By Francesca Hangeior

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has convicted and sentenced a woman, identified as Benedicta Usen, also known as Mrs Carol Omomoh, to a five-year imprisonment without option of fine for trafficking a lady for prostitution.

Justice Ekwo, in a judgment, said he found that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt with respect to each and every allegation in the eight-count charge.

Justice Ekwo consequently sentenced Omomoh to two years and six months imprisonment each in counts one, three, five and seven without an option of fine.

The judge also sentenced her in counts two, four, six and eight to five years imprisonment each without an option of fine.

He ordered that all the jail terms must run concurrently with effect from Feb  3.

Justice Ekwo observed that Omomoh’s denials in the face of her evidence-in-chief as 1st defence witness (DW1) only exposed her “as a barefaced liar, a crooked and dishonest human being.”

According to the judge, to even have the audacity to stand in court and deny the statement she made voluntarily to the police shows how depraved she is.

“The evidence also exposes her as being in the business of procuring young vulnerable women like Miss Cynthia  Omoieke for prostitution abroad.

“People like the defendant must be taken out of the society for good.

“I therefore make an order convicting the defendant of the charge In counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 as charged.

“This is the order of this court,” the judge ruled.

The Inspector-General (I-G) of Police had, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/121/2019, named Omomoh as sole defendant.

In the eight-count amended charge dated Oct  24, 2022, the I-G alleged that the defendant Omomoh and Mrs Oyomiya  Lamidi ‘f’ (now at large), sometime in year 2011 in Lagos, conspired between themselves to commit the offence by recruiting and transporting Miss Cynthia Loveth Ese Omoieke to Italy through the United Kingdom (UK) by means of deception and abuse of position of vulnerability.

The offence is punishable under Section 27 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration (TPPEA) Act, 2015.

In count five, she and Mrs Oyomiya Mama Lamidi ‘f’ (now at large), sometime in 2011 in Lagos, did conspired to commit an offence by organising and facilitating the foreign travel of Omoieke to Italy through the UK which travel promoted prostitution and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 27 of the TPPEA Act, 2015.

Omomoh, however, pleaded not guilty to all the counts and the prosecution called two witnesses to establish its case against her.

Elon Musk is joining the US government after all as special employee but at no cost to America as he would not be needing any wage for his services.

President Donald Trump previously tapped Musk to lead his Department of Government Efficiency, but the tech billionaire, who also serves as the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, was not technically a federal employee. But now, he is, according to a source familiar with his relationship with Trump administration.

Hours after Musk announced a plan to shutter the U.S.

Agency for International Development (USAID) on X, the social media platform he owns, a White House official told USA TODAY he was officially joining the federal government.

Trump made Musk a “special government employee,” the official said. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later confirmed to reporters that Musk had officially joined the administration. The designation allows Musk to work for the federal government with or without compensation for a limited amount of time. He also received a government email and an office. The administration official said Musk would not receive a paycheck.

Leavitt said she didn’t know the status of Musk’s security clearance or whether he had completed a background check.

“He has abided by all applicable federal laws,” she said.

The status change affirms that Musk is working in lockstep with Trump, whom he said he ran his plans to dismantle USAID by and had the president’s full backing to pursue.

The White House said on Monday that USAID would temporarily be put under Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s control.

It is not clear when Musk received the special government employee designation, which allows him to work for the federal government for 130 days over a year without having to publicly disclose his finances. Former President Joe Biden utilized the same authority to hire a top aide during his administration.

-usatoday

The United Kingdom is currently experiencing shortage of workers across a wide range of industries; a situation that is reported to have placed significant pressure on the economy.

In order to tackle this issue, the UK government has introduced new visa programs and work regulations aimed at attracting international talent to fill essential roles.

These changes come as sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, and construction struggle to find enough local workers.

The labour shortage has become so critical that businesses in various industries are now turning to foreign workers to maintain operations. According to the DAAD Scholarship, recruitment drives, adjustments to the ETA system, and the introduction of new visa categories have been implemented to streamline the hiring process for international workers.

Key industries facing labour shortages in 2025
A number of sectors are particularly struggling with a lack of workers in 2025, reports inform. From agriculture to healthcare, nearly every sector is reporting difficulties in filling key roles.

1. Agriculture

Agriculture in the UK has been hit especially hard according to reports, with many farms relying heavily on seasonal foreign workers. Roles such as fruit pickers, dairy farm assistants, and greenhouse workers are difficult to fill as fewer local workers are willing to take on the physically demanding jobs.

To address this, the Seasonal Worker Visa has been made available for foreign workers, offering short-term employment opportunities. Workers in these roles typically earn between £10.42 and £12.00 per hour, depending on their experience.

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2. Healthcare and social care

The UK healthcare system is facing significant staff shortages, particularly in nursing and caregiving, according to reports. With an aging population and rising demand for healthcare services, positions such as care workers, home support workers, and nursing assistants are urgently needed.

To help fill these gaps, the Health and Care Worker Visa has been introduced, allowing international workers to come to the UK and take up essential healthcare roles. These positions offer salaries ranging from £10.75 to £16.00 per hour.

3. Construction and trades

The construction industry is also experiencing a shortage of skilled workers. Key roles in the sector, such as bricklayers, plumbers, and electricians, are in high demand due to ongoing infrastructure projects and urban development. These positions often come with competitive pay, with experienced workers in certain roles earning upwards of £25 per hour.

The Skilled Worker Visa is being used to bring in foreign workers who have the necessary skills to fill these positions.

4. Hospitality and tourism

With tourism rebounding after the pandemic, the hospitality sector according to DAAD Scholarship, has seen a surge in demand, but struggles to find enough workers to meet this demand. Roles such as chefs, waiters, and hotel receptionists are particularly hard to fill.

The government is offering both the Skilled Worker Visa and the Temporary Work Visa to attract foreign talent to these high-demand roles, with salaries for these positions ranging from £10.50 to £14.00 per hour.

Visa pathways for foreign workers
In response to the ongoing labour shortages, the UK government has introduced several visa options to allow foreign workers to fill these vacancies:

Seasonal worker visa: This visa is available for industries such as agriculture, retail, and events. It allows foreign workers to come to the UK for short-term, seasonal work.

Skilled worker visa: This visa targets sectors that require specific skill sets, such as healthcare, construction, and hospitality. It allows workers with particular expertise to take up long-term roles in the UK.
Health and care worker visa: Exclusively for the healthcare sector, this visa facilitates the recruitment of care workers and other healthcare professionals from abroad.

Temporary work visa: This visa is designed for industries with fluctuating, seasonal demand, such as hospitality, events, and retail.

These visa categories are part of a larger effort to address the labour shortages as stated, and ensure that key sectors can continue operating effectively.

The labour shortages in the UK are being felt across multiple industries, and the introduction of new visa programs is perceived as a step in addressing this issue.
These initiatives are designed to bring in foreign workers to fill critical roles, from healthcare and construction to agriculture and hospitality. By opening up more pathways for international workers, the UK hopes to ease the pressure on its economy and support industries in need of labor.

With these changes, foreign professionals are now able to access a variety of work opportunities in the UK, benefiting both the workers and the industries they support.