The Trump administration is reinstating visas for hundreds of foreign students whose legal status was abruptly terminated, prompting widespread fear of immediate deportation, government officials confirmed Friday.
The move follows more than 100 lawsuits filed by students who lost their legal right to study at U.S. universities.
A BBC report on Friday noted that Justice Department attorney Elizabeth Kurlan informed a federal court in California that immigration officials are developing a new system for reviewing and terminating visas for international students. The policy shift comes after an estimated 1,800 students and 280 universities were affected, according to Inside Higher Ed.
Many of the impacted students had participated in political protests or faced prior criminal charges, such as driving infractions. Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously stated that the administration would revoke the status of individuals whose actions it deems contrary to U.S. interests.
The visa terminations sparked panic across U.S. campuses, with some students choosing to leave the country preemptively to avoid potential detention or deportation.
“Losing their SEVIS records left students vulnerable to immigration actions — and possible detention and deportation,” said Elora Mukherjee, director of the Immigrants’ Rights Clinic at Columbia Law School.
The Justice Department announced that student records would be restored in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, which monitors foreign students’ visa compliance. However, Kurlan clarified that Immigration and Customs Enforcement retains the authority to terminate SEVIS records for other reasons.
“If a student fails to maintain his or her nonimmigrant status after the record is reactivated, or engages in other unlawful activity that would render him or her removable from the United States under the Immigration and Nationality Act,” Kurlan told the court, according to NBC News.
Attorneys representing students nationwide reported that their clients’ SEVIS records have been restored in recent days. Despite the reinstatements, legal advocates argue that the revocations violated students’ rights and disrupted their ability to pursue their education.
“What I’m hearing is that this is a reprieve for many students who have had their status reinstated in SEVIS,” Mukherjee said. “But this doesn’t mean this ordeal is over for the students who have had their records terminated.”
The Justice Department and ICE did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The ongoing legal battles and policy changes continue to create uncertainty for foreign students and universities across the country.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has slammed President Bola Tinubu’s administration for failing to meet the expectations of Nigerians, saying the government has no achievements to justify a re-election in 2027.
Atiku also noted that he had no resentment towards those joining other parties, insisting that freedom of association was a fundamental component of any true democracy.
On Wednesday, the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, and the immediate past governor of the state, Ifeanyi Okowa; left the Peoples Democratic Party for the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Also, a member of the House of Representatives, Oluwole Oke, resigned from the PDP and joined the APC on the same day.
Atiku, in a statement on Friday, said, “I have been overwhelmed with inquiries from concerned Nigerians, all eager to understand my position on the latest political shifts, particularly the defection of some PDP members to the ruling party.
“Let me be unequivocal: freedom of association and expression are not optional in a democracy; they are fundamental rights. Alongside these stand the pillars of a just and functional democratic society; the people, the rule of law, credible elections, and accountability. Undermine any of these, and democracy itself begins to crumble.
“As someone who holds fast to these values, I bear no grudges against anyone for exercising their right to political alignment. Defections, alliances, and realignments are part and parcel of democratic politics. We’ve seen them before, and we’ll see them again.”
Atiku knocked those who criticised his visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari, calling the backlash hypocritical and an example of selective outrage.
He stated, “Let’s not rewrite history: Buhari is not only a former leader but a significant statesman in the Nigerian political landscape.
“During the 2013 opposition merger, the leaders of the time consulted widely, including visits to Obasanjo and Babangida. So, why is it now sacrilegious for me and other leaders to visit Buhari in Kaduna? If you truly believe in freedom of association, then you must respect the rights of all political actors to engage, regardless of party lines.
“When PDP leaders are busy sipping tea and brokering power deals with President Tinubu, it’s called a strategic alliance. But the moment I greet Peter Obi, El-Rufai, or visit Buhari, it becomes a national emergency. Hypocrisy and the politics of selective outrage have never been this fashionable.”
The former VP stated that the coming 2027 political contest was a struggle between the Nigerian people and the administration of President Tinubu.
“This moment is about collective survival. The real enemy is not one another; it is the Tinubu administration’s abysmal failure. We must reject every attempt to distract us with ethnic, regional, or religious sentiments. These are tools of manipulation, designed to divide and conquer, used by those with nothing else to offer.”
“The Tinubu administration has no achievements to stand on, no credible record to defend. Its only strategy is chaos and division because that’s the last refuge of the incompetent. And make no mistake, an incompetent captain not only wrecks his ship; he endangers the lives of everyone on board.”
In a related development, Saturday PUNCH learnt that a former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and his party, the New Nigeria People’s Party, were currently exploring their political options.
A reliable source revealed that the members of the party were considering either aligning with the APC or joining Atiku’s coalition movement.
The source stated, “What I can confirm is that Kwankwaso and the NNPP will not contest independently as they did in the 2023 elections. Considering the current political landscape, they are weighing the possibility of either joining President Tinubu’s APC or aligning with the coalition led by Atiku, el-Rufai, and others.”
In response, the NNPP National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, confirmed in an exclusive interview with our correspondent that those political options were indeed being considered.
He stated, “Well, so far, what I’ll say is this: in the NNPP, we tend to, at least from our own history as the Kwankwasiyya movement, wait till midterm. May 29th will be the midterm for this administration. It will be two years down, and two years to go. That is when we believe that proper politicking will commence.
“So, yes, we are talking, and we’ve been talking. But you’ll recall that at that time, I told you I didn’t want to mention specifically the groups or persons or movements that are in conversation with us. That is still the position now.”
Johnson added, “You’ll recall that there have been many publications in newspapers and online, insinuating that Senator Kwankwaso is moving to the APC, that it is imminent and all that. That is just the nature of the game. Some people are pressing or pushing that narrative for their selfish reasons.
“But the bottom line is that very soon, they will begin to hear from us. We will tell our supporters what we are doing. There are basically three cards on the table: either we remain in the NNPP and continue with those who joined us all the way or we form some sort of coalition with Atiku, others; or we form an alliance with the ruling party. I am not saying any of these is the case now. But these are the three basic options that could happen.”
The Apetu of Ipetumodu in Osun State, Oba Joseph Oloyede, and a Nigerian pastor, Edward Oluwasanmi, are facing possible prison sentences in the United States after pleading guilty to charges of COVID-19 relief fraud.
Oba Oloyede, a US-based accountant and information system expert, was appointed the new Apetu in July 2019.
The monarch and Oluwasanmi were arrested in early 2024 for their roles in a scheme to fraudulently obtain $4.2m in COVID-19 relief funds.
The two men were charged with 13 counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud, money laundering, and engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property.
They were arraigned before Justice Christopher Boyko of the US District Court of Ohio.
Saturday PUNCH had exclusively reported the arraignment of Oloyede while residents of Ipetumodu were at a loss over his disappearance from the community after a trip abroad.
Our correspondent had reported that there was anxiety in the community after the 62-year-old was absent from several important festivals that required his presence.
After investigating, Saturday PUNCH confirmed that the monarch was being held by the US authorities.
According to court documents obtained by our correspondent, Oloyede and Oluwasanmi submitted falsified applications for Paycheck Protection Programme and Economic Injury Disaster Loans under the US Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act between April 2020 and February 2022, using fake tax and wage documents to secure funds meant to support struggling businesses during the pandemic.
The Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic by issuing loans to small businesses and non-profit entities experiencing revenue loss due to the pandemic.
The Act also authorised the US Small Business Administration to issue advances or grants of up to $10,000 to small businesses.
Oba Oloyede, who was based in Medina, Ohio, before his enthronement, was accused of using some of his companies, including Available Tax Services Incorporated, Available Financial Corporation, and Available Transportation Company, to defraud the government through the COVID-19 relief fund.
Oluwasanmi was also accused of using his companies: Dayspring Transportation Limited, Dayspring Holding Incorporated, and Dayspring Property Incorporated to obtain millions of dollars, which he later diverted for his expenses, in breach of US federal laws.
According to court documents, Oba Oloyede and Oluwasanmi, among other things, fraudulently obtained the sum of $3.76m from the US Paycheck Protection Programme and Economic Injury Disaster Loans scheme.
After about one year in court, the duo pleaded guilty to some of the charges and might face some prison sentences.
On April 10, Oluwasanmi, through his counsel, Henry Hilow, pleaded guilty to counts one, 11, and 12 of the indictment.
In the said counts, Oluwasanmi was accused of using some of the proceeds of the fraud to purchase a commercial property on 422 South Green Road, South Euclid, Ohio, through wire transfer, and transferring money into Dayspring transportation brokerage account.
“Guilty plea entered to counts 1, 11 and 12 of the indictment. Plea agreement executed. Sentencing set for July 2, 2025, at 10am in Courtroom 9A. Defendant’s bond to continue with same conditions as previously ordered,” the document read.
On Monday, April 21, Oba Oloyede submitted his guilty plea before the court.
The court fixed Thursday, April 24, for the hearing of his pleas.
Oba Oloyede’s long absence from his community has been generating reactions from community leaders and chiefs, especially after he reportedly demolished the town’s palace with a promise to build a befitting one upon return from his trip before his arrest.
With the report of his trial in the US, some residents are demanding that the state government investigate the matter and intervene.
The Bauchi State Police Command has disclosed the arrest of two individuals for human trafficking and rape.
According to a press release issued on Friday by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil “On April 19 2025, at about 7:30hrs, Rhoda Cosmos, a 40-year-old resident of Unguwan Kusu, Yelwa, approached the ‘E’ Division Police Headquarters and reported a troubling incident involving her 19-year-old daughter, Cecelia Cosmos.
“On April 12, 2025, at about 4:00hrs, Cecelia was deceptively lured by Johnson John, a 26-year-old from Gwallameji, with promises of a job opportunity in Lagos State. Regrettably, she was subsequently handed over to an unidentified individual known as “Mama,” who took her to Burkina Faso for immoral purposes (prostitution).”
The PPRO revealed that the Divisional Police Officer of ‘E’ Division and his team promptly took immediate action and apprehended the suspects.
He stated that during interrogations, Johnson admitted to his involvement in the crimes.
Wakil noted that, “The command has assembled a team of seasoned investigators to ensure a thorough examination of the case, leaving no stone unturned.
“All individuals connected to this disturbing incident will be investigated, directly or indirectly. The case will be escalated to the State Criminal Investigation Department for advanced evidence gathering, and the defendants will be charged in court upon completion of the investigation.”
In a separate development, the PPRO also disclosed the arrest of one Alex Amusu, a 37-year-old, male for crime related to raping a 9-year-old, girl.
Wakil explained that “On Thursday, 24th April 2025, at about Patience Danladi, a 36-year-old from Tambari Housing Estate, reported concerning behaviour regarding her 9-year-old niece, Grace (not her real name).
“After noticing unusual signs, Patience learned that her niece had been subjected to inappropriate contact by Alex Amusu, a 37-year-old male of Yelwan Tsakani, the child’s mother’s boyfriend.”
He revealed that following the report, a team of detective was dispatched to the location, leading to the suspect’s arrest.
He said the victim has since been provided with medical care at Bayara General Hospital.
He added that the suspect has confessed to the allegations during interrogation.
The PPRO emphasised that investigations are ongoing, and once completed, the individual will be profiled and formally charged to court to ensure accountability for his actions.
At least seven people have been killed in a fresh attack on Agbo Vengav Udam community in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State by suspected armed herders.
Residents told PUNCH Online that the assailants stormed the village around 7 pm on Thursday and opened fire indiscriminately, killing seven on the spot and abducting three others.
A local source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attackers entered the community through a border village in Otukpo LGA.
“They passed through the border village of Otukpo and, entering into Agbo, they shot their guns sporadically, killing the seven people on the spot. They took away three people with them,” a resident of the affected community who did not want to state his name said.
It was gathered that an infant was among those killed and that the mother was abducted by the assailants.
The witness added that five of the bodies have been deposited in a morgue in Naka, while the families of the remaining two deceased opted to bury their dead without delay.
The incident, according to residents, has caused them to desert their homes for fear of further attacks.
Chairman of Gwer West LGA, Victor Ormin, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on the phone on Friday.
Omin, who lamented that the killing was coming after commercial vehicles were hijacked and passengers taken away, decried the activities of suspected armed herders in the local government.
The council boss said, “It’s true that scores of people were killed at Vengav Udam village within the local government Thursday night.
“Two people who are critically injured during the attack are receiving treatment in Naka hospital, and the situation is becoming unbearable, the way these armed herders are wreaking havoc in the local government and the state as a whole.”
However, calls and messages put through to the Police Public Relations Officer for Benue command, Catherine Anene, were not answered.
Recall that some gunmen intercepted two commercial vehicles about three kilometres from Naka, headquarters of Gwer West LGA, on Thursday and abducted 14 passengers.
A middle-aged man, popularly known as Uncle Light, and his son, Miracle, have allegedly died from suspected food poisoning at Ebebe Junction in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.
PUNCH Online gathered that the victims were living with a woman who reportedly moved in with the man after divorcing her husband earlier this year. The woman is suspected of having poisoned the food they ate.
When our correspondent visited the scene of the incident on Wednesday, he found the father and son lying lifeless in separate parts of the compound.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the woman left the house early that morning with her baby and had not returned since the incident.
He said, “Since the incident happened on Wednesday, we haven’t seen the woman. She left early in the morning with her baby while abandoning the man and his son here. We don’t know what they ate that made them start vomiting.
“The man is lying inside naked; while you can see the son lying down at the gate. We need help for them to be evacuated to the hospital before they start smelling.”
When contacted, Police Public Relations, Joshua Ukandu, said he was yet to receive the official report on the matter and promised to mobilise his men to the area to ascertain what happened.
Less than an hour later, police operatives arrived at the compound with a man who identified himself as the brother of the woman in question.
He told police that his sister was ill and currently in custody.
Another resident, who also pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to talk, said, “I heard a loud voice in the middle of the night and I told my wife that something was happening in our neighbourhood.
“At a point, we thought it was noise from church people doing their programme. It was early in the morning that we saw the son struggling and writhing in pain and came outside the gate.
“He was crying for water. A friend provided him with water before he suddenly died. We are suspecting diarrhoea, but it’s for an autopsy to confirm what killed him.”
As of the time of filing this report, the two bodies have been evacuated by the police.
The President and Chief Executive of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has expressed gratitude over his appointment to the World Bank’s Private Sector Investment Lab, a body tasked with boosting investment and job creation in emerging economies.
In a statement confirming his acceptance, Dangote reaffirmed his commitment to fostering sustainable economic growth through private sector-led investment, noting the transformative potential of such initiatives in developing markets.
“I am both honoured and excited to accept my appointment to the World Bank’s Private Sector Investment Lab, dedicated to advancing investment and employment in emerging economies,” he said.
Dangote added, “This opportunity aligns with my long-standing commitment to sustainable development and unlocking the potential of developing economies. Drawing inspiration from the remarkable successes of the Asian Tigers, which have demonstrated the power of strategic investment and focused economic policy, I am eager to collaborate with fellow leaders to replicate such outcomes across other regions.”
In 2023, the Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, co-chaired the Private Sector Investment Lab, which focused on attracting £1tn in sustainable investment to support the energy transition in emerging markets.
The World Bank announced Dangote’s appointment on Wednesday as part of a broader expansion of its Private Sector Investment Lab, which now enters a new phase aimed at scaling up solutions to attract private capital and create jobs in the developing world.
Joining Dangote in the elite group are the CEO of Bayer AG, Bill Anderson; the Chair of Bharti Enterprises, Sunil Bharti Mittal; and the President and CEO of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Mark Hoplamazian.
The World Bank said the expanded membership brings together business leaders with proven track records in generating employment in developing economies, supporting the Bank’s sharpened focus on job creation as a central pillar of global development.
“With the expanded membership, we are mainstreaming this work across our operations and tying it directly to the jobs agenda that is driving our strategy.
“This isn’t about altruism—it’s about helping the private sector see a path to investments that will deliver returns, and lift people and economies alike. It’s central to our mandate,” said World Bank Group President Ajay Banga.
The global bank said over the last 18 months, the Lab brought together leaders from global financial institutions to identify the most pressing barriers to private sector investment in developing countries and to test actionable solutions.
The statement said that the work had now been consolidated into five priority focus areas that were being integrated across the bank operations, including regulatory and policy certainty.
The statement made available to our correspondent stated that the Dangote Group, founded by Aliko, is the largest conglomerate in West Africa and one of the largest on the African continent.
“With interests spanning cement, fertiliser, salt, sugar, and oil, the Group employs over 30,000 people and is the largest taxpayer in Nigeria, contributing more in taxes than all of Nigeria’s banks combined. It is also the country’s largest employer after the government.
“The $20bn Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals, the Group’s flagship project, stands as the largest single private investment in Africa.
“In addition to his business interests, Dangote leads the Aliko Dangote Foundation, the largest private foundation in sub-Saharan Africa, with the largest endowment by a single African donor. The Foundation primarily focuses on child nutrition, while also supporting interventions in health, education, empowerment, and disaster relief,” it was stated.
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, on Friday assured corps members posted to the state of their safety despite the growing insecurity affecting the state and the Northern region.
Represented by the state Commissioner for Youth, Sports Development and Creativity, Hon. Terkimbi Ikyange, the governor emphasised that his administration, in collaboration with security agencies, has implemented measures to ensure the safety of corps members throughout their
service.
He said, “Sadly, our nation is currently bedevilled with security challenges, and Benue State is not exempt. However, let me quickly allay your fears and assure you that, as a government, we are committed to ensuring that your safety is guaranteed throughout your stay in the state.
“For the avoidance of doubt, our administration, in conjunction with all security agencies, has put in place comprehensive protective measures to safeguard all areas and residences occupied by corps members in the state.”
The governor also urged the new corps members to prioritise the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, describing it as a gateway to great opportunities.
He further encouraged them to use their God-given talents, which had brought them this far, to shape the future of the country.
In her address, the State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps, Mrs Veronica Garba, expressed appreciation to the governor and people of the state for their support of the organisation so far.
Garba charged the new corps members to embrace the four cardinal programmes of the orientation course, which include physical training, intellectual/motivational lectures, sporting activities, and SAED.
A total of 1,600 new corps members were inducted into the orientation course on Friday by Justice Peter Ukande, who represented the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Maurice Ikpambeae.
The Kogi State Utility Infrastructure Management and Compliance Agency has explained the reasons behind MTN’s disruption of service in the state.
The telecom service has been experiencing a disruption in the last two weeks and has witnessed a total shutdown in the last week.
The Director General of KUIMCA, Dr Taofeeq Isah, while speaking with journalists on Friday in Lokoja, attributed the shutdown to the failure of the Telecom company to comply fully with the rules of operation as stipulated in the official gazette guiding their operation in the state.
“In my assumption of office last August, I went through their files and discovered that they have not fully complied with the rules guiding their operations in the state. I called them for a discussion where they complained of being overbilled concerning the area of the state covered by their optic fibre. I went with them for a verification exercise to assess their claim, which took about 4 days, and we found out they were even covering more areas than they claimed.
We asked them to go and make the necessary payment, but MTN refused. That is why we sealed off their facilities after obtaining a court order to do so”.
The DG called on the citizens of the state to be patient with them since their interests were being protected.
He said that since MTN is not the only network operating in the state, citizens as well as the security agencies to consider switching to other networks, considering their importance in securing the lives and property of Citizen,s which should not be compromised under any circumstances.
Also speaking at the press conference, the Executive Chairman of the Kogi Inland Revenue Service, Salihu Enehe, said that MTN has arrogated to itself so much power that they have been refusing to respond to so many entities, asking for compliance on various terms of operation in the state.
The Chairman, who was represented by the Director, MDA, Hasana Salawu, said that MTN has been indulging in violation of various rules, not only the optic fibre right of way across the state, but also has violated every rule guiding their operations in the state.
MTN claims to have 48 optic fibres when the audit revealed they have 199 fibres laid under the ground in the state. We have called for reconciliation meetings severally but they claimed to be ready up till now.
Lead pastor of Celebration Church International, Pastor Emmanuel Iren, has addressed the troubling issue of sexual assault allegations within his ministry, emphasising the serious consequences of false accusations and the critical need for understanding the concept of consent.
Speaking during a recent sermon, Pastor Iren shared how he initially reacted with anger to reports of sexual assault involving members of his church. However, upon deeper investigation, he discovered that the majority of the cases lacked credibility.
In the sermon which started trending on Friday, Pastor Iren recounted how his initial response to the first few allegations was one of outrage. He described confronting the accused with the intent to take legal action until further investigation revealed that many of the claims lacked substantial evidence.
“In this ministry, nine out of 10 cases where the women came and said they were sexually assaulted ended up false. The first few cases, I was angry. I called the guy and swore I would jail him until he sent evidence. The girl who claimed she was assaulted said ‘It was a nice time’ in the chat,” he revealed.
He voiced deep concern over how sexual assault accusations are sometimes used manipulatively, particularly after relationships end. “Ending a relationship should not be a ground for sexual assault allegations,” he said.
Pastor Iren also took a moment to advise the young men in his congregation, calling them to a standard of integrity, self-control, and wisdom.
On the topic of consent, he offered a sobering reminder stating, “Initial consent isn’t total consent. Run for your life if consent is withdrawn 10 seconds after granting it. I don’t know who raised some men!”
Lead pastor of Celebration Church International, Pastor Emmanuel Iren, has addressed the troubling issue of sexual assault allegations… pic.twitter.com/SEzD9CVwQE
