Nigerian government sues senator over assassination claims
The Nigerian government has pressed charges against a senator who accused one of the country's top politicians of plotting to kill her.
In April, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that Godswill Akpabio, the senate president, and Yahaya Bello, a former state governor, wanted to "eliminate" her. Both have denied the accusation.
Weeks before, Akpoti-Uduaghan had accused the senate president of sexually harassing her - an allegation he has also denied.
The government has now filed charges with the High Court, saying Akpoti-Uduaghan's assassination allegation defamed Akpabio and Bello.
In the charge sheet, seen by the BBC, Nigeria's attorney general referenced an interview shown by Nigerian broadcaster Channels TV last month.
In the interview, Akpoti-Uduaghan spoke of "discussions that Akpabio had with Yahaya Bello... to eliminate me".
The attorney general said this statement, and others made in the same broadcast, could harm Bello and Akpabio's reputations.
Akpoti-Uduaghan has not responded publicly to the charges against her.
In March, after accusing Akabio of sexual harassment, Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from the senate for six months without pay.
The senate's ethics committee said the suspension was for "unruly and disruptive" behaviour during a debate in the senate, but her supporters argue that it was a result of her allegations against Akabio.
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32 minutes ago
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Fact check: More people leave than arrive on current youth mobility schemes
On the BBC's Today programme on May 19, from around two hours and 21 minutes, Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the UK's youth mobility arrangements with other countries reduce net migration. Asked 'how do you know there will be fewer people coming here than leaving?' Mr Reynolds said: 'Well, I've got 13 schemes in action already and that's the evidence of them.' He later added: 'I tell you the evidence of the current schemes just so you know is that they're a net negative on immigration.' Around 24,400 youth mobility visas were issued to people wanting to come to the UK in 2024. Although figures are patchy for how many Britons go abroad, data from just three countries – Australia, New Zealand and Canada – suggests that 68,495 British citizens travelled to those countries in 2024 (the Australian data is for the 12 months to the end of June 2024). That would suggest that Mr Reynolds is right. However it does not take into account that Britons going abroad on these temporary visas will sooner or later come back, as will those who come to the UK. It is also not clear that this pattern will repeat in any similar deal with the EU. The UK population is much larger than those of Australia, New Zealand and Canada, so there are more Britons who can go to those countries than can come here. With the EU that is reversed. How many people come to the UK on a youth mobility visa? Government data shows there were 24,437 people who were handed a youth mobility visa last year. Most of these were from one of the 13 countries with which the UK has a reciprocal arrangement. A small handful of visas – 131 in total – were for people from countries other than the 13. The Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford has suggested that these are the result of errors in data recording, or due to people having dual nationalities. The top three countries that sent people to the UK on youth mobility visas between January and December 2024 were Australia (9,754 visas), New Zealand (4,304 visas) and Canada (3,060 visas). How many Britons go abroad on youth mobility type schemes? Figures are patchy on how many British people have gone abroad on a youth mobility scheme. The Department for Business and Trade was unable to share data. Australia publishes a twice-yearly report into what it calls its working holiday visa programme. That is the Australian equivalent to the UK's youth mobility scheme. The latest such report covered the 12 months to the end of June 2024. That report showed that Australia issued 48,973 working holiday visas to UK citizens. Data from New Zealand is available on the website of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Using its migration data explorer produces a spreadsheet which shows that there were 9,486 working holiday visas granted by New Zealand to UK citizens in between January and December 2024. Canadian data does not appear to be publicly available, but the figures were provided to the PA news agency by the Canadian Department for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. The data shows that in 2024 there were 9,972 work permits issued to UK and UK overseas territories citizens under the country's working holiday scheme, and a further 64 people had their permits extended. How do incoming youth mobility visas compare to outgoing? Net migration is a figure which subtracts the number of people coming into the country from the number of people leaving. The data cited above suggests that while 9,754 Australians came to the UK on youth mobility visas, 48,973 Britons went in the opposite direction. It must be noted that the time periods measured here are different, the Australian data is for the 12 months ending June 2024, while the UK data is for the 12 months ending December 2024. Meanwhile the data suggests that 4,304 New Zealanders came to the UK while 9,486 Britons went in the other direction. Data further shows that 3,060 Canadians came to the UK in 2024, while 9,972 Britons went in the other direction. This suggests that for each of these three countries the youth mobility schemes are – as Mr Reynolds suggested – reducing net migration. In fact Australia alone appears to receive twice as many Britons (48,973) as all people who the UK receives from all 13 countries added together (24,437). However, it should be noted that because youth mobility schemes are time-limited, Britons going abroad and people who have come to the UK on such visas will eventually be forced to return. This means the UK's inbound migration figures should take into account not just Australians and Canadians – for example – coming to the UK, but also Britons returning from Australia and Canada after their youth mobility visas expire. If it is assumed that everyone returns then over a longer time frame the youth mobility programmes will have a neutral impact on net immigration because every Briton who leaves the UK will come back and every non-Briton who comes to the UK will leave. This does not take into account the people – both Britons abroad and non-Britons in the UK – who apply for a different visa to stay in their adopted country. Do these conclusions also apply to the EU scheme? The impact on net migration of the potential EU scheme will depend on the details of the agreement between London and Brussels. Madeleine Sumption, director at the Migration Observatory, told the PA news agency that the size of the cap on the programme would be vital for the impact on net migration. She said the fact the UK sends more people to Australia, Canada and New Zealand than it receives from them 'probably results from the fact that the UK has a much larger population than they do, so we just have more young people potentially interested in moving'. With the EU scheme, Ms Sumption said, the population sizes are flipped – that is to say the EU's population is much bigger than the UK, leaving more young people who might be willing to come here. Therefore the smaller the cap on the number of visas is, the more likely both the EU and UK will fill their quotas. If both fill their quotas – and the quotas going both ways are the same – then the impact on net migration will be zero. However if the cap is large then it is more likely that there will not be as many Britons going to Europe as are coming in the opposite direction, which will bring up net migration. But, as with the existing schemes, both Britons in Europe and Europeans in the UK will eventually have to leave unless they find another visa, which over the long run should mean that the programme has a neutral impact on net migration. BBC – Today, 19/05/2025 Migration Observatory – What is the Youth Mobility Scheme and how does it work? (archived) – Entry clearance visas granted outside the UK (archived page and spreadsheet, using tab Data_Vis_D02) Australian Department of Home Affairs – Visitor visa statistics (archived) Australian Department of Home Affairs – Working Holiday Maker visa program report (archived) New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment – Migration data explorer (archived page and downloaded spreadsheet. To download the correct spreadsheet, instructions can be found at (archived): In dataset select 'W1 work decisions', in time period select 'calendar year' and in variables select 'application substream', 'application criteria' and 'decision type') Canadian data provided to PA news agency (archived) Madeleine Sumption profile (archived)
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an hour ago
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A Kentucky school board member should resign for calling for political violence
As a proud graduate of Lloyd Memorial High School (Class of 2005), I completed my entire K-12 education in the Erlanger-Elsmere School District, a journey that instilled in me the discipline and values that shaped my path. That foundation propelled me to graduate from Northern Kentucky University, earn a Juris Doctor from Salmon P. Chase College of Law, and return to serve as state representative for this district, which includes the Erlanger-Elsmere Independent School District. In November 2024, I was honored to win reelection with 62% of the vote as a Republican in what some call a "purple district," a testament to our community's trust in my leadership to prioritize education and unity. My legislative work − serving on the House Education Committee, supporting and voting for legislation to address early childhood reading, and improving how mathematics is taught − reflects my deep commitment to this district. However, recent events involving inflammatory rhetoric and criminal behavior from public figures like James Comey and local School Board Chair Jeffrey Miller threaten the values we hold dear. This threat hits close to home with Miller, who has served on the Erlanger-Elsmere Board of Education since his election in 2016, bringing shame to our shared district through both his words and actions. In a social media post, Miller expressed conditional support for the NRA if "these psychos were just once the victims of a mass shooting," adding, "please shoot (R)Republicans." This reckless call for political violence is an attack on the parents of the students he is responsible for protecting, as Republicans like myself make up the largest political affiliation in this district − approximately 55% of registered voters in Kenton County, which includes Erlanger and Elsmere, as of 2024. My recent election win with 62% of the vote in a politically mixed area underscores this community's values, which Miller's words directly undermine. Schools should be safe havens, yet his rhetoric risks normalizing harm. Ironically, since Republicans took control of the General Assembly in 2017, we have increased Support Education Excellence in Kentucky (SEEK) funding in every budget to better support our schools. Perhaps Miller's violent rhetoric stems from resentment toward Republicans for funding education, but such a stance is indefensible. On May 15, former FBI Director James Comey posted an Instagram image of seashells arranged as "8647," interpreted by some as a coded call to "eliminate" President Donald Trump (the 47th president), since "86" can mean "to get rid of" or even "to kill." The post, deleted after backlash, prompted a Secret Service investigation. More: Secret Service investigating ex-FBI Director James Comey's '8647' Instagram post Comey claimed no violent intent, but his history with Trump, who fired Comey in 2017, and the current climate, where 38% of Americans believe political violence is sometimes justified (per a 2022 American Psychological Association study), made the post inflammatory. Comey's post, though ambiguous, was reckless for a former FBI director, given the potential for misinterpretation in a tense political environment. Even more troubling is Miller's criminal behavior while serving on the school board. On Sept. 24, 2017, while serving on the board, Miller was arrested and charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol/drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia. The citation details a disturbing scene: Miller was observed swerving on I-275 near the 81-mile marker, driving erratically, and showing clear signs of impairment − slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, and failing field sobriety tests. Drug paraphernalia was found in his front pocket. He was so intoxicated that he almost struck a police cruiser. This behavior from a school board member, entrusted with the safety and education of our children, is indefensible. Under the Erlanger-Elsmere school district's policies, students caught with drugs face severe consequences, including suspension or expulsion. If our children are held to such standards, why should Miller not be held accountable for his actions? His role demands a higher standard, not an exception. Adding to the district's woes, Miller has presided over a decline in academic performance since first being elected to the board in 2016, with the district now ranking 161 out of 172 school districts in the state, according to Public School Review (2024, September 18). For the 2023-24 school year, only 24% of elementary students are proficient or distinguished in math and 31% in reading (state averages: math 42%, reading 47%); for middle school, it's 26% in math and 35% in reading (state averages: math 39%, reading 45%); and at the high school level, 28% in math and 36% in reading (state averages: math 42%, reading 45%). These figures fall significantly below state averages across all levels, showing a clear gap in educational outcomes. Miller appears more interested in divisiveness than lifting our children up, and he has spent so much time trying to clean up his act after his arrest that he has forgotten to prioritize critical areas like mathematics proficiency, leaving our students to suffer the consequences of his misplaced focus. This is despite increased SEEK funding and Superintendent Chad Molley's $160,000 salary, which is in the top 37% statewide. Both Comey's and Miller's actions highlight the danger of reckless behavior from public figures. Comey's post jeopardizes national discourse, while Miller's call for violence against Republicans and his drug-related arrest while on the school board erode the trust and unity needed in education. His failure to prioritize academic improvement only compounds the issue. Accountability is essential. For Comey, the Secret Service investigation will determine legal consequences, but his clarification falls short of the responsibility his role demands. Miller must apologize and resign to restore trust in the Erlanger-Elsmere Independent School District, and the board should focus on improving academic outcomes rather than tolerating divisive and criminal behavior. As someone who has fought for this district's students, I urge the community to reject political violence and demand better leadership. Our schools and democracy depend on it. Republican Steve Doan represents the 69th District, which encompasses parts of Boone and Kenton counties, in the Kentucky House of Representatives. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: KY school board chair should resign over violent comments | Opinion
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Crockett: ‘Nobody' elected Ernst to be ‘anybody's grave digger'
Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) knocked Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) on Wednesday over the controversy surrounding her 'we're all going to die' remarks about Medicaid, and a sarcastic apology video she later released from what appeared to be a graveyard. 'I'm like, 'Listen, ain't nobody elect you to be anybody's grave digger. They elected you to do everything that you can to make sure that their lives are flourishing and getting better, and that they were living as long as they could,'' Crockett said in an interview on MSNBC. Ernst has become a punching bag for Democrats since telling constituents at a town hall that 'We're all going to die,' in response to concerns that Medicaid cuts in the House-passed 'big, beautiful bill' would cause unnecessary deaths. Crockett, who has a growing reputation for pointed barbs on television, lamented the lack of compassion in politics and pointed to Ernst's remarks as an example of that phenomenon. 'I will tell you that compassion is something that we are missing in Congress. Like, caring is something that we are missing in politics in general,' Crockett said. 'And that's the only way you can justify a senator going out there and saying, 'Well, everybody going to die,' and then decide that you're going to do your apology — not so much an apology — in what looked like a graveyard,' Crockett continued. Ernst, at a town hall meeting Friday in Butler, Iowa, defended the spending reforms in a House-passed budget reconciliation package that are intended to stop people who entered the country illegally from receiving federal benefits. Someone in the crowd tried to talk over Ernst, interrupting her answer about changes to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, yelling out that people are 'going to die' because of the reforms. Ernst answered: 'Well, we're all going to die.' Ernst seemed to double down on her quip, posting an Instagram video from what appeared to be a graveyard the next day, saying in a sarcastic tone, 'I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely apologize for a statement that I made yesterday at my town hall.' 'See, I was in the process of answering a question that had been asked by an audience member, when a woman who was extremely distraught, screamed out from the back corner of the auditorium, 'People are going to die,'' she continued. 'And I made an incorrect assumption that everyone in the auditorium understood that, yes, we are all going to perish from this Earth. So I apologize, and I'm really, really glad that I did not have to bring up the subject of the tooth fairy as well.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
