ABUJA, Nigeria (BN24)— The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, to life imprisonment after convicting him on all seven counts of terrorism-related offences. Justice James Omotosho delivered the ruling in Nigeria’s capital, concluding that the evidence presented was sufficient to sustain each charge.
In the judgment, Omotosho imposed life sentences on counts one, two, four, five, and six, opting for life imprisonment rather than the death penalty requested in the filings. The court also sentenced Kanu to 20 years in prison on count three and five years on count seven, both without the option of a fine.
The sentences followed the court’s determination that Kanu was responsible for multiple acts described in the charges, bringing a legal end to a closely watched case that has drawn national and international attention. Justice Omotosho issued the decision after reviewing the prosecution’s submissions and formally entering convictions on all seven counts.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (BN24) — Israeli airstrikes across Gaza late Wednesday night killed at least 28 Palestinians, including nine children, marking the latest escalation in violence between Israel and Hamas. The strikes, which came after several Hamas militants reportedly fired on Israeli soldiers in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, have reignited fears of a breakdown in the fragile ceasefire that has held since late October.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the airstrikes targeted Hamas positions in retaliation for the attack on Israeli forces, calling the fire on its soldiers a “violation of the ceasefire agreement.” Despite the escalation, the IDF reported no casualties among its personnel. In response, Hamas condemned the strikes as a “dangerous escalation” and rejected Israel’s version of events, accusing the IDF of fabricating justifications for its ongoing military actions. Hamas also urged the United States to apply “immediate and serious pressure” on Israel to stop its offensive and to adhere to the ceasefire terms.
Health officials in Gaza confirmed that nine children were among the dead, with at least 77 others injured, some critically. The deadliest airstrike occurred in the Zaytun area of eastern Gaza, where 10 people, including a woman and a child, were killed. Another strike targeted a group of civilians in a west Gaza neighborhood near Khan Younis, specifically hitting the UNRWA club, a site operated by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.
This is the third major escalation since the ceasefire began in October 2024. Previous incidents, also triggered by attacks on Israeli soldiers, resulted in the deaths of approximately 150 Palestinians and three Israeli soldiers. Despite these flare-ups, the ceasefire has generally held since its implementation.
The violence follows Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza after the October 7 attack by Hamas, during which nearly 1,200 Israelis were killed, and over 250 people were taken hostage. Since that attack, Gaza’s health ministry has reported over 69,000 Palestinian deaths, with the majority of casualties being women and children.
In accordance with the first phase of the US-brokered ceasefire agreement, Hamas has released all living hostages and the bodies of all but three of the deceased. Meanwhile, Israel has agreed to withdraw from some parts of Gaza and release certain Palestinian prisoners. While tensions remain high, there have been calls for further peace efforts and international mediation.
In a related development, Israel carried out additional airstrikes on southern Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah weapons storage sites. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said these strikes targeted Hezbollah’s rocket unit, although no casualties were reported. Earlier on Tuesday, an Israeli airstrike on a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon killed 13 people, further escalating tensions along Israel’s northern border.
Despite a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, brokered in November 2024, violence along the border has continued, with Hezbollah and other Palestinian factions in Lebanon intensifying attacks on Israeli targets. These latest incidents underscore the fragility of the peace agreements and the growing risks of a wider regional conflict.
As international leaders call for restraint, the situation in Gaza and southern Lebanon remains volatile, with no clear end to the conflict in sight.
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC (BN24) — A catastrophic train collision in the Czech city of Pardubice late Wednesday night has left at least four people dead and 57 others injured, including nationals from Ukraine and Slovakia. The collision, which involved a high-speed passenger train operated by private company RegioJet and a freight train, occurred on a busy rail corridor crucial for domestic and international travel.
According to Czech Interior Minister Vít Rakušan, the crash took place just after midnight on a major track connecting Prague to eastern parts of the country. The passenger train, en route to Kosice in Slovakia and continuing to Chop, Ukraine, was carrying 380 passengers at the time of the incident. The freight train, which was reportedly traveling in the opposite direction, collided head-on with the passenger train near Pardubice, approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) east of Prague.
The immediate aftermath of the crash was devastating. Four people have been confirmed dead, including two Ukrainian women and two Slovak women, whose nationalities were confirmed by their respective foreign ministries. The Czech government has not yet released the names of the victims.
Among the injured, none are considered to be in life-threatening condition, though emergency responders described the scene as chaotic, with many passengers requiring immediate medical attention. The two survivors in critical condition were taken to nearby hospitals in Pardubice, where they are receiving intensive care.
The cause of the collision is still under investigation, with preliminary reports suggesting that the driver of the passenger train failed to stop at a stop signal. Martin Drápal, a spokesperson for the Czech state agency responsible for investigating train accidents, said that investigators are still working to determine whether human error or a technical malfunction contributed to the crash. It remains unclear whether there were any communication issues between the trains involved or if weather conditions played a role.
Authorities confirmed that both train drivers survived the crash, though details on their conditions have not been disclosed. The impact of the crash caused significant damage to both trains, with the passenger train derailing and the freight train’s cargo spilling onto the tracks.
Transport Minister Martin Kupka said that the primary rail corridor between Prague and the eastern regions of the country had to be closed for several hours following the incident. The critical rail route was not fully reopened until about nine hours later, causing significant disruptions to travel in the region. Czech Railways advised passengers to avoid using the route for the entire day, urging them to seek alternative travel options.
The section of track in Pardubice where the crash occurred is one of the busiest and most important for both Czech domestic travel and international connections, making the crash particularly impactful. This portion of the rail system is vital for commuters traveling between Prague and eastern parts of the Czech Republic, as well as for international trains heading to Slovakia and Ukraine.
The Czech government has expressed its condolences to the families of the victims, with Prime Minister Petr Fiala calling the collision “a big tragedy.” In addition, the Czech government has pledged to ensure accountability and investigate the causes of the crash thoroughly.
RegioJet, the private company operating the passenger train, has expressed its deep sorrow over the incident. Owner Radim Jančura said in a statement that the company is ready to compensate the passengers affected by the crash and will cooperate fully with the investigation.
In a statement issued Thursday, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry confirmed that two Ukrainian nationals were among those killed in the crash. An official from the Ukrainian Consulate in Brno, Czech Republic, was dispatched to the scene of the accident to assist with the investigation and provide support to the victims’ families. Ukraine’s embassy in Prague is also in close contact with Czech authorities to ensure that the investigation proceeds smoothly and that the families of the deceased are notified.
The Slovak Foreign Ministry similarly confirmed the deaths of two Slovak women in the collision, and a representative was sent to offer support to their families.
As authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash, the Czech government has promised to address any potential safety lapses that may have contributed to the tragedy. The Czech Railways, along with the state agency investigating rail accidents, are reviewing all available evidence, including train signal records, communications between the train conductors, and possible maintenance or operational issues.
This deadly collision highlights ongoing concerns about rail safety, particularly regarding the safety systems in place to prevent such catastrophic accidents. The Czech Republic has a well-developed rail network, but incidents like this serve as a stark reminder of the risks associated with high-speed rail travel.
The investigation is ongoing, and more details are expected to emerge in the coming days as authorities work to piece together the circumstances that led to the crash.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (BN24)— Political leaders from across the ideological spectrum gathered at Washington National Cathedral on Thursday to bid farewell to one of the most influential vice presidents in American history, Dick Cheney. Cheney, who passed away at the age of 84 from complications related to pneumonia and vascular disease in early November, was remembered for his pivotal role in shaping U.S. foreign and domestic policy during the George W. Bush administration.
The funeral was marked by emotional tributes from political figures, including former President George W. Bush, who worked closely with Cheney for eight years. In his eulogy, Bush painted Cheney as a steady and reflective figure in an often tumultuous political landscape. “In a profession that attracts talkers, he was a thinker and a listener,” Bush said. “Dick was the kind of man who, when he spoke, you listened.” The former president reflected on their personal and professional bond, describing Cheney as “everything a president should expect as a second-in-command.”
The eulogy emphasized Cheney’s thoughtfulness and strategic mind, qualities that shaped the policies of the Bush administration, particularly in the wake of the September 11 attacks. Cheney was widely credited as one of the chief architects of the “war on terror,” a policy that led to the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan and later Iraq. Despite his influential role in shaping the country’s response to terrorism, Cheney’s legacy remains deeply divisive, with critics citing his support for enhanced interrogation techniques and the Iraq War as controversial decisions that continue to spark debate. Cheney’s tenure as vice president from 2001 to 2009 made him one of the most powerful individuals to ever occupy the office. Bush’s tribute acknowledged the challenges of leading during a period of intense global conflict. “Dick was there every step of the way,” Bush said, noting Cheney’s crucial role in formulating U.S. security policy post-9/11. “He was a steady hand in moments of uncertainty and a trusted advisor who never wavered in his dedication to the country.”
Bush also shared a personal moment, recalling Cheney’s offer to step aside during the 2004 re-election campaign. “I concluded they don’t come any better than Dick Cheney,” Bush stated. “He was loyal, honest, and an indispensable part of my presidency.” While the funeral was primarily a solemn occasion for Cheney’s family and close colleagues, the presence of political figures from both major U.S. political parties underscored the far-reaching impact of Cheney’s career. Among the mourners were Democratic figures like Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Joe Biden. Harris, who received Cheney’s endorsement in the 2020 election, was accompanied by other former vice presidents, including Mike Pence and Al Gore, further highlighting Cheney’s broad influence across the political spectrum.
The ceremony also provided an occasion for political reconciliation, with attendees setting aside partisan differences to honor Cheney’s service to the nation. However, the absence of key figures, including former President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, was notable. Cheney had become increasingly critical of Trump, particularly after the 2020 election, when he condemned Trump’s refusal to accept the election results and his role in the January 6 Capitol riot. Cheney’s daughter, Liz Cheney, a former congresswoman from Wyoming, was also estranged from Trump, as she became a vocal critic of the former president’s actions and rhetoric.
Former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, both Democrats, did not attend, but their absence did not overshadow the presence of those who had worked with Cheney during his years in power. The gathering, though marked by political differences, was united in its respect for Cheney’s profound influence on U.S. policy.
As the nation bids farewell to Dick Cheney, his legacy remains one of profound significance. From his role in advancing U.S. military interventions to his controversial stances on national security, Cheney’s influence continues to reverberate in American politics today. Yet, despite the complexities of his career, those who knew him best were quick to recognize his dedication, integrity, and commitment to his country. In his eulogy, George W. Bush noted that Cheney was “the kind of man who didn’t seek the spotlight but always knew when to stand firm for what was right.”
Cheney’s death marks the end of an era for American political history, one in which the role of vice president was transformed from a largely ceremonial position into a powerful force in shaping national policy. His impact on U.S. foreign policy and national security is undeniable, and his life and work will continue to be studied and debated for years to come.
GOMBE, NIGERIA (BN24) — Sixteen prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) were killed in a devastating road accident while en route to their orientation camp in Gombe State. The crash occurred when the 18-seater bus they were traveling in collided with another vehicle or lost control on a dangerous stretch of road. Two others from the same group survived the accident but remain in critical condition at a local hospital.
The victims were all graduates of Adeyemi Federal University of Education (AFUED) in Ondo State, who had been traveling from their home state to the NYSC camp in Gombe for the mandatory three-week orientation program. The accident took place on a major highway, though the exact location of the crash has not been confirmed.
Emergency responders arrived at the scene shortly after the crash, recovering the bodies of the deceased and evacuating the injured to a nearby medical facility. The survivors are currently receiving intensive medical care, and their condition remains critical.
Authorities, including the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash. No official statement has yet been issued by the NYSC management regarding the incident, but local officials have expressed their condolences to the families of the victims.
This tragic accident brings attention to the ongoing concerns about road safety in Nigeria, particularly for those traveling between states for educational and national service purposes. The NYSC, which is a nationwide program requiring graduates to serve in different states, has witnessed several similar accidents over the years, raising questions about the safety of transportation for young Nigerians on their way to orientation camps.
As investigations continue, the FRSC is expected to provide more details on the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The United States has raised the reward for information leading to the arrest of former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding, an accused drug kingpin now considered one of North America’s most dangerous traffickers, as Canadian authorities announced the arrests of seven individuals tied to his operation.
FBI Director Kash Patel said at a news conference in Washington on Wednesday that the State Department increased the bounty for Wedding to $15 million, up from $10 million. Patel described the 44-year-old Canadian as a “modern-day iteration of Pablo Escobar,” invoking the Colombian cartel leader killed in 1993. Wedding, listed among the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, is believed to be hiding in Mexico.
Patel said investigators have linked Wedding to an expansive “narco-trafficking and narco-terrorism program” of a scale federal authorities have not encountered in years. Wedding was indicted in 2024 on charges including conspiracy to distribute and possess cocaine, conspiracy to export cocaine and conspiracy to commit murder. FBI agent Akil Davis said Wedding, who competed in the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and placed 24th in the parallel giant slalom, is regarded as “extremely violent” and “extremely wealthy.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi said Wedding has become Canada’s largest distributor of cocaine, moving an estimated $1 billion worth of narcotics annually. Investigators allege he works closely with Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel and transports roughly 60 metric tonnes of cocaine each year through truck routes leading into Los Angeles from the southern border.
Bondi vowed that authorities would pursue Wedding until he is brought into custody, saying his operation has fueled catastrophic drug-related harm across North America. She underscored that US officials are determined to hold him accountable for the violence linked to his network.
On Tuesday, Canadian officials announced the arrests of seven individuals accused of participating in Wedding’s drug-smuggling enterprise. Among them is Toronto lawyer Deepak Paradkar, whom investigators say advised Wedding that killing a witness in a pending criminal case could result in dismissal of charges. The witness was later shot five times in the head and killed at a restaurant in Medellin, Colombia, in January 2025.
Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli said Wedding placed a bounty on the witness in the mistaken belief that eliminating him would collapse the case and protect his trafficking ring from extradition and prosecution. Essayli said the move instead intensified the international investigation.
Bondi said the United States is offering a separate $2 million reward for information leading to the capture of those involved in the Medellin killing.
Another man arrested in Canada, identified as Gursewak Singh Bal, is accused of operating a fabricated news website called The Dirty News. Federal authorities allege Bal was paid to publish photographs of the witness and his wife ahead of the slaying to help the killers track them down.
US officials said they are seeking the extradition of all seven suspects arrested in Canada. Three additional individuals connected to the Medellin murder were detained earlier in the United States.
Michael Duheme, commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, said Wedding remains one of the most significant threats to public safety in Canada. As part of Operation Giant Slalom, the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Asset Control also announced financial sanctions targeting Wedding and his network, aiming to disrupt the organization’s international reach.
President Donald Trump and New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani are slated to meet Friday at the White House, a notable face-to-face encounter following months of sharp public criticism between the two leaders. The meeting was confirmed after Mamdani’s team reached out to the administration earlier in the week to request a discussion focused on New York’s rising cost of living and the city’s strained affordability.
Trump announced the planned meeting Wednesday night in a Truth Social post, saying Mamdani had asked for a sit-down and that both sides “agreed that this meeting will take place at the Oval Office” on Friday. He added that additional details would follow, and in the same post he again labeled Mamdani a “communist,” a term he has repeatedly used to describe the mayor-elect despite Mamdani calling himself a democratic socialist.
A spokesperson for Mamdani confirmed the planned visit. Dora Pekec said the mayor-elect intends to discuss public safety, economic security and the affordability agenda that more than one million New Yorkers supported at the polls two weeks ago. Mamdani told reporters Monday that his outreach to the White House was part of a campaign promise to address the affordability crisis that, he said, has forced many residents to leave the city. He also argued that Trump’s economic policies have contributed to rising costs for New Yorkers.
In an interview with NBC New York last week, Mamdani emphasized that maintaining a working relationship with Trump would be “critical to the success of the city.” Trump, who endorsed former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in his independent run for mayor, has continued to brand Mamdani as a “communist” in recent months, while dismissing concerns raised by voters about inflation and cost-of-living pressures.
Despite their clashes, Trump suggested Sunday that tensions had cooled. He said Mamdani had shown interest in traveling to Washington and added, “we want to see everything work out well for New York.” Mamdani campaigned as a staunch critic of Trump, promoting a platform centered on lowering child care, housing, grocery and transportation costs for New Yorkers.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt gave an explanation Thursday for why President Donald Trump appeared to insult a female reporter’s appearance after he was asked a question about Jeffrey Epstein.
The president, on Air Force One, wagged a finger in a young female reporter’s face and said “quiet, piggy!” after being asked about the content of emails released by the Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee that showed Epstein, a child sex trafficker and convicted pedophile, accusing Trump of “knowing about the girls” involved in his criminal operations. Trump has denied this.
On Thursday, his press secretary characterized the incident as a show of the unprecedented access the press corps supposedly had to the president, even as the White House has sought to push established pillars of U.S. journalism like wire services out of similar gaggles.
“Look, the president is very frank, and honest with everyone in this room,” Leavitt said. “He gets frustrated with reporters when you lie about him, when you spread fake news about him and his administration. But he is also the most transparent president in history.”
“I think the president being frank and open and honest to your faces rather than hiding behind your backs is a lot more respectful than what you saw in the last administration,” she added.
The president has a long history of making sexist and rude remarks about the appearance of female members of the media, a trend that began during his first run for the presidency in 2016. That year, he said that then-Fox News anchor and debate moderator Megyn Kelly had “blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever” after she challenged him about a host of insulting and degrading names he had used to describe various women.
At the time, Trump brushed off those concerns by attributing them to his thoughts about one woman: Comedian Rosie O’Donnell, one of many with whom the president has nursed a grudge over the years.
The latest incident between Trump and the Bloomberg reporter he described as “piggy” came within days of another exchange in the Oval Office, this time over a question to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman about the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, which he was found to have ordered. During that exchange, Trump told ABC News reporter Mary Bruce, “You’re a terrible person and a terrible reporter.”
The president’s treatment of women has always been a divisive part of Trump’s record. In the summer ahead of the 2016 general election, a videotape of Trump’s appearance on the set of Access Hollywood became a defining issue of the race as the former businessman was heard on a hot mic describing how he believed that women “let” famous men “grab” them by their genitalia. The crude and sexualized way Trump spoke about women in the clip nearly caused a GOP revolt, but the party held firm behind its nominee.
Later, Trump would be found liable by a New York jury of sexual abuse in a case filed by writer E. Jean Carroll, who claimed that Trump sexually assaulted her in a New York department store in late 1995 or early 1996.
The president continues to be asked questions about Epstein. His administration has spent months on the topic, first as conservative influencers touted the White House’s supposed transparency. That dynamic shifted as further releases from the investigation of Epstein, who died in a Manhattan detention center in 2019 during Trump’s first term, were delayed. The Justice Department and FBI put out a joint statement claiming that a supposed list of Epstein’s clients and co-conspirators did not exist, and affirming that the administration would not publish any further documents from the probe.
That set off controversy online and in various political circles around the United States. Congressional Democrats and four Republican members rallied behind a discharge petition aimed at forcing the administration to release the files in full, which grew into a Republican rebellion once that resolution was successfully brought to the House floor.
The story dominated headlines for weeks, and renewed this past week with the publication of new emails from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate. The latest cache, released by a bipartisan committee, mention Trump multiple times in messages between Epstein and his closest confidantes. The emails indicate Epstein believed he had leverage over Trump due to alleged connections to his child sex network.
White House officials and the president himself have repeatedly denied this. The controversy has led to Trump addressing his own base of voters via Truth Social postings.
“Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this ‘bull****’ hook, line, and sinker,” he wrote in July on Truth Social.
Outlets including Fox News have reported that the president’s second-term approval rating is at its lowest point, with less than four in ten Americans supporting his record as president in some polling.
Leavitt’s defense of Trump’s “piggy” remark represents the White House’s official position on the incident that drew widespread media criticism. Her framing of the insult as evidence of transparency and frankness contrasts with critics who characterized the comment as sexist and inappropriate.
The press secretary’s claim that Trump is “the most transparent president in history” came amid ongoing disputes about access to information, including the Epstein files and the administration’s efforts to limit certain news organizations’ participation in press events.
The reference to the previous administration in Leavitt’s defense suggests an attempt to draw unfavorable comparisons between Trump’s direct, if crude, interactions with reporters and what the White House characterizes as less forthright communication styles of predecessors.
The pattern of Trump’s comments toward female journalists spans his political career. The 2016 Megyn Kelly incident, the Access Hollywood tape revelation, and the E. Jean Carroll case all provide context for understanding the “piggy” remark within a documented history of how Trump speaks about and to women.
The timing of the incident, occurring as new Epstein emails emerged mentioning Trump extensively, suggests the president’s frustration with continued questioning about his past association with the convicted sex offender. The emails released by the House Oversight Committee contain references to Trump that Epstein wrote to associates, including claims about Trump’s knowledge of “the girls.”
The discharge petition that forced a House vote on releasing Epstein files, despite initial White House opposition, demonstrated the political potency of the issue. The eventual passage with overwhelming bipartisan support, 427-1 in the House and unanimous consent in the Senate, showed Trump could not prevent the release through political pressure.
The Justice Department and FBI’s July statement that no client list existed and no further disclosures would be made represented the administration’s attempt to close the matter. The subsequent political backlash and congressional action to force disclosure undermined that strategy.
Trump’s characterization of Epstein scrutiny as a “hoax” and his criticism of “PAST supporters” for believing allegations reflects his frustration that the issue has resonated even among his political base. The capitalization and profanity in his Truth Social post convey the intensity of his reaction.
The Saudi Crown Prince meeting where Trump attacked ABC’s Mary Bruce demonstrated that the “piggy” incident was not isolated. The dual attacks on female reporters asking challenging questions within days of each other established a pattern during this particular news cycle.
Leavitt’s role as press secretary requires defending the president’s actions while maintaining working relationships with the White House press corps. Her Thursday defense attempted to reframe Trump’s insult as a positive attribute, transparency and frankness, rather than addressing concerns about sexist language and unprofessional conduct.
President Donald Trump on Thursday accused six Democratic lawmakers of engaging in “seditious behavior, punishable by DEATH,” escalating a political clash that erupted after the lawmakers released a video urging U.S. service members to uphold the Constitution and reject “illegal orders.” The lawmakers — all veterans of the armed forces or intelligence community — posted the 90-second message Tuesday from Sen. Elissa Slotkin’s X account, saying they feared troops were facing “enormous stress and pressure.”
In the video, Slotkin, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, and Reps. Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander and Chrissy Houlahan address military personnel directly, reminding them that their oath requires loyalty to the Constitution above all else. “The American people need you to stand up for our laws and our Constitution,” Slotkin wrote in the accompanying post. The lawmakers urge service members to refuse unlawful commands and conclude the video with the historic naval refrain, “Don’t give up the ship.”
The lawmakers did not cite specific incidents, but their message came as the Trump administration continued efforts to deploy National Guard troops into U.S. cities for varying missions. Some deployments have been challenged in court or reversed.
Under U.S. military law, commanders are responsible for rejecting unlawful orders, and rank-and-file troops may be held criminally liable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice for carrying out commands later deemed illegal. At the same time, troops can face charges for disobeying orders found to be lawful, including violations under Articles 90 and 92 of the UCMJ.
Trump responded Thursday by reposting multiple critiques of the Democrats’ video and adding his own condemnation. He called the message “really bad, and Dangerous to our Country,” before labeling the lawmakers “traitors” and demanding they be “LOCKED UP.” In a separate post, he wrote that the Democrats’ appeal amounted to “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH.” He also amplified comments from other accounts, including one calling for them to be hanged.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt, responding to questions about the president’s remarks, focused instead on the lawmakers’ call to refuse orders, suggesting their message “perhaps is punishable by law.” She argued that encouraging troops to defy the chain of command was “a very dangerous thing for sitting members of Congress to do.”
Democrats reacted sharply. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Trump was “lighting a match in a country soaked with political gasoline.” House Speaker Mike Johnson countered that the president was not advocating violence, saying Trump was “defining a crime,” and called the Democrats’ video “wildly inappropriate” for elected officials.
Some of Trump’s allies intensified the criticism. White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller said on Fox News that the video amounted to “insurrection” and a “general call for rebellion” from Democratic lawmakers. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed the video on X as “Stage 4 TDS.”
The Steady State, a network of current and former national security officials, defended the lawmakers’ message, saying it merely restated longstanding military doctrine about unlawful orders. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell rejected the idea that illegal orders were being issued. “Our military follows orders, and our civilians give legal orders,” he told The Associated Press. “We love the Constitution. These politicians are out of their minds.”
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (BN24)— Two Nigerian-born men, Olumide Olorunfunmi, 40, and Emmanuel Unuigbe, 43, were sentenced to 30 months in prison each on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, for their roles in laundering more than $4.5 million in proceeds from a series of fraudulent schemes that primarily targeted elderly victims. The men were sentenced in the Western District of North Carolina and will serve three years of supervised release following their prison terms.
In addition to the prison sentences, both Olorunfunmi and Unuigbe were ordered to pay restitution of over $4.6 million, representing the amount of criminal proceeds they were found to have laundered through various illegal activities. U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, Russ Ferguson, announced the sentences in a press release issued by the Department of Justice.
The case stems from a complex international fraud operation in which Olorunfunmi and Unuigbe, along with others, facilitated the laundering of funds derived from business email compromise (BEC) scams and romance scams, which specifically targeted elderly individuals. These scams are known for manipulating victims into sending money under pretenses, often promising romantic relationships or business opportunities.
Court documents revealed that from 2020 to 2023, the two men conspired with others to direct victims to transfer funds into bank accounts that they controlled, both within the United States and internationally. Once the funds were received, Olorunfunmi and Unuigbe would transfer the proceeds to additional bank accounts, dispersing the criminal funds across various countries, including the U.S. and Nigeria.
The fraud schemes impacted over 125 victims, with a total of more than $4.5 million being funneled through the criminal operation. Olorunfunmi and Unuigbe profited by retaining a portion of the illicit funds for themselves. In addition, they were involved in a black-market exchange system, where they arranged for Nigerian Naira to be transferred from accounts controlled by their co-conspirators in Nigeria to other accounts, facilitating the exchange of U.S. dollars to Nigerian currency at a favorable exchange rate.
Both men had previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the scheme, acknowledging their involvement in laundering the criminal proceeds. Alongside them, a third individual, Samson Amos, was also sentenced on Tuesday for his part in the operation. Amos, who helped facilitate the unlicensed money transmission aspect of the scheme, was sentenced to five years of probation, which includes six months of home confinement, and was also ordered to pay restitution.
Ferguson praised the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in investigating the case and bringing the defendants to justice. “The investigation and prosecution of these fraudsters was critical in dismantling their criminal network and ensuring accountability for their crimes,” Ferguson said.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Ryan from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, who commended the significant cooperation between U.S. law enforcement and international agencies in pursuing justice for the victims of this complex money laundering operation.
The sentencing serves as a reminder of the ongoing threat of fraud schemes that target vulnerable populations, particularly elderly individuals, and underscores the importance of continued vigilance and law enforcement action to combat such crimes.
