbor sought leave to move a motion on notice filed on June 25.

According to the defence counsel, the application sought permission to file a further and supplementary affidavit to bring the UK court’s acquittal to the attention of the Federal High Court as a fresh and significant development in the case.

He also urged the court to deem the additional affidavit as properly filed and served.

Responding, Oyetibo confirmed that the EFCC had received the application but argued that it merely sought to inform the court of Alison-Madueke’s acquittal in the United Kingdom.

When Justice Ekwo asked whether the anti-graft agency intended to oppose the application, the EFCC’s counsel replied that the commission had no objection.

The court subsequently granted the application and adjourned the matter until October 6 for hearing.

Justice Ekwo also ruled that the EFCC’s preliminary objection and the substantive suit would be heard together on the next adjourned date.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has appointed retired Major General Bala A. Isandu as his Special Adviser on Security as part of efforts to strengthen the state’s security system.

The appointment, which takes immediate effect, was announced by the Plateau State Government in a statement issued on Wednesday.

Before taking up the new role, Isandu served as Senior Special Assistant on Intelligence to the Minister of Defence and previously held the position of Director at the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).

According to the state government, the appointment is part of a wider restructuring initiative aimed at enhancing Plateau’s security architecture, improving the protection of lives and property, and boosting security across schools and other critical public institutions.

During his more than 30 years of military service, the retired general held several strategic intelligence positions and participated in both domestic and international security operations.

Governor Mutfwang congratulated Isandu and other newly appointed officials, expressing confidence in their ability to contribute meaningfully to the administration through their experience, professionalism and commitment to public service.

The governor also urged the new Special Adviser on Security to leverage his extensive military and intelligence background to support the government’s efforts to build a safer, more peaceful and prosperous Plateau State.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The United Kingdom government has unveiled new immigration proposals that could require some former asylum seekers to repay up to £10,000 (approximately ₦18 million) in public support they received while awaiting decisions on their asylum applications before they can qualify for permanent settlement.

The proposed changes, contained in a new immigration bill introduced to Parliament on Tuesday, would give the Home Office legal authority to recover the cost of accommodation and financial assistance previously provided to asylum seekers who later become financially stable.

Under the proposed legislation, eligible individuals who have secured employment or acquired sufficient financial resources after being granted protection may be required to reimburse part or all of the support they received during the asylum process. Repayment would become one of the conditions for obtaining indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

The new rules would also extend to former asylum seekers who leave the United Kingdom and subsequently apply to return, ensuring they meet any outstanding repayment obligations before being granted settlement rights.

According to the Home Office, the measure is aimed at reducing the growing financial burden of the UK’s asylum system on taxpayers while ensuring that those who are capable of contributing do so once they are financially established.

Defending the proposal, the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said the government had already made significant progress in cutting asylum-related expenditure but believed it was reasonable to expect beneficiaries who can afford it to help repay public funds.

She said the cost of providing accommodation and other forms of support to asylum seekers remains substantial and places considerable pressure on public finances.

According to Mahmood, while access to asylum support is an important humanitarian commitment, individuals who later achieve financial stability should be expected to contribute towards the costs incurred on their behalf.

Official Home Office figures show that accommodating an asylum seeker currently costs an average of £23.25 per person each night in standard dispersal accommodation. However, the cost rises sharply to around £144 per person per night for those housed in hotels, which have been widely used because of accommodation shortages.

In addition to housing, asylum seekers receive weekly subsistence payments ranging between £9.95 and £49.18, depending on their personal circumstances and the type of support provided.

Government employment data cited by the Home Office indicate that many refugees eventually become economically active after being granted asylum. Around one in four people aged between 16 and 64 who received refugee status between 2015 and 2023 entered employment within the same year they were granted protection.

The proportion increases significantly over time, with about half of refugees securing employment within two years of being granted asylum.

Among refugees who had lived in the UK for eight years after receiving refugee status, 37 per cent were working full-time, earning a median annual salary of approximately £23,000. The figures also show that around 40 per cent earned above the national minimum wage.

The Home Office said the proposed legislation reflects the government’s intention to make the asylum system more financially sustainable by requiring those who are able to repay some of the public assistance they once depended on, while continuing to provide protection for individuals fleeing persecution and conflict.