President Joe Biden pardoned officials accused of committing treasonable felonies against President-elect Donald Trump.

The outgoing president also pardoned Anthony Fauci for his controversial handling of events leading to the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2019. Mr Fauci was found to have committed perjury when he lied to a parliamentary committee investigating the historic pandemic that he did fund dangerous virus research in China, among other allegations.

Several others, especially retired General Mark Milley, were also pardoned after being accused of committing treason. Mr Milley had placed a phone call to American adversaries in China during Mr Trump’s first term in office, assuring them he would disregard orders from the president. Mr Milley denied wrongdoing.

Members and staff of the House committee that investigated the January 6., 2021, Capitol riot and police officers who testified before the committee were also pardoned by Mr Biden.

“I believe in the rule of law, and I am optimistic that the strength of our legal institutions will ultimately prevail over politics,” Mr Biden said in a statement. “But these are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing.”

Mr Trump had said he would look into criminal cases relating to the individuals, accusing them of weaponising the justice system to prosecute him.

The Military High Command has confirmed the killing of the son of Bello Turji, a notorious terrorist leader, in a recent clearance operation on his stronghold on Fakai high ground in Zamfara.

This was disclosed in a statement by the director of defence media operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, on Monday in Abuja.

Mr Buba said the terrorist leader’s son was killed alongside scores of other terrorists during a coordinated operation between troops of Operation Fansan Yamma and the air component.

Mr Buba added that the operation was conducted on January 17 along the Shinkafi, Kagara, Fakai, Moriki, Maiwa, and Chindo axis.

According to him, the intensity of troops’ firepower resulted in high terrorist casualties and their logistics hub destroyed.

“The operations also resulted in the rescue of several kidnapped hostages held captive by Bello Turji.

“The terrorist leader, Bello Turji, in a gross cowardly act, escaped abandoning his son and combatants,” he said.

Mr Buba said the troops also destroyed another terrorist kingpin camp known as Idi Mallam along Zango Kagara Forest, killing three terrorists and apprehending three suspected collaborators.

He noted that troops recovered two machine guns, one AK47 Rifle with a magazine containing 11 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition.

“Other things the troops recovered were 61 rustled cattle and 44 sheep, among other sundry items. Troops are sustaining the onslaught against the terrorists.

“Overall, the troops continued to demonstrate commitment to the safety and protection of all citizens across the country,” he said.

On the eve of her husband, Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th President of the United States, Melania Trump announced the launch of her own cryptocurrency, $MELANIA.

The initiative follows the earlier introduction of the $TRUMP cryptocurrency, both of which have gained traction.

Taking to X late Sunday, Melania shared, “The Official Melania Meme is live! You can buy $MELANIA now.”

According to its official website, the $MELANIA coin is a crypto asset built on the Solana blockchain, a popular network known for its scalability and speed. The website emphasises that the coin is “not intended to be, or the subject of, an investment opportunity or a security.”

Similar disclaimers are also present on the $TRUMP cryptocurrency’s site.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has congratulated U.S. President-elect Donald Trump ahead of his inauguration and said that the so-called special relationship “will continue to flourish for years to come.”

The US president-elect will be sworn into his second term in the White House on Monday, eight years after he first took the oath of office.

Starmer paid tribute to the “depth of friendship” between the 47th president and the UK, and pledged to continue to “work together to ensure the success of both our countries and deliver for people on both sides of the Atlantic.”

Trump spent the eve of the inauguration at a rally, where he declared his supporters had “built a new American majority that will lead our country to success for generations to come.”

UK politicians, including Nigel Farage, are in the American capital ahead of the ceremonies, but questions remain over what impact the second Trump presidency will have on economies across the world if he follows through on threats to implement tariffs.

In a statement on Sunday evening, Starmer sent his congratulations to Trump.

“For centuries, the relationship between our two nations has been one of collaboration, cooperation, and enduring partnership.

“It is a uniquely close bond,” the prime minister said.

“Together, we have defended the world from tyranny and worked towards our mutual security and prosperity.”

Starmer and the president-elect met in New York in September at Trump Tower, ahead of the U.S. election, and at the time the UK leader said he is a “great believer in personal relations on the international stage.”

Starmer added on Sunday: “Since our first meeting in September, the President and I have spoken about the need to deepen and invest in the transatlantic relationship.

“We will continue to build upon the unshakeable foundations of our historic alliance as we tackle together the global challenges we face and take our partnership to the next level focused on shared opportunities ahead for growth.

“I look forward to our next meeting as we continue our shared mission to ensure the peace, prosperity, and security of our two great nations.

“The special relationship between the United Kingdom and the United Statesman will continue to flourish for years to come.”

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has announced the 2025 Hajj fare, with intending pilgrims from Southern states expected to pay N8.7 million, while those from Borno and Adamawa zones will pay N8.3 million.

The commission’s chairman, Prof. Abdullahi Usman, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by NAHCON’s Assistant Director of Information and Publication, Fatima Usara.

Usman noted that intending pilgrims from the Northern zone will pay N8.4 million for the pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

He described the fare as the result of extensive deliberations with key stakeholders, including the presidency and state pilgrims’ boards.

The statement read, “The 2025 Hajj fare for Borno and Adamawa zone’s intending pilgrims is N8.33 million. Similarly, the cost for intending pilgrims from the Southern states is N8.78 million, while pilgrims from the Northern zone will pay N8.46 million.

“This modest effort was achieved after extensive consultations to ensure inclusivity in the decision-making process”

Prospective pilgrims were advised to adhere to Saudi guidelines, register early, and make timely payments to avoid inconveniences.

For more details and a breakdown of the fare, NAHCON directed pilgrims to visit its official website or contact their state pilgrims’ welfare boards.

The chairman thanked the presidency and other stakeholders for their support, emphasizing that the commission remains committed to ensuring a seamless Hajj experience for all Nigerian pilgrims.

Nigeria’s Junior Female Yellow Greens finally got a taste of the actions at the 2025 ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Malaysia, marking their delayed debut with a two-run win over test-playing nation, New Zealand on Monday.

As it happened against Samoa on Saturday, Sarawak’s rain delayed the game but the Nigerian team’s shine wasn’t going to be denied again, as the match began over two hours after its scheduled time with reduced overs.

New Zealand elected to field first, sending the Nigerian batters into the crease.

Captain Lucky Piety hit Nigeria’s first six at a Women’s World Cup in a steadied innings as the Junior Yellow Greens finished with 65 runs for the loss of six wickets in 13 overs.

Knowing they had to come to the party with their bowling as well, Sarah Bakhita’s team took the second innings slow and steady and eventually knocked off the fourth-ranked nation for 63 runs for the loss of six wickets as well.

Bitcoin hit a record high above $109,000 on Monday as Donald Trump, who has signalled plans to deregulate the cryptocurrency sector, prepares to be sworn in as US president.

Bitcoin reached an all-time peak of $109,241 ahead of Trump’s inauguration ceremony, before falling back to $107,765 at around 0740 GMT.

The world’s biggest cryptocurrency has soared since Trump won the presidential election in November, with Bitcoin surpassing $100,000 for the first time in early December.

It came after he nominated cryptocurrency backer Paul Atkins to head the US securities regulator, reinforcing optimism the new president will deregulate the sector.

Despite having once branded cryptocurrencies a “scam”, Trump changed his stance and was a major advocate of them during his election campaign.

Over the weekend, he launched his own cryptocurrency, appropriately called $TRUMP, sparking feverish buying that sent its market capitalisation soaring to several billion dollars.

When bitcoin reached the landmark $100,000 level, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: “CONGRATULATIONS BITCOINERS!!! $100,000!!! YOU’RE WELCOME!!! Together, we will Make America Great Again!”

Cryptocurrencies have made headlines since their creation, from their extreme volatility to the collapse of several industry giants, foremost among them the FTX exchange platform.

Bitcoin was conceived in 2008 by a person or group writing under the name Satoshi Nakamoto.

It was pitched as a way to break free of mainstream financial institutions by establishing a decentralised platform for transactions.

The digital currency is created — or “mined” — as a reward when powerful computers solve complex problems to validate transactions made on a meddle-proof register known as the blockchain.

Bitcoin has long been criticised for being the currency of choice for making untraceable payments on the so-called dark web, a hidden part of the internet used for criminal activities.

The asset has often come under attack for facilitating money laundering and allowing extortion through ransomware attacks.

Its carbon footprint has also been scrutinised because mining cryptocurrencies requires huge amounts of energy.

China on Monday executed a man who killed 35 people in a car rampage in the southern city of Zhuhai in November 2024, in the country’s deadliest mass attack in years.

On November 11, Fan Weiqiu, 62, deliberately drove a small SUV through crowds of people exercising outside a sports complex, also injuring 45 in China’s worst such crime since 2014.

He was sentenced to death last month, with a court saying his motives “were extremely vile, (and) the nature of the crime extremely egregious.”

State broadcaster CCTV said Monday a Zhuhai court “executed Fan Weiqiu in accordance with the execution order issued by the Supreme People’s Court.”

The municipal public prosecutor “sent personnel to supervise (the execution) in accordance with the law,” CCTV reported.

Fan’s attack sparked widespread public shock and soul-searching in China about the state of society. He was detained at the scene with self-inflicted knife wounds and fell into a coma, police said at the time.

At his trial last month, Fan pleaded guilty in front of some of the victims’ families, officials and members of the public, state media said.

The court found he “decided to vent his anger” over “a broken marriage, personal frustrations and dissatisfaction with the division of property after divorce.”

It concluded that his methods were “particularly cruel, and the consequences particularly severe, posing significant harm to society”.

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to eradicating discrimination based on ethnicity within the state.

Otti made this statement on Saturday in Aba during the wedding ceremony of Clement Owunna Jr., son of the Chief Executive Officer of Starline, and his wife, Chinelo.

He emphasized that Abia State welcomes people from any tribe as long as they pay their taxes, effectively recognizing them as sons and daughters of the state.

Otti praised Clement Owunna for his contributions to the state’s socioeconomic development through strategic investments.

He said: “I told myself, I have stayed here and become a very successful Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. But by the time you retire, there might be no home to return to. So, I sacrificed that job and struggled for nearly ten years, and today, we are here.

“What you see in Abia State in the last 19 months is just a dress rehearsal. You haven’t seen anything yet. I’m not boasting; I know what this state can achieve.

“The first thing we abolished was the concept of ‘state of origin.’ If you live here, you are from here.

“Recently, I appointed someone as the Head of Service of the State. Some people said he is from Edo. I don’t know about that. He came here in 1999 through the National Youth Service Corps, distinguished himself as the best Corps member, and was retained in the civil service.

And now, someone wants to tell me he isn’t from Abia State?

“We are building a model state. No matter the criticism, we remain focused and determined. If you visit Aba in the next year, you might not recognize it.

“Nearby, there was an abandoned project called Enyimba Hotel. Soon, you might see a Radisson Blu on that site, with a conference center beside it and a leisure park across from it. This is our home, and we must fix it.”

Otti thanked the people for their support and assured them that he would use the state’s resources solely for its development.

Nearly two weeks after raising the alarm over alleged 200 death threats to his life, the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Felix Morka, has reportedly not formally petitioned the police as he vowed to do.

Following a heated media exchange between him and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Obi, Morka had on January 8 alleged that he received 400 threats, including two 200 death threats, from persons believed to be Obi’s supporters.

Speaking on Arise TV on January 8, Morka said, “Peter Obi’s allegations that my words in that interview threatened his life have triggered serious consequences.

“As of now, I have documented 400 threats, about 200 of which are explicit death threats. These are written threats that I will be submitting to law enforcement agencies.

“In these messages, individuals have detailed how they plan to harm me—threatening to shoot me, behead me, and carry out other gruesome acts. This is not mere rhetoric. It has even extended to direct threats against some members of my family. These are explicit and graphic threats, not vague insinuations.”

Vowing to submit a petition to the law enforcement agencies, the APC spokesman said, “I did not threaten Peter Obi in any way. Those issuing these threats are acting on their own, but I trust that law enforcement will respond swiftly to bring them to justice.”

However, an inquiry from the police showed that Morka had yet to submit any petition over the alleged death threats.

When contacted, the Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, said he didn’t receive any report of the alleged death threats.

“I’m not aware of what you are saying. Has he informed us?” Adejobi queried.

Efforts to reach Morka one week after his vow to petition security agents with the evidence of the death threats were unsuccessful.

Aside from not responding to calls made by the correspondent, the APC image maker did not also respond to the SMS and WhatsApp messages sent to his mobile line for clarification.

Meanwhile, the Director General of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr Yunusa Tanko, said Obi’s camp was not bothered whether Morka succeeded in providing security agencies with evidence of the death threats or not.

Tanko, who also doubles as Obi’s media aide, vowed that the supporters would solidly stand by his principal in his zeal to liberate Nigerians from the current ‘oppressive and authoritarian’ regime.

According to him, the threat against Obi has been watched by Nigerians, including the police, and it is also on record.

He said, “Let Morka report to the agencies as he said. We have made our point. It is already on record that he made threats to Peter Obi’s life. Everybody, including the police, has a particular documented interview.

“If he claims to have anything against Peter Obi, let him bring it. We will tackle it. But at the moment, he is the one who needs to defend himself in the eye of the law. So, if he likes, let him continue with his libel and unfounded statement. But we will not gratify him anymore with any of our statements.

“It is even wrong to place him and Peter Obi on the same pedestal. What the APC is trying to do is to reduce the argument to Morka and Obi. But they are not from the same realm. If it was President Tinubu that was talking, he could be obliged to speak back to him.”

A Russian strike killed four people in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, city officials said on Saturday, in what the country’s foreign minister called a “heinous” attack with ballistic missiles.

At least three more were wounded, while a separate overnight strike on the southern city of Zaporizhzhia wounded 10, the regional governor said.

Kyiv is frequently targeted by Russian drones and missiles but deaths are rare in the capital, which is heavily protected by air defence systems and better able to fend off attacks than elsewhere in the country

“We already have four dead in Shevchenkivsky district,” Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, said in a Telegram post, referring to a central area of the capital.

“Yet another proof that Putin wants war, not peace,” Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said in a post on social media.

“He must be forced to accept a just peace through strength — maximum economic and military pressure,” he added.

The air force said it had downed two Iskander ballistic missiles as well as 24 Russian attack drones overnight.

But it said the downed missiles “fell” on Kyiv’s central Shevchenkivsky district, damaging an industrial building, a subway to the metro and residential buildings, and temporarily knocking out local water supplies.

An AFP reporter in Kyiv saw flooding on the street at the site of the attack and the charred remains of a bombed-out McDonald’s outlet.

Air defences had been in operation in the capital throughout the night, the city’s mayor said in updates posted to social media.

The attack came at a time when Kyiv has upped its aerial attacks on Russian energy and military facilities in recent months.

Kyiv’s army has conducted strikes on several Russian oil depots recently, including two major attacks on a facility near a military airfield in Russia’s Saratov region that triggered days-long blazes.

In Ukraine, Russian forces also targeted Zaporizhzhia overnight, the latest in a wave of strikes against the southern city.

Regional governor Ivan Fedorov said Russia had “cynically” targeted the centre of the city “while everyone was sleeping”.

Ten people were wounded of whom one was in a serious condition, he said.

The Forward Operating Base (FOB) of the Nigerian Navy, Akarakumo, Badagry, Lagos, on Friday handed over 109 bags of foreign parboiled rice to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

In a statement, Navy Capt Linus Osuman, the commanding officer of the FOB, Badagry, said two fibre boats carrying 109 bags of foreign rice were intercepted by his men on January 6 in the Kposuko community along Badagry creeks.

“At about 11:30.p.m. on January 6, the Nigerian Navy FOB patrol team on routine patrol, acting on an intelligence tip-off, conducted a cordon and search around the Kposuko community along Badagry creeks.

“During the search, a total of 109 bags of foreign parboiled rice were discovered in two fibre boats around Harmony Jetty.

“The products were suspected to have been smuggled into Nigeria from Benin Republic. No suspects were arrested as they fled on sighting own patrol team,” he said.

Mr Osuman said the 109 bags of foreign rice were being handed over to the deputy comptroller of customs, J.I. Ohagwu, the officer in charge of operations, Seme Customs.

He said this was in line with the Harmonised Standard Procedures on Arrest, Detention and Prosecution (HSOP-AD&P)2016.

Mr Osman stressed naval chief Emmanuel Ogalla’s mission of maintaining and equipping a professionally competent and ethical naval force “while leveraging on all elements of national power for the effective defence of Nigerian’s maritime area of interest against all forms of threat in fulfilment of national security imperatives.

“Accordingly, these sustained efforts of the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base, Badagry, are all geared towards complying with the stated mission as well as the CNS Strategic Directive 2023-6.

“This is to ensure a safe and secure maritime environment in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea for economic activities to thrive.

“The efforts are also in line with the dictates of the ongoing Operation Water Guard,” he said.

The Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA) has condemned the alleged brutal killing of a 50-year-old Nigerian citizen, Jeremiah Okoye, by the country’s police while in their custody.

Mr Okoye, a native of Eziniffite Nnewi in Anambra, was said to have died while being detained in Limpopo Province on January 13.

NICASA president-general Frank Onyekwelu, in a telephone interview with journalists on Friday, said investigations were ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding the deceased’s death.

“We implore the police authorities to follow the rule of law in discharging their constitutional duties,” he said.

Mr Onyekwelu said Mr Okoye, who resided at No. 71, Magazyn Street, Polokwane, Limpopo Province, had lived in the country for 22 years.

He said NICASA had officially informed the Nigerian High Commission and Consulate in South Africa and contacted Mr Okoye’s family and friends in Limpopo following the sad incident.

“Nigerian citizens in South Africa say no to police brutality and killings and demand justice for the late Okoye. Our lives matter; nationality is not criminality.

“We implore all our citizens to be law-abiding and allow the authorities to utilise all their resources to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of Okoye,” he said.

Mr Onyekwelu expressed hope that Mr Okoye’s death would not become another statistic like others before him.

“The death of Nigerians in South Africa, particularly under police custody, has become a recurring issue that needs to be stopped.

“We fear that these recurring deaths of Nigerians in police custody, if unchecked, will become a dangerous pattern,” he added.

Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Manuel Chang, the former Finance Minister of Mozambique, was sentenced by United States District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis to a term of imprisonment of 102 months and ordered to pay $7 million in forfeiture. The restitution amount will be determined at a later date. Chang was convicted after a four-week trial in July and August 2024 of wire fraud and money laundering in connection with his role in a $2 billion international fraud, bribery and money laundering scheme that victimised investors in the United States and elsewhere. He was arrested in December 2018 in South Africa, pursuant to a provisional arrest warrant issued at the request of the United States and extradited to the Eastern District of New York in July 2023.

Carolyn Pokorny, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Brent S. Wible, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General and head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the sentence.

“Today’s sentence shows that foreign officials who abuse their power to commit crimes targeting the U.S. financial system will meet U.S. justice,” stated Acting United States Attorney Pokorny. “My office will continue to pursue those who violate our laws and harm U.S. investors regardless of their power, position or title.”

“Manuel Chang abused his position as Finance Minister of Mozambique by obtaining $7 million in bribe payments in exchange for helping secure more than $2 billion in loans,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brent S. Wible, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Chang’s brazen misconduct betrayed his duty to the people of Mozambique and defrauded investors, including those in the United States, of substantial losses. With today’s sentence, Chang has been held accountable for his violations of U.S. law.”

“Manuel Chang abused his authority as the former Mozambique Finance Minister by helping to obtain billions of dollars in loans, a large portion of which was diverted from its intended purposes to satisfy bribe payments, ultimately causing significant financial loss to U.S. and global investors,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Dennehy. “With the support of his co-conspirators, Chang violated the trust of his office and wielded his position to enrich himself and other Mozambican officials. May today’s sentencing reiterate the FBI’s commitment to dismantling all corruptive malpractices orchestrated by foreign governments, especially those targeting our country as their personal piggy bank.”

As proven at trial, Chang received $7 million in bribes in exchange for signing guarantees on behalf of the Republic of Mozambique to secure funding for three loans for maritime projects. As part of the scheme, Chang and his co-conspirators falsely stated to banks and investors that the loan proceeds would be used for the projects and that the borrower would not pay bribes to Mozambican government officials. In fact, however, Chang and his co-conspirators facilitated the criminal diversion of more than $200 million of the loan proceeds that were used to pay bribes and kickbacks to Chang and others.

Between approximately 2013 and 2016, in his capacity as Mozambique’s Minister of Finance, Chang, together with his co-conspirators – including executives of Privinvest Group, a United Arab Emirates-based shipbuilding company – ensured that Credit Suisse AG, through its subsidiary in the United Kingdom, Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Limited (CSSEL), and another foreign investment bank would arrange for more than $2 billion to be extended to companies owned and controlled by the Mozambican government: Proindicus S.A. (Proindicus), Empresa Moçambicana de Atum, S.A. (EMATUM), and Mozambique Asset Management (MAM). The proceeds of the loans were intended to fund three maritime projects for which Privinvest was to provide the equipment and services. Specifically, Proindicus was to perform coastal surveillance, EMATUM was to engage in tuna fishing, and MAM was to build and maintain shipyards.

Instead, Chang and his co-conspirators illegally facilitated Privinvest’s diversion of more than $200 million of the loan proceeds to bribes and kickbacks. These funds included more than $150 million that Privinvest used to bribe Chang and other Mozambican government officials to ensure that companies owned and controlled by the Mozambican government would enter into the loan arrangements and that the government of Mozambique would guarantee those loans. The loans were subsequently sold in whole or in part to investors worldwide, including in the United States. In doing so, the participants in the scheme conspired to defraud these investors by misrepresenting how the loan proceeds would be used. Ultimately, Proindicus, EMATUM, and MAM each defaulted on their loans and proceeded to miss more than $700 million in loan payments, causing substantial losses to investors.

In October 2021, Credit Suisse AG and CSSEL admitted to defrauding U.S. and international investors in the financing of an $850 million loan for the EMATUM project. CSSEL pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and Credit Suisse AG entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section (Fraud Section) and the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS). As a part of the resolution, Credit Suisse AG and CSSEL paid approximately $475 million in penalties, fines, and disgorgement as part of coordinated resolutions with criminal and civil authorities in the United States and the United Kingdom.

The Office’s Business & Securities Fraud Section is handling the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Hiral D. Mehta, Genny Ngai and Jonathan Siegel, and Trial Attorneys Peter Cooch of the Fraud Section and Morgan Cohen of MLARS, are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Timothy Migliaro. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance. The Justice Department appreciates the assistance of South African authorities, particularly those in the South African Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and the South African Police Service, as well as authorities in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Spain and Portugal.

The incoming administration of Donald Trump is prepared to begin its massive deportation campaign, with an estimated 150 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers expected to take part in a deportation raid in Chicago from Tuesday.

Citing two people familiar with the development, the New York Times reported that the plan is tagged “Operation Safeguard” and will commence immediately after Mr Trump’s inauguration on Monday.

During his campaign, Mr Trump had promised to carry out the largest deportation in American history.

There are no details about the scale of the operation yet, but hundreds of ICE agents have been asked to volunteer for the post-inauguration raid targeting illegal immigrants living in the United States.

Details of the operation are still being finalised but could begin next week.

Don Terry, a spokesman for the Chicago police, said the department would not “intervene or interfere with any other government agencies performing their duties” but noted that it “does not document immigration status” and “will not share information with federal immigration authorities.”

The “Operation Safeguard” would be conducted as a routine operation and extend to other major cities across the United States.

However, the plan is expected to face opposition in some cities, especially Democrat-run cities, who have vowed that they would not provide any assistance for the incoming administration in their operations.

Ahead of his inauguration scheduled for January 20, American President-elect Donald Trump has launched his crypto coin, $Trump.

Mr Trump announced the launching of $Trump, a Solano-based meme coin, on Friday in a social media post.

“My new official Trump Meme is Here! It’s time to celebrate everything we stand for: Winning! Join my very special Trump community. Get your $Trump now. Go to gettrumpmemes.com,” Mr Trump wrote, posting his iconic photo charging his supporter to “fight” after he escaped assassination during a campaign in Pennsylvania, Butler.

$Trump has blown up since the announcement, hitting $8 billion market cap in less than three hours of its launch.

A brief explanation of $Trump on its official website reads, “On July 13, 2024, President Trump faced death and came up fighting! With his fist in the air and the iconic battle cry FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT, President Trump showed the world what a LEADER is made of.

“Now, you can get your piece of history. This Trump Meme celebrates a leader who doesn’t back down, no matter the odds. Join the Trump Community – we’re all about fighting for what matters.”

During his campaign, Mr Trump vowed to make America a leading cryptocurrency hub in the world.

The Gombe Police Command has apprehended four suspects for allegedly vandalising transformers in the metropolis.

The command’s spokesman, ASP Buhari Abdullahi, said on Friday in Gombe that the suspects allegedly vandalised and removed armoured cables from power transformers in the area.

“On Wednesday, at about 3:00 p.m., information from one Abubakar Sulaiman of Hayin Kwari Misau quarters, Gombe Local Government Area, that some groups of boys were sighted with armoured cable suspected to be have stolen around Hayin Kwari Misau quarters.

“On receipt of the information, the divisional police officer led the patrol team to the scene where four suspects were arrested in connection to the case,” he said.

He said the police recovered 20 metres of 300mm armoured cables and 20 metres of 500 mm armoured cables.

Mr Abdullahi said a preliminary investigation showed that the items were stolen from transformers one and two at Gandu quarters in the metropolis.

He enjoined the residents to be vigilant, protect public assets in their domains, and report suspicious persons and movements to security agencies.

The spokesman said operatives of the command detained 21 other suspects for alleged criminal conspiracy, theft, possession of dangerous weapons, kidnapping, robbery, and culpable homicide, among others.

According to him, the suspects will be charged to court upon completion of investigations.

He reiterated the command’s commitment to tackle crimes and protect lives and property.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested 25 suspected internet fraudsters in a cybercrime training centre in Benin, Edo.

EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale made this known in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

Mr Oyewale said the arrest of the suspects at their hideout on Thursday in Benin was triggered by credible intelligence.

According to him, the apartment is being used as a “Yahoo” academy or training school for internet-related fraud and other fraudulent activities.

”Items recovered from the suspects include six exotic cars, laptops and phones.

”The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded,” he said.

The chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has said that Nigerians in diaspora spent about N60 billion when they visited the country in December 2024.

Ms Dabiri-Erewa made this known at the 2025 budget defence session before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Diaspora in Abuja.

The chairman revealed that remittances alone by Nigerians in the diaspora in the last five years have exceeded $90 billion.

“And in fact, all over the world, everybody now wants to have a Nigerian as a friend. So let’s seize the moment. We can take over the world, and we will.

“We have 17 million of them. And how much did this generate for the growth of the economy? Remittances alone in the last five years have been over $90 billion.

“This December, of course, you know, it is not less than N60 billion in what they spent coming to Nigeria. It could grow, but it is just scratching the surface,” said Ms Dabiri-Erewa.

Ms Dabiri-Erewa said the large influx of diaspora Nigerians in December 2024 resulted from years of consistent interaction and engagement with the community.

According to the NiDCOM helmswoman, the commission is exploring innovative funding strategies, including working with the National Assembly committee on diaspora to enhance its financial capacity.

She proposed the establishment of a Diaspora Plaza, which she said would serve as a hub for Nigerians abroad to connect, engage with government officials, and learn about opportunities within the country.

Ms Dabiri-Erewa said several engagements were held at her residence during the yuletide, adding that many young Nigerians have resources and are willing to invite visitors to the country.

Addressing journalists after the session, the Senate Committee on Diaspora chairman, Victor Umeh (APGA-Anambra), expressed reservations about Nigeria’s readiness for diaspora voting.

Mr Umeh said Nigeria must first tackle the challenges confronting its electoral process before considering extending such rights to Nigerians in the diaspora.

He cautioned against allowing Nigerians in the diaspora to vote without reliable data and systems in place, which could have grave consequences.

“Yes, we are preparing for it. But I am saying that we need to put the enabling environment for it to succeed,” Mr Umeh said.

Mr Umeh said the committee would fight for increased funds for the commission in the 2025 budget.

The senator said funding had been the problem of NiDCOM and that the parliament was determined to support the commission in achieving its mandate.

“In the 2024 appropriation, the provisions were very poor. The National Assembly worked hard to add something to their budget.

“This year, again, we have seen how they operated last year under difficult circumstances, and again, we are going to make moves for them, and we will call on Mr. President to pay particular attention to the diaspora community,” he said.

The chairman said the diaspora community needed to be fully explored and tapped into by the government of Nigeria.

The wife of retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has been abducted from her residence in the Arepo area of Ogun State.

The Ogun State Police Command confirmed the abduction in a statement released on Friday.

The victim was reportedly abducted by four masked men who attacked her, pulled her out of her Lexus Jeep, and drove away with her late Thursday night.

The spokesperson for the command, Omolola Odutola, said “Information was received regarding the kidnapping of Mrs Odumosu, resident of Aminu Street, Arepo.

“Reports indicate that she was about to enter her home when four masked men attacked her, dragged her from her jeep and took her through the swamp to an unknown location.

“The divisional police officer has led a team of policemen to the scene where they are currently searching for the swampy bush area.

“The CP, Lanre Ogunlowo, PhD, has been briefed, and all covert operations have been deployed to assist with digital intelligence to ensure she is rescued unhurt.”

Odutola added that the local chiefs of Warewa and Maaba had been approached to deploy local security outfits to assist in the search effort.