7,436 Nigerians crossed European borders illegally in 2015, says EU

Abuja – The European Union on Monday said 7,436 Nigerians crossed into Europe from Nigeria illegally in the second quarter of 2015.

Mr Richard Young, EU Deputy Head of Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, made this known on the side line of a news briefing on migration in Abuja.

Young explained that the figure was the number of irregular migrants that were officially recorded by the EU Border Agency, Frontex.

He said that out of the 7,436 immigrants, 7,124 illegally crossed through the sea borders into Europe during the period.

He said the agency recorded a total of 170,155 migrants that illegally crossed the borders into Europe from various countries in the period.

“In this situation, they are referred to as irregular immigrants in the sense that they crossed the border illegally but may have a right of asylum.

“After all investigations are done and it is found that they do not have the right of asylum, then they are referred to as illegal immigrants,’’ he explained.

The envoy disclosed that EU had earmarked 1.8 billion pounds to set up an emergency trust fund for stability and addressing root causes of irregular migration and displaced persons in Africa.

According to him, the fund is set up to address the crises in the regions of the Sahel and Lake Chad, the Horn of Africa and North Africa.

In an earlier address with newsmen, a senior EU official said the fund made available by member states was aimed at fostering stability and contributing to better migration management in Africa.

The official, who spoke under condition of anonymity, said that the forthcoming 2015 Valletta Summit on Migration would bring EU and African countries together to enhance partnership and find common solutions to illegal migration.

He said that the meeting would build on existing frameworks of cooperation to address the root causes of migration, establish and organise legal migration channels.

He said that the meeting would also focus on ways to enhance the protection of migrants and asylum seekers as well as tackle exploitation and trafficking of migrants.

The official added that the meeting would also improve on policies on the return and re-admission of illegal migrants.

He also confirmed attendance of the 34 African countries invited to participate in the summit.

“We have invited African countries we have agreements with on migration; half of them would be represented at the levels of Heads of State and Government while the others would be represented at the ministerial levels.

“Out of 28 EU member states, 22 will be represented at the Heads of States and Governments,” he said.

He added that the African Union, ECOWAS and other regional economic communities across Africa would also be represented at the summit.

The official reiterated the commitment of EU to assisting African countries in building stronger migration policies and addressing root causes to migration.

Source : Vanguardngr

Crisis, as Dogara ushers in 96 House committees

Dogara has declared war against Buhari, party, says Pro-Gbajabiamila group

ABUJA — The 96 new standing committees of the House of Representatives were yesterday inaugurated at a session boycotted by the House leader, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila.

Dasuki drags FG to court, says his life is in danger

ABUJA —Former National Security Adviser, NSA, under President Goodluck Jonathan, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), yesterday, dragged the Federal Government before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, insisting that his life is in danger.

Former national security adviser of ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, Sambo Dasuki (R), speaks with his lawyer Ahmed Raji, during his trial at the federal high court in Abuja, on September 1, 2015.  Nigerian prosecutors on September 1, 2015 slapped a charge of unlawful possession of arms against Dasuki. Dasuki was arraigned on a "one-count charge of being in possession of firearms without licence," Prosecutor Mohammed Diri told the federal high court in Abuja.  AFP PHOTO

Former national security adviser of ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, Sambo Dasuki

Dasuki, who approached the court through his legal team led by Mr. Ahmed Raji, SAN, said he has been kept under house arrest by armed operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, since November 3.

He lamented that the DSS operatives laid siege to his house and prevented him from travelling abroad for medical treatment despite a subsisting court order that permitted him to go and take care of his budding cancer and return to the country within three weeks to continue his trial.

Dasuki, in a fundamental right enforcement application he filed against the Federal Government, yesterday, pleaded the high court to uphold his rights to dignity and security of life.

He further prayed the court  to issue a mandatory order compelling the Federal Government and its agents, especially the operatives of the DSS, to vacate his house located at 13, John Kadija Street, Asokoro with immediate effect.

His application was predicated on sections 36(5) 37 and 41 of the 1999 constitution, as amended, as well as on sections 1(1) and (2) and 266 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.

The former NSA equally sought an order of the court extending the leave that was initially granted to him by Justice Ademola Adeniyi on November 3.

Justice Adeniyi had in his ruling, okayed Dasuki for three weeks medical leave abroad owing to his “deteriorating health condition”.

Meantime, decrying that security operatives refused him from enforcing the order of Justice Adeniyi, Dasuki, yesterday, urged the court to stop the siege to his house and order the Federal Government to allow him to seek proper medical attention abroad as he was earlier permitted to do by the court.

His application was premised on five grounds, among which included the fact that the action of the DSS runs contrary to  a valid order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

Electoral offenders must be punished – Buhari

ABUJA—President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, called for punitive measures against perpetrators of electoral malpractices, saying it was not enough to cancel polls and order fresh ones.