Headline
US Citizen, Akpabio’s Aide Disagree Over Letter Seeking USAID Funds

A letter seeking funds from the United States Agency for International Development , USAID, is generating controversy between a Nigerian-American citizen, Zion Umoh and the Office of the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
According to the said letter dated November 13, 2023 and addressed to the USAID Mission Director in Abuja is requesting the sum of N700 million from USAID for educational projects and programmes in Akwa Ibom Northwest (Ikot Ekpene) senatorial district.
In the letter made available to newsmen on Saturday in Uyo, a senior legislative aide to the Senate President had accused Umoh of posing as the director of special duties to the Senate President to write the letter, saying it is a clear case of impersonation.
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But Umoh, who had worked as the director special duties in Senator Godswill Akpabio’s campaign Council during last year’s election, denied that he wrote the letter to USAID.
He added that the plan is to defame his character before the Senate President and members of the public
His words, “Arch Ubokutom Nyah was the Campaign Director General for Senator Godswill Akpabio. He appointed me the Director of Special Duties and he can testify that my Office had or has no letterhead.
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“I did not write any letter. There is no way I would have written a letter demanding for funds without the letter passing through the Office of the DG Arch Ubokobong Nya. The signature on the letter is not my own.
“The fake letter is published on social media by a senior legislative aide to The Senate President. I travelled to United Kingdom on the 15th Day Of August 2023 an have not visited Nigeria till date.
” I don’t understand how USAID Abuja received a letter from me on the 13th November 2023. I have never in my life written a letter that has to do with contract or supply and I have no registered company in Nigeria”.
Umoh disclosed that he has asked his lawyers to initiate legal action against the Office of the Senate President in order to clear his name.
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He also urged security agencies to compel the Office of the Senate President and USAID’s mission director to produce the author of the fake letter.
When contacted via telephone, the senior legislative aide to the Senate President, Mfon Patrick insisted the letter emanated from Umoh.
“Zion Umoh worked as director special duties in Senator Akpabio’s campaign council last year. He wasn’t and hasn’t been appointed by the Senate President into any office named Special Duties.
‘It is an act of fraud for Umoh to have posed as the Director Special Duties in the Office of the Senate President to write the letter to USAID requesting for educational development funds for Ikot Ekpene senatorial district.
“We are not going to allow this matter slip because it is an attempt to tarnish the integrity of the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.” Patrick asserted
Headline
Indian Court Denies Bail To Nigerian Man Over Drug Charges

A court in India has denied bail to a 44-year-old Nigerian national, Cristian Soporuchukwu, who is currently facing drug trafficking charges in the country.
Cristian Soporuchukwu initially entered India on a business visa but was later arrested over allegations of involvement in the sale of hard drugs.
Reports indicated that after arriving in India, Soporuchukwu travelled through Goa, Delhi, and Mumbai, where he allegedly established links with suspected drug traffickers.
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He was accused of purchasing MDMA crystals and distributing them to college students and information technology workers.
According to reports, operatives of the Beguru Police arrested Cristian Soporuchukwu in April 2025 for allegedly selling MDMA crystals around Begur Lake and the AECS Layout Road area.
The New Indian Express reported that the High Court of Karnataka subsequently dismissed the Nigerian’s bail application.
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“The anti-narcotics wing seized about 1 kg of MDMA crystals, a pocket weighing machine, 10 zip-lock covers, a mobile phone and a scooter from him,” the report stated.
Justice V. Srishananda, while ruling on the bail application, reportedly held that errors relating to the grounds of arrest could not automatically justify bail in serious narcotics-related offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, NDPS, Act.
The court further noted that Cristian Soporuchukwu had allegedly overstayed his visa in India, according to the report.
Headline
Strait Of Hormuz: US Announces Sanctions Against Iran

The United States Treasury has announced sanctions against Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority.
Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, said this in a statement on Wednesday.
The statement extended the threat of sanctions to anyone paying the fees, saying they may be providing support to and receiving services from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, and therefore may be exposed to sanctions risk.
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“The Iranian military’s latest attempt to extort global maritime trade is proof that Economic Fury has left the regime desperate for cash.
“Treasury has deprived the Iranian regime of revenue for their weapons programs, terrorist proxies, and nuclear ambitions,” Bessent said.
Bessent added that the US has succeeded in disrupting tens of billions of dollars’ worth of revenue from being accessible to Tehran.
Headline
US Launches New Airstrikes On Iran

The United States has launched new airstrikes in southern Iran.
The strike shot down four one-way attack drones that posed a threat around the Strait of Hormuz and then a ground control site.
A US official revealed that American forces struck an Iranian ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was about to launch a fifth drone.
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The official described the strikes as purely defensive, saying the US intended to maintain the ceasefire.
Report says this is the second time in three days that the US has carried out self-defense strikes against Iranian military targets in southern Iran.
Recall that on Monday the US carried out airstrikes against Iranian missile locations and boats that US Central Command said were preparing to launch mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
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