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Futbol

Uefa Women's Nations League: Wales v Denmark Venue: Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff Date: Friday, 4 April Kick-off: 19:15 BST Coverage: Live on BBC One Wales, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio Wales and Radio Cymru, the BBC Sport website and app, plus live text commentary Highlights: S4C and iPlayer, 21:50 GMT and later on demand. Wales boss Rhian Wilkinson says her side have the talent to cause an upset against any nation ahead of their first major tournament appearance. Wales, who have qualified for Euro 2025, continue their Nations League campaign as they entertain Denmark - ranked 12th in the world - at the Cardiff City Stadium. After a spirit-lifting 1-1 draw with sixth ranked Sweden in Wrexham that followed a 1-0 defeat in Italy, Wilkinson says Wales will never under her management focus primarily on limiting the opposition. "The word is always consistency. On their day this team can beat anyone, I truly believe that," she told BBC Sport Wales. "There is always some luck involved, but you also make your luck. Against Italy we lost 1-0 but left frustrated and we tied with Sweden and could have won. "Now we go again. I am proud of two strong performances, but the true measure of a team is how you go back-to-back-to-back, continuously putting out strong performances. This is the next test of that." Wilkinson feels Wales are continuing to grow more comfortable at the level they find themselves at, with Nations League A status and qualifying for Euro 2025 meaning they play nations in the world's top 20 in nine successive games this year. "Wales has to be Wales, we are not trying to be anything else other than ourselves and there will be no team ranked lower than us, that we are playing. "That's just one measure. If Wales perform to our levels, I honestly believe the opposition are the ones who have to look out for us." Wilkinson says she will continue to rotate her squad, having made five changes for the Sweden game from the team that lined-up against Italy. "Every coach has a different philosophy of that (rotation) but from day one I told the players I would be doing that, I am a coach that likes to make changes," she said. "I am fairly clear on my line-up, but all the way up to the Euros and into the tournament, injuries will happen because this is a contact sport. "If I do not give my players opportunities to prove what they can deliver for me, then why am I bringing them? That's not what it is about. We have 23 players and all 23 need to be ready to play." Wilkinson was enthusiastic about the news that Wales will jointly host the 2035 Women's World Cup. The United Kingdom is set to host the 2035 Women's World Cup as the sole "valid" bidder for the tournament, Fifa president Gianni Infantino says. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland submitted a joint expression of interest in March to hold the World Cup across the home nations. Under Fifa rotation rules, the tournament must be in Europe or Africa. "It's obviously incredible news, really exciting. As a Canadian who hosted (the women's World Cup) in 2015, I know what hosting a big tournament like that can do for a country," WIlkinson said. "It becomes that much more visible and knowing how the women's game is currently moving, knowing this is such a catalyst time for us in Wales, it comes at the perfect time. "But equally, it is that far down the line I can just put it over there (in the distance). But that it is coming is something we are looking forward to." Wales and Everton midfielder Hayley Ladd also spoke excitedly about the tournament heading to the UK. "It's great for Wales to have the elite level of women's football in Wales," she said. "Hopefully in 10 years the game is going to be in an amazing place." Wales are still without long-term injury absentee Sophie Ingle, their former captain and key midfielder as she continues her rehabilitation from a ACL surgery. Striker Kayleigh Barton, who scored Wales' goal against Sweden in Wrexham last month, also misses out through injury after withdrawing from Wilkinson's 26-player squad, with Josie Longhurst called up to replace her. Longhurst, who plays her club football in Canada for Vancouver Rise FC, is one of three uncapped players in the Wales squad alongside goalkeeper Poppy Soper and striker Tianna Teiser. Midfielder Rachel Rowe has returned to the squad after missing last month's Nations League qualifiers with injury. Wales 1-5 Denmark - 26 September, 2023. Denmark 2-1 Wales – 31 October, 2023. Wales will be keen to show their improvement as a side since their last meetings with Denmark in the 2023 Nations League, where they lost 2-1 away in Viborg and were hammered 5-1 in Cardiff, their worst home defeat since 2014. Southampton winger Rachel Rowe played in the 5-1 defeat, but says Wales are confident that Friday's contest will be very different. "In that home game, we conceded a couple within five to ten minutes," she said. "We're far more prepared now on how to manage those moments, whereas in that game, we clearly weren't. It was probably us not having the best game and them probably having a good game, and it was two different ends of the spectrum. "There definitely isn't that fear factor of, we know what happened last time against Denmark. The slate is clean and we're going into this off the back of two good performances."

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News_Naija

Dangote, Mikano, 103 Others Get FGs Tax Waivers

The total number of local and foreign companies exempted from remitting tax revenue to government coffers increased to 105 as of December 2024, The PUNCH reports. Dangote Fertilisers, Mikano International Limited, and 103 others are included in this list. This came amid uncertainties over the programme’s effectiveness and the government’s announced plan to discontinue the policy as part of a broader strategy to boost its dwindling revenue base. The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, approved tax holidays for 22 new companies under the Pioneer Status Incentive scheme, raising the total number of beneficiaries to 105 in the final quarter of the year. This comes after the number of participating firms rose to 104 in the first quarter, declined to 88 in the second quarter, and dropped to 83 in the third quarter. This was disclosed in the latest Pioneer Status Incentive reports released by the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission and obtained by our correspondent on Wednesday. Findings by The PUNCH also revealed that since the Chairman of the Presidential Tax Reform Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, announced in September 2023 that the committee would conduct a comprehensive review of tax waivers, aligned with the roadmap set by the previous administration, a total of 25 companies have received regulatory approval for tax exemption for the next three years. The pioneer status is an incentive offered by the Federal Government, which exempts companies from paying income tax for a certain period. This tax exemption can be full or partial. Offered under the Industrial Development Income Tax Act with tax reliefs for a three-year period, the incentive is generally regarded as an industrial measure aimed at stimulating investments in the economy. The products or companies eligible for this pioneer status are those that do not already exist in the country. However, the incentives have been a contentious issue due to the high amount of revenue lost to waivers granted every year. The special tax exclusion has reportedly cost the government an estimated N8tn in lost revenue annually. Last week, the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, at the 2025 Tax Expenditure Workshop revealed that revenue lost to tax expenditure remains difficult to quantify due to poor data availability across relevant government agencies. He said this is because tax incentives are not properly weighed against their real economic benefits, which makes it hard to know their true cost and creates room for unverified tax expenditure figures in different quarters. Adedeji said, “It has been argued that the government is losing revenue through tax incentives, which have been difficult to quantify due to limited data availability. In granting tax incentives by the government, there are expected benefits to be derived from the entities that enjoy these incentives, such that if adequately quantified when analysing the Tax Expenditures in terms of socio-economic impact will show that the actual financial cost to government vis – a viz benefits will be minimised, and a positive developmental curve or growth curve will be observed.” To address the ongoing challenges, the government has proposed four new tax bills aimed at stimulating economic growth and attracting investment, including a new tax credit scheme (the Economic Development Incentive) intended to replace the existing Pioneer Status Incentive. However, the legislative process has stalled at the National Assembly, delaying implementation. The Presidential Tax Committee Chairman, Taiwo Oyedele, said the development incentive is designed to stimulate real economic activity by tying tax relief directly to verifiable investments. The proposed tax credit or EDI is a departure from the one-size-fits-all model. Instead, it’s structured around priority sectors -primarily manufacturing, followed by services and infrastructure – with strong multiplier effects on the economy. Another key design feature is the introduction of minimum investment thresholds to ensure only scalable and impactful projects qualify. For instance, companies operating in capital-intensive sectors like utilities would need to invest at least N200bn to be eligible for the tax credit. “The assets used during the pioneer period are essentially frozen in time,” Oyedele explained. “They’re treated as if acquired after the incentive ends—meaning companies only start claiming deductions once the holiday period is over. This creates long-term tax advantages that go well beyond the policy’s original intent.” Meanwhile, an analysis of the quarterly PSI report showed that the requests of 89 firms to be granted tax holiday were newly received, 213 firms are pending; 34 companies had their applications approved in principle, while 14 firms were granted incentive extensions for another three years to 2027. Another 30 are seeking a renewal application for extension. The companies with new applications include Aradel Refineries Limited, Pro Pipes and Metal Industries Limited, Transgreen Nigeria Limited, Zen Cylinders Manufacturing Company Limited, Nixn Paper Mill Nigeria Limited, Burn Stoves Nigeria Limited, MDV Sacks Limited, Everest Pulp and Paper Limited, Jolaj Office Products Nigeria Limited, Heven Hauling Limited, KP Hydro Limited, and Levene Photo Voltaic Technologies Limited. Others are Seelam and Joel Company Limited, Medical Plastics Limited, Padiyath Mayfield Hospital Limited, Afam Three Fast Power Limited, El Tahdam Exploration Limited, Adefolorhunso Energy Network Limited, and Terrahaptix Limited. The applications were received between October 2 and December 17, 2024. The reports also revealed that investments made by the 107 companies during the year amounted to N2.53tn. They operate in sectors that include manufacturing, solid material, pharmaceuticals, information and communication, trade, construction, waste management, electricity and gas supply, tourism, and infrastructure, among others. The companies that are benefiting include Dangote Fertilisers, Mikano International Limited, Sinotrucks West Africa Limited, West African Cubes Limited, Jigawa Rice Limited, JMG Nigeria Limited, Rain Oil Limited, Okpella Cement Plc, Greenville Liquified Natural Gas Company Limited, Etsako Cement Company Limited, Gidan Bailu Cement Company Limited, Auxano Solar Nigeria Limited, AP LPG Limited, Karma Agric Feeds and Foods Limited, and Agrira West Africa Limited. Additional beneficiaries of the Pioneer Status Incentive include H & W Rice Company Limited, Segilola Resources Operating Limited, Sifax Marine Limited, Ocean & Cargo Terminal Services Limited, Hulhulde Rice Mill Limited, and O2O Network Limited, Villextra Technologies Limited, Flex Films Africa PVT Limited, Addmie Nutrition Limited, Century Minning Company Limited, Eastcastle Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, Ecovista Industries PVT Limited, The Safron Hotel Limited, Green Recycling Industries Limited, and Fouani Nigeria Limited. Additional companies that have received Pioneer Status Incentive approvals include Al-Wabel Rice Mill Limited, Royal Salt Industries Limited, Mustang Industries Limited, Kam Steel Integrated Company Limited, Alef Recycling Company Limited, IRS Pasta Limited, JMG Limited, Tiloc Nigeria Limited, Johnwood Hotel Limited, Mafa Rice Mills Limited, and Shafa Energy Limited. Economic experts have repeatedly raised concerns about the transparency and objectivity of the Federal Government’s tax waiver approvals, even as they acknowledge the crucial role such incentives play in stimulating economic growth. The Chief Executive Officer, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Dr Muda Yusuf, also noted that there was nothing wrong with waivers if they were in line with tax policies. He noted that tax incentives were necessary to encourage investment and the establishment of some pioneer businesses. He said, “The whole idea of incentives is to grow the economy. When you are growing the economy, you are not only looking at revenue, you are looking at employment and multiplier effects. In the medium to long term, you will get this revenue by the time you are able to grow these investments. It is inappropriate to see it as revenue loss unless the incentive policy itself is discriminatory.” He stressed that the process should be transparent and seen as an effort by the government to grow the economy.

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Killings: Tinubu Demands Fresh Security Blueprint From Intelligence Chiefs

President Bola Tinubu has ordered a security outreach to the hotbeds of recent killings—Plateau, Benue and Borno—to restore peace to areas wracked by mass killings and bomb attacks. National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, revealed this to State House correspondents after a four-hour security briefing with the President at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja on Wednesday. “We listened and we took instructions from him. We got new directives…to go meet with the political authorities there,” Ribadu told reporters, adding that Tinubu directed them to engage state-level authorities in the worst-hit regions. Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed; Chief Defence Intelligence of the Nigerian Army, Gen. Emmanuel Undianeye; Director-General, Department of State Services, Oluwatosin Ajayi and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, appeared for the briefing. Wednesday’s meeting, which lasted four hours, confirmed an earlier report by The PUNCH about the President’s plans to meet with the service chiefs to discuss the recent killings in Plateau, Benue, and other parts of the country, after his working visit and retreat in Paris and London. In Plateau State, inter-communal violence between predominantly Christian farmers and nomadic herders spiralled into gory slaughter when gunmen stormed Zikke village in Bassa Local Government early on April 14, killing at least 51 people and razing homes in a single night. In Benue, at least 56 people were killed in Logo and Gbagir after twin assaults blamed on armed herders. Meanwhile, in Borno, eight passengers perished and scores were injured when an improvised explosive device ripped through a bus on the Damboa–Maiduguri highway on April 12. Ribadu explained that after an extensive briefing, intelligence chiefs received fresh instructions to restore peace, security and stability across Nigeria. In particular, Tinubu had ordered immediate outreach to the political authorities in Plateau, Benue and Borno States, and the defence team had gone round those states to carry out his directives and report back. “We gave him an update on what has been the case and what is going on, and even when he was out there, before coming back, he was constantly in touch. He was giving directives. He was following developments, and we, in charge of the security, got the opportunity today to come and brief him properly for hours. And it was exhaustive. “We listened and we took instructions from him. We got new directives. The fact is, Mr. President is insisting and working so hard to ensure that we have peace, security and stability in our country. We gave him an update on what is going on, and we also assured him that work is ongoing and continues. “We also carried out his instructions. We went round, the chiefs were all out where we had these incidents of insecurity in Plateau State, Benue State, even Borno, these particular three states, and we gave him feedback, because he directed us to go meet with the political authorities there,” he explained. The NSA described Tinubu as “worried and concerned,” and said he directed that all security arms be deployed around the clock. The government, he added, believes these steps have already produced measurable improvements, even if the situation is not yet 100 per cent safe and secure. “He’s so worried and concerned, he insisted that enough is enough, and we are working and to ensure that we restore peace and security and all of us are there. The armed forces are there, the Civil Police, intelligence communities, they are there. “They are working there 24 hours, and we feel that we have done enough to believe that we are on the right course, and we’ll be able to be on top of things,” Ribadu stated. The NSA emphasised that combating insecurity was not solely a federal government responsibility. “It involves the sub-units,” he said, meaning state governors, local governments and community leaders, especially where violence springs from communal tensions. “The issue of insecurity often is not just for the government. It involves the subunits. They are the ones who are directly with the people, especially if some of the challenges are more or less bordering on community problems. “Not entirely everything is that, but of course it also plays a significant role. You need to work with the communities, the local governments, and the governors, especially the governors. “The President will continue to direct that. We should be doing that, and that’s what we are able to. We are very happy and very satisfied with the instructions and directives given by Mr. President this evening.” In Borno State, the NSA noted that while violence had surged in recent months, the insurgents refused to accept defeat. He warned that most recent casualties there resulted from improvised explosive devices—“cowardly” IED attacks targeting civilians—and from opportunistic raids that follow any lull in fighting. “We are getting the cooperation of the leadership at the state level, and everybody. It’s not 100 per cent…but we are going there. “When you are having peace and you are beginning to get used to it, if one bad incident happens, you forget the periods that you enjoyed peacefully,” he added. He paid tribute to the “many who do not sleep, who walk throughout, who do not go for any break or holiday”—the soldiers, police and intelligence officers whose sacrifices have created the fragile calm Nigerians now experience. “They will continue to be there,” he said, adding, “Things have changed in this country…we are on the right track and we will not relent. We will not sit down; we will not stop until we are able to achieve results.” In a similar development, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, issued a stern directive to Nigerian Army troops to clear out bandits terrorising parts of Kwara and Niger states within one month. Oluyede gave the marching order on Wednesday while addressing soldiers at the 22 Armoured Brigade, Sobi Cantonment in Ilorin, Kwara State. The targeted areas include Baruten and Kaiama Local Government Areas in Kwara and parts of Borgu in the Kainji forest region of Niger State. “The Nigerian Army will not allow the insurgency in the North-East to escalate to the North-Central,” Oluyede said. “It is our responsibility to protect the territorial integrity of this country. No part of Nigeria will be allowed to fall into the hands of insurgents, bandits, or any group seeking to disrupt our national unity.” Inspecting the military guard of honour, the Army Chief stated, “I’m giving you one month to recover all territories in Baruten, Kaiama and Kainji forest. The bandits must be flushed out. I don’t want to see any of them within our borders after the deadline.” He assured troops of continued improvements in welfare, including better uniforms, feeding, and access to education and professional development. “We’ve started monthly production of 100,000 uniforms and allocated N1bn monthly to improve troops feeding. We’re also working on enhancing accommodation for soldiers. I want to see our soldiers rise to become doctors, engineers, and other professionals,” Oluyede stated. This directive comes in the wake of recent deadly attacks by an unidentified armed group, reportedly called Mahmuda, in Baruten LGA. At least seven people were killed in Ilesha Baruba on Monday, sparking concerns among residents. Lt. Gen. Oluyede emphasised that his nationwide tour aimed to strengthen military readiness and reclaim security across all regions. Meanwhile, the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria have queried the political will of the federal and state governments to tackle the recent surge in killings in several states. Noting that the wave of attacks had assumed an alarming dimension, the two bodies pointed to the seeming helplessness of the governments in addressing the killings notably in Plateau, Borno, Benue, Niger and Kwara States. The speakers’ conference, through a statement signed by its chairman, Adebo Ogundoyin, demanded urgent measures to stem the tide not the usual mere condemnation and rhetoric of foreign elements being behind the acts of terrorism across the country. “We are alarmed by the escalating insecurity in the land and the seeming helplessness with which these attacks are met. The time for mere condemnation and rhetoric has passed; urgent and coordinated action is now required at all levels of government to end these bloodbaths and restore peace and order,” the Speakers held. While acknowledging that national security falls within the jurisdiction of the Federal Government, the Speakers urged state governments to complement by enforcing laws that guarantee effective community policing and other grassroots-driven security models. “We call on state governments to complement the efforts of the Federal Government by making and enforcing enabling laws for community policing and other grassroots-driven security models. “States must develop proactive frameworks that integrate local intelligence, social support systems, and youth engagement in the fight against insecurity. “Furthermore, we urge the Federal Government to meaningfully engage the citizenry and introduce bold, practical measures to cushion the hardship caused by its current economic policies. “Millions of Nigerians are suffering inflation, unemployment, and a cost-of-living crisis. It is imperative that relief initiatives—targeted, transparent, and impactful—are rolled out without delay. Dialogue, not distance, must define the relationship between the government and its people at this critical time,” the statement read. In the same vein, the PFN President, Bishop Wale Oke, who spoke in Ibadan on Wednesday, called on President Bola Tinubu to fully assume his constitutional role as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces by taking decisive action against bandits and terrorists responsible for the bloodshed across the country. Oke described the incessant attacks and loss of hundreds of lives as intolerable and urged the government to act with urgency and resolve. “The killings across the nation, especially in Benue, are heartbreaking. The Federal Government must live up to its responsibility. Nigerians voted for a Commander-in-Chief, not a Mourner-in-Chief,” Oke said. “Claiming that the killers are foreigners is not an excuse. If they are indeed foreign elements, then the government must wipe them out.” He particularly decried the continuous killings, particularly in Benue State, calling them a “mindless, satanic act” that goes against the will of God for Nigeria. Oke condemned what he described as a lack of political will to end the crisis, insisting that the narrative blaming foreign terrorists is misleading. “The idea that the killers are foreigners doesn’t hold water. The Nigerian government must defend the country’s territorial integrity. They know who is behind the killings but are not sincere enough to act. They lack the political will,” he said. The PFN President also criticised National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, for saying the Tinubu administration inherited a “bastardised situation” dating back 15 years. He urged Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to move beyond rhetoric and take concrete action to restore security. “Someone is clearly misleading the President, and if he truly doesn’t know what’s happening, then those responsible should be held accountable and replaced with capable individuals who genuinely care about the Nigerian people,” Oke added. “The killings must stop.” He also expressed concern that some perpetrators are being shielded due to ethnic affiliations or perceived immunity. “Sacred cows are being protected because they are seen as kinsmen from across the border. The government must rise above ethnic sentiments and decisively root out those behind these atrocities. Let Nigerians live in peace—whatever it takes.” “This is the demand of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria. We are tired of the killings,” he concluded. In the meantime, retired Nigerian Air Force Officer Air Vice Marshal Monday Morgan urged state governors to leverage Forest Guards to combat insecurity in their domains. In an exclusive telephone chat with The Punch at the weekend, Morgan said that the formation of the forest guard was to help combat foreigners who have penetrated Nigeria’s forest. In January 2024, President Bola Tinubu promised the formation of a forest guard to effectively complement the efforts of other formal security agencies in the fight against banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, Boko Haram and other criminality in the country. Morgan, who headed the Defence Intelligence Agency of Nigeria from July 2015 to January 2016, described the formation of the forest guard as one of the best ways the country could tackle insurgency. He argued that if the state governors can leverage this idea, it will help combat Insecurity in the country. The retired Air Force officer also described President Tinubu’s establishment of six development commissions as another move the political class could build on to tackle insecurity in each geo-political zone. He said, “Some time ago, President Bola Tinubu came out with one of the best ways to tackle insecurity confronting the country, i.e the establishment of forest rangers (guards). “Let the state governors leverage on the directive of President Tinubu to form the forest rangers (guards) to protect the forest because the personnel, when trained, will have access to weapons. You know our law does not allow an end-user certificate for quasi-military.” The retired Air Force officer added, “The second move President Tinubu made was the creation of six development commissions, it’s a political strategy for each zone to be together, put their resources together and fund security because security is a serious business.” The retired military officer advised the state governors to embrace President Tinubu’s two initiatives to complement the efforts of conventional security operatives, stating that the armed forces and the police do not have enough personnel. The retired military officer stated that the indigenous Fulanis have been emboldened by mercenaries, and this,  he said, had worsened insecurity in the country.

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News_Naija

US Indicts Nigerian For $690k Scam, False Citizenship Claim

A Nigerian-born United States citizen, Oladapo Fadugba, risks 27 years imprisonment over his alleged involvement in a $690,000 wire fraud scheme and making false declarations to obtain US citizenship. PUNCH Metro learnt this in a statement by the US Attorney for the District of Florida, Gregory Kehoe, obtained on Wednesday. According to Kehoe, Fadugba was indicted for multiple charges, including wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and making false statements during his naturalisation process. According to Kehoe, between October 2020 and July 2023, the suspect allegedly diverted $690,000 in funds belonging to the US Department of Veterans Affairs, which was meant for reimbursement to a major local healthcare provider. It was further alleged that Fadugba used another person’s identity to facilitate the transfers into various bank accounts under his control. The statement read, “According to the indictment, beginning on October 30, 2020, and ending no later than July 11, 2023, Fadugba had more than $690,000 of Department of Veterans Affairs funds, intended for reimbursement to a large local healthcare provider, transferred to his personal bank accounts. “Fadugba then wrote cheques to himself or to businesses associated with him, which were subsequently transferred to other bank accounts under his control. It is alleged that he used the identification of another individual to carry out these transfers.” In addition, Fadugba is accused of lying under oath during his US naturalisation proceedings by falsely stating that he had never committed a crime for which he had not been arrested. Kehoe stated that, if the suspect was convicted on all counts, he risked a maximum sentence of 27 years in the US federal prison and the forfeiture of $400,000, representing proceeds from the alleged crimes. “The indictment further alleges that Fadugba, a naturalised US citizen from Nigeria, made a false statement under oath during his naturalisation proceedings by claiming he had not committed any offence or crime for which he had not been arrested. “If convicted on all charges, Fadugba faces up to 27 years in federal prison. The indictment also includes a notice that the United States is seeking a forfeiture order of $400,000, which reflects the approximate proceeds of the criminal conduct charged,” the statement added. Kehoe concluded by noting that “an indictment is merely a formal accusation of criminal conduct, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.” PUNCH Metro reported on April 12 that a 24-year-old Nigerian man, Mercy Ojedeji, pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud and unlawful use of fraudulent immigration documents in the United States. According to a statement released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri, the plea was entered in a US District Court in St. Louis, Missouri. Ojedeji had admitted to fraudulently securing a student visa and gaining admission into the University of Missouri’s chemistry PhD program in Fall 2023. He acknowledged using falsified academic transcripts, recommendation letters, a fake resume, and a fabricated English language proficiency report to obtain the visa.