Headline

Nigerian Students In UK Thrown Off University Courses, Ordered To Leave Country

Published

1 month ago

May 22, 2024

Editor

A group of Nigerian students have been thrown off university courses and ordered to leave the United Kingdom after they struggled to pay tuition fees on time, BBC reports.

The Teesside University students have said the devaluation of the naira has made it difficult for them to pay their tuition fees, leading to a breach of visa sponsorship requirements.

Teesside University

As a result, some students have been blocked from their studies, reported to the Home Office, and ordered to leave the UK.

The university claims it has no choice but to take this action, citing strict external regulations.

Affected students have expressed their distress and disappointment, feeling that the university is being “heartless” and not providing adequate support.

The group of 60 students, who chose to share their names with the BBC, banded together to urge the university to offer support after several of their peers faced severe consequences for defaulting on payments.

These students were abruptly locked out of their university accounts and forcibly withdrawn from their courses.

Adenike Ibrahim, a student who was close to graduating, had her visa revoked and was told to leave the country, despite having paid 90% of her tuition fees.

Adenike Ibrahim

“I did default [on payments], but I’d already paid 90% of my tuition fees and I went to all of my classes,” she told BBC.

“I called them and asked to reach an agreement, but they do not care what happens to their students.

“It has been heartbreaking for my son especially, he has been in so much distress since I told him,” Ibrahim added.

Esther Obigwe, another affected student, has been struggling with depression due to the situation.

Esther Obigwe

She claims she repeatedly tried to speak to the university about her financial struggles but received no response until she was blocked from her studies and received notice to leave the country.

Obigwe said, “I attended all of my classes and seminars, I’m a hell of an active student.

“It is disheartening, I am now on antidepressants and being here alone, I have nobody to talk to.

“For over two months, I’ve barely eaten or slept and I don’t understand why this is being meted at us, we didn’t do anything wrong.”

Jude Salubi, a student pursuing a degree in social work, was suddenly informed that his access to the university would be suspended and that he would be required to leave the country, despite being in the middle of a critical placement.

Jude Salubri

Salubi said he commuted from Teesside to Liverpool every weekend, working 18 hours to try to settle his outstanding fees.

“As of now I have paid £14,000 and have a balance of £14,000.

“I am willing to come to an agreement as to how I will make this payment, but I need guarantees that I will be re-enrolled into school and my visa restored,” he said.

A university spokesman said, “Teesside University is proud to be a global institution with a diverse student population but is also very aware of its obligations regarding visa issuance and compliance.

“These strict external regulations ensure that the university fully supports a robust immigration system and is outside of the university’s control.”

The spokesman acknowledged that the university is aware of the financial struggles faced by some students and has proactively offered customised payment plans to those who have requested them.

“This option has been taken up by many of our international students; however, some students have still defaulted on these revised payment plans,” he said.

The Home Office clarified that the decision to grant or withdraw visa sponsorship lies with the sponsoring institution

In cases where a visa is shortened or cancelled, individuals are advised to either regularise their stay or make arrangements to depart the UK, a spokesman told BBC.

Headline

Bullied To Death: How Blaise Felix, Was Electrocuted By SS3 Students

Published

8 hours ago

June 24, 2024

Editor

At four years, Blaise Felix was already an orphan. That was in 2013 when he and his twin brothers lost their parents.

Since then, they had been in the care of their aunts and uncles who took up the responsibility of sending the young Felix to the Air Force Comprehensive School in Kaduna.

The super intelligent lad who had kicked against bullying was himself a victim as he was bullied and electrocuted by two students who were just a year ahead of him. Felix was in Senior Secondary Two SS2.

His story was told by ace broadcaster, Inya Ode on her Facebook page. She said; “So, some days ago, I told you guys I would share something about Air Force Comprehensive School, Kaduna. Well, here is the story… And it’s a very sad one.

“The last few days have been very difficult and so painful for our church family (Lux Terra Chaplaincy, Abuja). We lost one of our church sons on Wednesday, June 19.

“Blaize (Blaise) Felix was a super intelligent and brave 15 year-old SS2 student of Air Force Comprehensive School in Kaduna. He was the Assistant Head Boy.

“He was orphaned when he was 4 years-old in 2013 and he and his twin brothers have been in their Aunt and Uncle’s care since then.

“One would think he had crossed the stage of bullying but no… This son of ours was electrocuted to death by two SS3 boys for no just cause. These young men, who were already on their way out of school, snuffed the life out of Blaize for reasons best known to them.

“See eh… BULLYING IS REAL!!!
And this happened to us.

“Well, the Air Force say they are investigating so we await the reports of this. But we all know that if this was a private school, it would have been shut down the day it happened.

“The picture below was from the last time Blaize was home, during the Easter Break. He answered a question on Good Shepherd Sunday (April 21, 2024) about Leadership.

“As the Assistant Head Boy, that day he made a commitment to never bully his juniors. Hmmmmmmmmmm! Yet, the same thing he fought against took his life.

“Well, God knows best and, difficult as it is, we COMPLETELY SURRENDER to His perfect will.

“May his Amazingly Phenomenal soul rest in God’s perfect peace, and may all left behind to mourn him find strength and comfort in the HOPE of the Resurrection, we ask through Christ our Lord, Amen.

“All will be well… Through the Love of God our Saviour ALL WILL BE WELL.”
PUNCH

Headline

[PHOTOS] Mohbad: Protesters Storm Nigeria High Commission In London, Demand Thorough Probe

Published

8 hours ago

June 24, 2024

Editor

Some Nigerians on Monday stormed the Nigeria House, London to protest over the circumstances leading to the death of the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba aka Mohbad.

The protesters who displayed different placards and banners demanded justice for the deceased.

They also called on the government to carry out a thorough investigation into the cause of his death.

In a video seen by our correspondent, the protesters decried the delay and eventual outcome of the autopsy result.

They also called on the police authorities to investigate those who were with the late singer at the time he passed away.

However, their demand was conveyed in a letter presented to an official of the High Commission.

Mohbad, a former record label signee of Marlian Music owned by Naira Marley, died on September 12 at the age of 27, with the circumstances surrounding his death sparking controversy on social media.

The Lagos State Police Command however inaugurated a 13-man special investigation team to probe the death on September 18, 2023.

His death also led to the arrest of Naira Marley and controversial Lagos socialite, Balogun Eletu, aka Sam Larry, amongst others.

His corpse was exhumed on September 21, 2023, for an autopsy to unravel the cause of his death.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, tweeted in September 2023 that an autopsy had been concluded and the police were “awaiting results.”

In April, The PUNCH reported that the toxicology test carried out to determine the cause of the music star’s death had been concluded.

The result was sent to the pathologist who carried out the autopsy to analyse and interpret it.

The PUNCH reported that the US-based lab refuted the claim by the Lagos State Government that the toxicology test was conducted at its facility.

The revelation was in response to inquiries made by our correspondent, who embarked on a fact-finding mission to ascertain the musician’s cause of death.

The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, while responding to inquiries via a live telephone call with Ahmad Isah, the anchor of an Abuja-based online programme, Brekete Family, sometime in February 2024, had said the toxicology test was being conducted at the NMS Labs in Pennsylvania, USA.

However, a pathologist while testifying before the Coroner’s Court on May 15, revealed that an autopsy couldn’t determine Mohbad’s cause of death due to the decomposition of his body.

Responding to PUNCH Metro’s inquiry on May 17, the Client Services Associate, Forensics Division, NMS Labs, Esther Dede, stated, “Unfortunately, we do not have a case for that patient.”

Headline

PAP To Pay Attention To Impacted Communities, Victims Of Military Bombardment, Others, Says Otuaro

Published

10 hours ago

June 24, 2024

Editor

The Administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, Dr. Dennis Otuaro says the programme under his watch would pay special attention to impacted communities, victims of military bombardment, families of fallen heroes, among other victims.

INFO DAILY reports that the Presidential Amnesty Programme was created as an interventionist programme to the intense agitation by Ijaw and Niger Delta youths.

The PAP boss spoke on Monday at the ongoing stakeholders meeting in Warri with the theme: ‘Fostering, Consolidating, and Collaborating for the Peace, Security, Stability, and Development of the Niger Delta.’

Otuaro, who stressed the need for cooperation and support by the ex-agitators to succeed in his administration, said: “The Amnesty programme is an opportunity for ex-agitators to benefit their family, children and other critical stakeholders in the region.”

He continued: “I’m not a stranger in the business. Some of our comrades died in the struggle and we need to carry their families left behind along.”

He added: “Some people have been trained but no empowerment after training while others have not gone for training at all.

“This programme can raise funds to support our wives who are into small scale businesses in the villages.

“We all are victims of the struggle, many of our people were not captured in the time of dropping arms due to fear. I will try my best to incorporate those people that have not benefited from the programme since 2009.”

The PAP boss, while reaffirming his commitment to repositioning the programme in order to accommodate more critical stakeholders in the Niger Delta, stressed: “My vision is to see that our people in the villages benefit from the programme. I’m going to do better, so that the Amnesty Programme would be judiciously managed for the interest of our people.”