The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested Rotimi Oladimeji, a Nigerian national previously convicted of fraud, in a nationwide operation targeting illegal immigrants.
In a statement posted on its X account, ICE said Oladimeji was ordered to pay more than $1.1 million in restitution before his arrest in New Orleans.
Nigerian criminal alien Rotimi Oladimeji’s criminal history includes mail and wire fraud. He was ordered to pay $1.1M+ in restitution before ICE New Orleans arrested him, the agency stated.
Oladimeji was sentenced to three years in prison by a US District Court in December 2023 after pleading guilty to fraud. According to the US Department of Justice, he helped Nigerian scammers defraud a woman who believed she was in an online romance with a St. Louis-based veterinarian.
Court records show that in 2019, Oladimeji told the victim the fictitious veterinarian could not travel to Dubai unless she sent money. She eventually lost nearly $1.17 million through repeated four- and five-figure transfers. Oladimeji kept 20% of the proceeds, while accomplices, acting as money mules, pocketed another 20% before forwarding the rest to Nigeria.
Despite being placed on deportation at the time of conviction, Oladimeji remained in the US after serving his sentence. His latest arrest comes amid ICE’s expanded clampdown on illegal and criminal migrants, part of an enforcement drive initiated under former President Donald Trump.
Police Probe Corpse Found at National Assembly Car Park
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has opened an investigation following the discovery of a decomposing male body inside a vehicle at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja, on Sunday.
FCT Command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, said officers received a distress call at about 9 a.m. on September 7 reporting the incident.
Upon arrival, the Divisional Police Officer of the National Assembly Division found the unidentified man inside a red Peugeot 406 with registration number BWR-577 BF. The body, suspected to be that of a labourer, was evacuated to Asokoro General Hospital, where doctors confirmed it was already in an advanced state of decomposition.
The FCT Commissioner of Police has ordered a discreet investigation to establish the deceased’s identity and uncover the circumstances surrounding his death.
Senate to Natasha: Wait Until Court Rules
The Senate has said suspended Kogi Central lawmaker, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, cannot resume her duties despite claiming her six-month suspension ended on September 4.
In a letter signed by Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria, the upper chamber maintained that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s case remains sub judice as her appeal against the suspension is still pending in court.
The Senate insisted her suspension, which began on March 6 following allegations of insubordination, remains valid until the Court of Appeal delivers its verdict. The disciplinary measure also stripped her of aides, office privileges, and salaries.
Akpoti-Uduaghan has argued her ordeal stems from a petition she filed accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment—a claim the Senate dismissed. Despite securing a favorable judgment earlier, her attempt to re-enter the chamber in July ended in a standoff as security operatives blocked her entry.
Korean Women Sue US Military Over Forced Prostitution
More than 100 South Korean women who were forced into prostitution for US soldiers during the Cold War have filed a landmark lawsuit against Washington.
Historians estimate that tens of thousands of women worked in state-sanctioned brothels from the 1950s through the 1980s, serving American troops stationed to defend South Korea from the North.
South Korea’s Supreme Court had previously ruled in 2022 that Seoul illegally managed the brothels and ordered compensation. But this new suit marks the first time the US military itself has been directly accused, with plaintiffs seeking both an apology and 10 million won ($7,200) each in damages.
Victims recounted harrowing abuse, including sexual violence, forced medical testing, and confinement. Activists argue the US military stripped the women of their freedom and destroyed their lives.
The lawsuit names the South Korean government as the defendant, since it bears initial legal responsibility for the actions of US troops on duty. Washington may be required to reimburse Seoul if damages are awarded.
The United States Forces Korea (USFK), which still maintains about 28,500 troops in the country, acknowledged awareness of the lawsuit but declined to comment while proceedings are ongoing.
NCAA Summons Airlines Over Flight Delays, Cancellations
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has summoned 13 domestic airlines to an emergency meeting following widespread complaints over persistent delays, cancellations, and poor passenger treatment.
The meeting, scheduled for tomorrow in Abuja, was confirmed by NCAA Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu.
He said the session would address unresolved complaints ranging from delayed refunds and lack of compensation to safety enforcement and inadequate welfare for stranded passengers. He warned that the era of leniency is over and vowed strict sanctions against defaulters.
Achimugu also revealed plans to introduce RFID baggage tagging and real-time flight monitoring to improve compliance. He cautioned that airlines often cancel late-night flights without accommodation for travelers, exposing NCAA officers to hostility from aggrieved passengers.
Trump Launches Immigration Raids in Chicago
The Trump administration has rolled out a new immigration enforcement campaign in Chicago, dubbed Operation Midway Blitz, targeting what it calls “the worst of the worst criminals.”
The Department of Homeland Security accused Illinois Governor JB Pritzker of releasing dangerous offenders and sheltering undocumented migrants. Trump’s critics, including Senator Dick Durbin, condemned the move as a political stunt meant to stoke fear rather than improve safety.
The operation comes after Trump’s repeated threats to deploy the National Guard in Chicago, sparking protests and widespread pushback. Over the weekend, the president shared memes and an AI-generated image of himself parodying a war film character, further fueling outrage.
Oil Workers’ Strike Threatens Fuel Supply
Nigeria is facing a looming fuel crisis as the strike by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) against the Dangote Refinery enters its second day.
The industrial action has halted loading operations at major depots nationwide, raising fears of imminent shortages and possible pump price hikes. Long queues have already formed in Lagos and other cities.
NUPENG accuses the refinery of poor welfare practices and refusal to recognize union rights, while operators insist conditions have improved, citing higher driver pay and better housing.
Stakeholders warn that if the dispute is not resolved within 72 hours, fuel prices could soar, worsening the hardship of motorists and businesses already grappling with inflation.
