The United States (U.S) Department of Justice has announced the dissolution of Task Force KleptoCapture, a unit created in 2022 to target Russian oligarchs in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The task force was formed to disrupt the financial networks of wealthy allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin, aiming to enforce sanctions and hold accountable those enabling violations of sanctions and export controls.

Pam Bondi, the Attorney General, stated in a memo that the closure of the task force is part of a broader strategic shift, reallocating resources and focus toward addressing drug cartels and transnational criminal organizations.

In the directive issued on Wednesday, February 5, Bondi stated that ,“This policy requires a fundamental change in mindset and approach.”
Pam Bondi also mentioned that the resources previously allocated to enforcing sanctions and confiscating assets from oligarchs would now be redirected toward combating cartel operations.

Prosecutors who were part of Task Force KleptoCapture will return to their original roles as a result of this shift.

The directive outlining these changes will be in effect for 90 days, with the possibility of extension or becoming permanent.

Since its establishment, the task force successfully seized numerous high-value assets, including luxury yachts owned by Russian billionaires Suleiman Kerimov and Viktor Vekselberg.

The drop box visa processing option has been placed on hold for US visa applicants in Nigeria, marking a significant shift in the visa renewal process.

The service, which previously allowed eligible applicants to renew their visas without an in-person interview, has been quietly removed from the appointment booking system.

While the US Embassy in Nigeria has yet to issue an official statement on the change, applicants attempting to schedule visa renewals have reported that the drop box feature is no longer an option on the appointment booking platform.

Applicants who spoke to an online newspaper stated that they have not been able to access the platform suggesting that it may have been removed.

The feature may have been removed as a slew of executive orders from Donald Trump started to impact the world.

This development is coming amid a backlog of visa applications, with many applicants waiting months to secure drop box appointments before this removal.

Some even reported waiting nearly a year to get a physical appointment, adding to the frustration of an already tedious process.

This change comes at a time when many applicants had already been struggling with long wait times—some as long as a year—to secure an in-person visa appointment.
As of January, dropbox appointment slots were unavailable in Lagos, pushing many applicants to seek alternatives in Abuja.
Now, with the complete removal of the drop box feature, all applicants will have to go through in-person interviews, returning to the process that was in place before 2020.

Credit: Nairametrics

Ex-Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Adamawa State, Hudu Ari, who was recently dismissed for alleged electoral graud, has demanded for fair hearing, still insisting APC won in Adamawa.

In a chat with newsmen in Bauchi, Ari claimed that he wrote several letters to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to explain his side of the story but his letters were rejected.

He further stated that the tribunal overseeing the case between Aisha Binani and Ahmadu Fintiri had refused to accept his evidence.

Ari insisted that he had substantial evidence to support his position but was never invited to present his case. He displayed documents he claimed were authentic result sheets, along with letters he sent to INEC.

He said, “The dismissal is not my problem. The civil service is governed by civil service rules, procedures, and services.

“In law, there is what we call the golden rule of natural justice which says that you must be heard. Even God will never punish anybody without sending the messages, the prophets, and the scriptures.”

“The refusal of INEC to collect my letters and then the tribunal said they are not using my evidence. Even as an ordinary judge, what do you say to that?” he asked.

Holding a copy of the Holy Quran, Ari said, “Wallahi, whatever I do, I do it within the bounds of the Quran. We have to remember the last day.”

Ari also alleged that some of the INEC staff were compromised, beaten, and threatened during the 2023 electoral process. He lamented that he had been tried by the media and emphasised that he had no regrets for his actions, adding that he would act the same way again, as he believed he was on the side of truth.

“I can even announce it now, she won the election against Fintiri,” the dismissed REC stated, adding that he is currently consulting with family and friends to decide on his next course of action.