Morning recap: Nigerian couple jailed three years in UK over £433,000 fraud, Tinubu fires shots at opposition, other top stories

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From a UK court jailing a Nigerian couple over a £433,000 fraud involving stolen Transport for London data to President Bola Tinubu pushing back against opposition criticism ahead of the 2027 elections, the morning brought a mix of legal, political and institutional developments.

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Also making headlines are reports of vacant US ambassadorial posts affecting Nigeria and over 100 countries, a Lagos pastor sentenced to life imprisonment for rape, and the University of Ibadan commencing the search for its next Vice-Chancellor as the tenure of the current leadership winds down.

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Here’s your complete morning roundup:

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1. Nigerian couple jailed three years in UK over £433,000 fraud

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Amid a major fraud crackdown, a Nigerian couple, Luciana and Femi Akanbi, have been jailed in the United Kingdom after authorities uncovered a tax rebate fraud scheme involving stolen personal data of Transport for London employees.

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The scheme, which ran between September 2021 and January 2022, used sensitive details of at least 40 workers to file 139 fake tax claims, costing over £433,000.

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At Woolwich Crown Court, Judge David Miller described the scale of the breach, stating, “TfL suffered their worst ever data breach… There were 139 claims for tax rebates totalling just under £649,000. The money lost to HMRC amounted to just over £433,000.” Prosecutor Andrew Evans added, “The fraud was sophisticated in nature, required significant planning and involved a large number of victims.”

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The court heard that the proceeds were laundered through complex channels, while Transport for London confirmed stronger data protection measures. HMRC also warned it would continue to pursue individuals exploiting the tax system, with deportation proceedings possible after the couple serve their sentences.

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Read here:

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2. 2027 battle: Tinubu fires shots at opposition heavyweights

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Rising political tension marked President Bola Tinubu’s remarks as he dismissed opposition pressure and reaffirmed his commitment to his reform agenda.

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Speaking at the State House during a meeting with Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Tinubu insisted no intimidation would derail his administration, positioning himself as the rightful successor to former President Muhammadu Buhari.

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“They want to scare me off? It’s a lie… all I can promise is that I won’t give up,” Tinubu said, adding, “With you, the deal is done.”

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He also defended his reforms, stating, “I didn’t have to look back, because the truth is, I took over from myself… if something is wrong, fine, live with it, correct it, move on.”

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The comments followed criticism from opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar and Rauf Aregbesola, while Presidential aide Sunday Dare countered that Atiku’s outing showed “a disjointed… absence of substance.”

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FCT Minister Nyesom Wike also dismissed opposition strength, saying, “Nigerians would laugh at anyone suggesting nothing is being done.”

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3. US ambassador posts vacant in Nigeria, 116 countries – Report

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Amid growing diplomatic gaps, the United States ambassadorial position in Nigeria and 116 other countries remains vacant, according to official records from the US Department of State.

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The document, titled “Ambassadorial Assignments Overseas,” shows Nigeria among countries yet to have Senate-confirmed envoys across multiple regions.

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The report noted that vacancies span Africa, Europe, Asia, the Americas and Oceania, following earlier recalls of diplomats. According to a report cited from The Guardian, “the move affected mission chiefs in at least 29 countries, including 15 in Africa,” as part of efforts to reshape diplomatic representation.

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The large-scale vacancies have raised concerns about gaps in US global engagement, particularly as diplomatic posts traditionally play key roles in bilateral relations, policy coordination and crisis response across affected countries.

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4. Lagos pastor bags life jail for raping church member’s daughter

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In a major court ruling, a Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja sentenced a 63-year-old cleric, Chris Douglas, to life imprisonment for raping a church member’s daughter.

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Justice Rahman Oshodi held that the convict abused his position as General Overseer to exploit the victim.

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“The convict occupied a position of spiritual authority… Instead of protecting that trust, he betrayed it in the most reprehensible manner,” the judge ruled.

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He added, “The court accepts the evidence that the victim suffered depression and recurring suicidal thoughts as a direct consequence of the convict’s actions.”

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The victim told the court, “I trusted him like a spiritual father. I never imagined he could do this to me,” while her mother said the cleric “begged us in front of the elders.”

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The court found him guilty on three counts of rape, ordering his name entered into the Lagos State Sexual Offenders Register.

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5. UI begins search for next Vice-Chancellor

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As leadership transition looms, the University of Ibadan has commenced the process of appointing its 14th Vice-Chancellor ahead of the expiration of the current tenure on November 1, 2026.

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The move followed a public call for applications issued by the Registrar, Ganiyu Saliu.

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The notice outlined strict criteria for candidates, stating, “The candidate must be a person of proven integrity; command the respect of the national and international academic communities… and strengthen the bridges between staff, students and other members of the university community.”

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It further added, “The candidate must be a person with a clear vision for the development of the university… and attract the much-needed funds into the university.”

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The process follows previous leadership transitions that were marked by delays and administrative restructuring before the emergence of the current Vice-Chancellor.

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Read here:

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