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Just in: Don’t tamper with Assembly quarters structures, Rivers elders tell Fubara

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Governor Siminalayi Fubara
Governor Siminalayi Fubara

Just in: Don’t tamper with Assembly quarters structures, Rivers elders tell Fubara

Elders and leaders of Rivers across political party lines have called on the state Governor Siminalayi Fubara, to shelve any plan to tamper with structures at the House of Assembly quarters located along Aba Road in Port Harcourt.

The elders comprising past and present members of the National Assembly, local government chairmen, and opinion leaders spoke on Sunday, May 12, when they paid a surprise visit to the quarters to assess the condition of the buildings.

Their intervention was following the recent visit of the governor to the facility and insinuations of a plan to renovate the estate, which currently houses the hallowed chamber of the Martins Amaewhule-led House of Assembly.

Accompanied by other stakeholders in the state, the leaders were received by Amaewhule and other lawmakers and were taken around the structures in the complex and the auditorium that currently serves as a chamber for the lawmakers.

Amaewhule told the leaders that there was a grand plot by the governor to bring down the structures the same way he ordered the demolition of the House of Assembly Complex located along Moacow Road to stop them from sitting.

He said the structures were in excellent condition, fully functional, and were currently occupied by the lawmakers and their family members.

He condemned the way and manner the governor stormed the quarters aided by thugs and armed policemen alleging that Fubara broke the gate and allowed others to scale the fence.

Amaewhule said the lawmakers never invited the governor to come to the quarters adding that the estate remained the property of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Addressing the elders, Amaewhule said: “Your visit is unusual visit. It shows that the good people of the state are concerned about what is happening. This facility is the facility of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

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“We have also brought in experts, engineers and there is nothing wrong with these structures. They are fully in use and fully functional. All the experts confirmed to us that this building is one of the best in the entire West Africa.

“This complex was constructed by the former Governor, Nyesom Wike and inaugurated in August 2022 by the current chief of staff to Mr. President, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila. We are happy with the building and everything is working well.

“We didn’t write to the governor and we didn’t invite him. We didn’t ask for his help because we don’t need it. We don’t need his intervention in any way. Any attempt to talk about reconstruction or demolition is clearly an assault on democracy and an assault on members resident in these buildings.

The Rivers State Government is not the office of the governor. It comprises the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary. The governor has no right to claim it as his personal property. It is the property of the Rivers State House of Assembly. So without an invitation to the governor, he has no right to break into our property”.

Amaewhule while showing the leaders the current legislative chamber at the complex insisted that the governor had no right to make any executive order directing lawmakers where to hold their sitting.

Citing the judgement of Omotosho, Amaewhule described governor’s actions as a flagrant violation of orders of the Federal High Court, none of which he said had been vacated.

He said: “All the orders of injunction by that court are still in place. None had been vacated. The law is on the side of members. The orders of the three high courts are still in place. The duty of ascertaining whether there is a problem is the duty of the assembly not the office of the governor.

“This facility belongs to the Rivers State House of Assembly and it remains so. We are not an appendage of the office of the governor. The judgement of Justice Omotosho bars him from interfering with our affairs. The judgement says don’t interfere with anything concerning us. It is in continuous disobedience to the order of the court that the governor broke into this place.

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“The judgment also barred the other people from doing what they are currently doing. It is only the Rivers State House of Assembly Service Commission that can recruit, and discipline any staff member of the assembly. Those other people are Nollywood actors. The law is on our side. There is also a subsisting order of another court made by Justice Okoro”.

The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, while stating the purpose of their visit said they were worried about reports of another impending demolition of a democratic institution and decided to assess the condition of the premises.

Chinda said before their visit, they had already engaged experts to assess the integrity of the structures at the complex and their report showed that they would last for more than 25 years.

He observed that the Assembly built by Wike about two years ago and inaugurated by a former Speaker of the House of Representatives remained the best in Africa and was better than the National legislative quarters.

He said: “Let me salute the speaker and members of the House. The assembly complex that was brought down some leaders of the state went to the USA to get that design. When it was built, it was the best state assembly in this country. That structure is nowhere today.

“However, as members of the National Assembly from Rivers State, we have joined the leaders and elders of the state to discuss the issues happening in our state the latest being the threat to bring down the structures in this premises.

“We have commissioned engineers and experts to study and give us the report of the integrity of these structures. We have received the report. And the report says these structures have a lifespan of nothing less than 25 years.

“We have on our own come out to physically inspect the structures to crosscheck it with the report we received and these structures are still strong and healthy. Our apartments in the National Assembly are not better than what we have seen here.

“We should be proud that our state assembly occupies this quarters. It is easier to destroy than to build. The one we have destroyed have we made any move to rebuild it? Let us know that public officers should be living examples in society both in character and in conduct. Let us also caution that you must govern in line with the rule of law.

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“We want to advise the governor to bridle a little bit at the exuberance that we had seen within this period. It doesn’t portend well to our state”.

Chinda said the National Assembly was observing and monitoring the situation in Rivers and would soon decide on the collective interest of the state.

He said: “We members of the National Assembly have not spoken. We have observed. But we cannot continue to fold our hands and watch our state fly. We are coming out and we will take a position without looking at anybody

“It will be a position that will be in the interests of the state. No one individual is larger than Rivers State. We are members, leaders, and elders of Rivers, and this state we must protect”.

In his remarks, Igo Aguma, a former member of the House of Representatives, said that Justice Omotosho’s judgment indicted the governor of willful destruction of the assembly complex, alleging that Fubara committed a criminal offence.

He said: “I want to remind the governor that the same Justice Omotosho judgment had found that he willfully brought down the institution of the Parliament in the Rivers State House of Assembly by demolishing it.

“He willfully did it in order to prevent them from sitting. That is malicious damage to public property. It is a criminal offence. The red biro will run dry one day and you will be made to answer. It has not been appealed against. I want to also let him know that Rivers people will muster all democratic institutions in the world to defend democracy in Rivers.

“We will not run away. We will fight him back. Democracy is the best form of government and we will have democracy in Rivers. He should take pity on the governed and remember that Rivers State House of Assembly has made itself financially autonomous.

“It is an act of the law. So if they have any issue that has to do with engineering and reconstruction, the law empowers them to do it by themselves. This is an edifice. It behooves on all Rivers people to defend this edifice”.

A former Speaker of the Rivers House of Assembly, Ikuinyi Ibani, said their assessment had shown that there was nothing wrong with the structures and called on the governor to jettison any plan to tamper with quarters.

He warned that the governor should desist from any action that could trigger violent reaction in the state saying Fubara must at all times promote law and order in the state

He said: “I am here with other leaders to show and prove to the world that democracy is the best form of government and that this is one institution that should be defended in any democratic setting.

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“We have listened to the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, who cited many rulings and judgments of courts in relation to what is happening in Rivers. For me as a former Speaker, I have a sense of disappointment at what is happening today.

“I can recall very vividly that in 2022 this project was inaugurated by Femi Gbajabiamila as the Speaker of the House of Reps. His comments were quite complementary and a useful tool for the development of Rivers. So, I am here with the other leaders to check whether there is anything wrong with the structure. There is nothing wrong with the structure.

“You don’t need to be a civil engineer to know there is nothing wrong with the structure. Public money should be channeled into the development of the state and making the people be happy. The government should try to diversify the economy.

“It is old that action and reaction are equal and opposite, but I will say that action and reaction are opposite but they are not equal. When you engage in an action and the reaction comes, there is no way the reaction will be equal, as in the case of Hammas and Isreal. We will continue to support the speaker. Leaders who do not like democracy always attack democratic institutions first when they come to power”.

Also, Senator Olaka Nwogu told the governor that it was not the building that made the parliament but the people and the constitution.

He said if the governor continued to destroy hallowed chambers, the members would continue to create more in defence of democracy.

Nwogu recalled the destruction of the House of Assembly complex and described it as the greatest assault on democracy.

He said: “I have never seen a situation where those tasked with protecting public property will be those to destroy such property. When the Rivers State House of Assembly was brought down, it was like a movie to most Nigerians. That was the greatest assault on democracy.

“No matter the reason people try to put before things, I don’t think there is any Rivers son or daughter that will support that the assembly was brought down because some persons think it will help their self-preservation.

“Today, the Rivers State Assembly sits here and again they want to bring it down. Let me make it clear that it is not the building that makes the Parliament. It is the members themselves and the constitution. Even if you break down this place, the members can decide to sit in any place in their resolution favours. Parliament is self-regulatory. Nobody regulates them.

“You can break a thousand chambers and they will create more. It is about us, the people, the institutions, and their duty to provide checks and balances on our behalf within the tenets of democracy. We are a nation of laws. You cannot be protected by law when you become the chief lawbreaker.

“It is the duty of the chief executive of the state to do everything to ensure that there is law and order. What example do you put out when you become the chief lawbreaker, demolisher of the institution of the state, and a waste of its resources? This is unacceptable. Decent minds must condemn it. I urge those involved to have a rethink”.

He added: “These structures belong to the people. No court has said they are not members. So, they are. Let’s hope that the planned so-called renovation is quickly set aside. You cannot order the assembly to sit where the executive wants them to sit. That is not how the law is.

“You cannot take the assembly into government house against wishes of the assembly. This assembly premises is the best within the West African subregion. Show me any state that has something like this. When you take it down, you need Rivers money to build it again”.

The Rivers Caretaker Committee Chairman of the APC, Chief Tony Okocha, commended the leaders and elders across party lines for defending democracy saying it was a demonstration of the unity in the state.

Okocha said the 27 lawmakers remained members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) adding that the party would continue to protect them.

He said at every twist and turn the governor would always confess his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, but he alleged that Fubara did not vote for the President in the last election.

He said: “This goes to show the world that Rivers people are united. We are one. The speaker had taken us round the premises and had given us the synopsis of what transpired when the governor in a Gestapo manner cane with thugs to harass the inhabitants here.

“27 lawmakers are members of our party and we owe them the responsibility to protect and defend them. At every twist and turn, the governor attempts to see how he can curry political patronage by claiming that he supports Mr. President. It is not true. It is a fluke.

“The world should know that they are not supporters of Mr. President. They want to lash it to see whether they can continue to engage in their illegality. As chairman of APC, Rivers State, I have taken a look at the details of voting in the past election and it is clear to me that the governor did not vote for Mr. President.”

Some of the leaders at the visit are Kingsly Chinda, representing Obio/Akpor at the House Representatives; Emmanuel Deeyah, former House of Rep member; Senator Olaka Nwogu,

Chief Tony Okocha, Igo Aguma; Desmond Akawor, former PDP Chairman, Rivers State; Fred Kpakol, former Finance Commissioner; Emeka Woke, MD/CEO, Ogun-Osun River Basin Authority; George Ariolu, LGA Chairman, Obio/Akpor; Erasmu Awoto, LGA chairman, Andoni; Samuel Nwanosike, LGA chairman Ikwerre among others.

Just in: Don’t tamper with Assembly quarters structures, Rivers elders tell Fubara

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EFCC Defends Osun Account Freeze Amid N11bn Fraud Probe, Adeleke Vows Legal Battle

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EFCC Defends Osun Account Freeze Amid N11bn Fraud Probe, Adeleke Vows Legal Battle

EFCC Defends Osun Account Freeze Amid N11bn Fraud Probe, Adeleke Vows Legal Battle

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed freezing Osun State Government accounts, citing an ongoing N11 billion fraud investigation and suspicious transfers detected days before the governorship election. Governor Ademola Adeleke has rejected the action as unconstitutional and vowed to challenge it in court, while the Nigerian Bar Association has also faulted the agency’s move.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has publicly defended its decision to freeze the bank accounts of the Osun State Government, insisting the action was a preventive measure to safeguard public funds and was not politically motivated. The anti-graft agency confirmed that it directed First Bank to place a “Post No Debit” (PND) order on the state government’s statutory allocation account, effectively halting all withdrawals. This development comes just ten days before the state’s governorship election scheduled for August 15, 2026, sparking fierce political backlash and raising concerns about the timing and legality of the intervention. In a statement issued on August 5, 2026, by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the Commission revealed that it has been investigating the Osun State Government since March 2026 over the alleged fraudulent handling of Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds, and Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations totaling approximately N11 billion. The statement disclosed that several state officials, including the Accountant General of the state, had already been questioned as part of the ongoing probe, demonstrating the depth and seriousness of the investigation.

According to the EFCC, the investigation alone would not have warranted freezing the account. However, the Commission said it was forced to act after detecting what it described as “precipitate and unwarranted” movement of funds beginning on August 2, 2026. Investigators observed large transfers of money from the state government’s accounts into various corporate entities deemed suspicious, prompting the swift intervention to halt further transactions. The agency maintained that it could not stand idly by while public funds were allegedly being diverted, emphasizing that the action was part of its statutory responsibility to protect public resources. “The Commission noticed huge transfers of funds into different corporate entities and had to swiftly halt the trend by freezing the accounts from which such heavy funds are being moved,” the EFCC statement read. The agency further explained that the freeze was a temporary measure designed to preserve the integrity of the investigation and prevent further dissipation of public funds.

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Responding to accusations that the move was politically motivated and aimed at influencing the upcoming governorship election, the EFCC insisted that its actions were independent of the electoral process. While acknowledging the imminent election, the Commission argued that it could not use the political calendar as an excuse to neglect its legal duties and allow potential financial crimes to go unchecked. “It will be uncharitable for the Commission to allow an excuse of an upcoming election to fold its arms to perform its legally-assigned functions,” the EFCC stated. The anti-graft agency also revealed that it is monitoring the finances of several other states across Nigeria, emphasizing that Osun is not being singled out for political reasons. This assertion was aimed at countering claims that the EFCC was being used as a tool for political persecution ahead of the gubernatorial poll. “The Commission has always pointed out that it is non-partisan and non-sectarian but always working in the overall interests of Nigerians. The Osun State Government account was frozen to save public funds from being looted,” the statement added. The EFCC urged the public to disregard what it described as false narratives and attempts to discredit its operations, calling on citizens to support its efforts in combating corruption and financial crimes.

However, the EFCC’s explanation has done little to appease the Osun State Government, which has described the account freeze as unconstitutional and a threat to democracy. Governor Ademola Adeleke criticized the EFCC for acting without a court order and vowed to challenge the decision in court, setting the stage for a legal showdown between the state and the federal anti-graft agency. “This action was taken without any court order. We are supposed to be in a democracy, where the Rule of Law must always prevail. We will therefore not accept a situation where federal agencies trample on the constitutional rights of subnational governments,” Adeleke said during a press conference in Osogbo. The governor’s strong words reflected the deep frustration within his administration over what they perceive as executive overreach and political interference.

The governor further alleged that the account freeze was part of a coordinated campaign of intimidation against his administration, orchestrated by political opponents ahead of the August 15 governorship poll. He claimed that the state had experienced months of disruption to local government administration, police raids, and harassment of political supporters, with over 60 members of his party arrested and detained without charges. These allegations, if true, paint a troubling picture of political tension in the state as the election approaches. Adeleke has since instructed the state Attorney-General, Oluwole Jimi-Bada, to initiate legal proceedings against the EFCC at the Federal High Court in Osogbo. The Attorney-General argued that while the commission has the authority to investigate financial records, it cannot freeze a state government’s accounts without first obtaining a court order, which the EFCC failed to secure. “EFCC can investigate the accounts, but it can’t freeze the accounts without an order of court,” Jimi-Bada said. He warned that the restriction could hamper the government’s ability to meet its obligations and administer the state effectively, potentially affecting the payment of salaries and the delivery of essential services to citizens.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has also faulted the EFCC over the account freeze, stating that the anti-graft agency lacks the constitutional power to impose a blanket restriction on a state’s finances without due legal process. NBA President, Afam Osigwe (SAN), warned that any directive restricting withdrawals from accounts belonging to a state government would effectively cripple governance and amount to an abuse of power. “No government agency or any person has the right or the power to restrict withdrawals from the account of any state because, first of all, the order has the effect of grounding the activities of a government,” Osigwe said. He maintained that any decision to freeze the account of an individual or government institution must be supported by sufficient legal grounds and a valid court order, emphasizing the importance of judicial oversight in such matters.

Other Senior Advocates of Nigeria also weighed in on the controversy, offering diverse legal perspectives on the issue. Isiaka Olagunju (SAN) described the freezing of the bank account as a serious violation of the 1999 Constitution and contrary to the principles of federalism, arguing that states should not be subjected to such unilateral actions by federal agencies. However, Professor Damilola Olawuyi (SAN) defended the use of account freezing as a recognized preventive tool in tackling economic and financial crimes, provided it is exercised within the limits of the law. He cautioned that such powers “should not be used as a cudgel to settle political scores,” highlighting the need for balance between anti-corruption efforts and the protection of constitutional rights. Wolemi Esan (SAN) explained that the EFCC could place a temporary stop order on a suspected account for up to 72 hours without first obtaining a court order under Section 7(6) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, but any restriction beyond that period must be backed by judicial authorization. This legal nuance adds complexity to the ongoing dispute, as both sides present arguments rooted in different interpretations of the law.

The controversy has also drawn reactions from civil society organizations, with some calling for restraint and due process while others support the EFCC’s proactive stance against corruption. The situation remains fluid, with the legal challenge and the upcoming election adding layers of political and legal uncertainty.

EFCC Defends Osun Account Freeze Amid N11bn Fraud Probe, Adeleke Vows Legal Battle

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Army Arrests Two Soldiers for Acting as Bouncers at TikToker Peller’s Lavish Lagos Wedding

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Army Arrests Two Soldiers for Acting as Bouncers at TikToker Peller's Lavish Lagos Wedding

Army Arrests Two Soldiers for Acting as Bouncers at TikToker Peller’s Lavish Lagos Wedding

The Nigerian Army has arrested two serving soldiers over their alleged involvement in providing unauthorised private security at the lavish wedding ceremony of popular TikTok personality Habeeb Hamzat, known as Peller, and fellow content creator Jarvis in Lekki, Lagos State. Military sources confirmed that the arrests followed credible intelligence indicating that the soldiers participated in an illegal deployment during the star-studded event held over the weekend. The two personnel were apprehended on Tuesday morning as investigations commenced into the incident. The arrested soldiers have been identified as Private Onasanya Ifeoluwa, with service number 23NA/85/10007, and Private Ukpai Onyinyechi, with service number 23NA/85/7885. Both are attached to the 81 Division Medical Services and Hospital (81DMSH) in Obalende, Lagos.

The arrests came after videos from the high-profile wedding circulated widely on social media, showing uniformed military personnel providing security services and controlling access to parts of the venue. One widely shared clip allegedly showed a soldier acting as a personal bouncer for TikTok personality Ivanna, escorting her through the crowded venue. The footage triggered widespread criticism online, with many Nigerians questioning why serving military personnel were allegedly deployed to a private social event involving influencers and celebrities. The Nigerian Army has repeatedly maintained that serving personnel are prohibited from undertaking unauthorised private security duties or participating in illegal deployments without official approval. A military source stated: “Following credible intelligence on the involvement of Nigerian Army personnel in illegal deployment during popular social influencer’s wedding known as Peller at Lekki, Lagos, the Group arrested the personnel. Preliminary investigation is ongoing to establish the extent of their involvement and identify other personnel connected with the incident.”

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Peller and Jarvis’ wedding, held on August 1, 2026, attracted several prominent entertainers, social media influencers, and content creators. The couple, who have built a massive following through TikTok livestreams and relationship content, had about 400 guests expected to wear the wedding Aso Ebi, with the eight-yard version priced at ₦700,000. Videos from the ceremony dominated social media platforms, with large crowds of fans and guests in attendance. The event became one of the most talked-about celebrity occasions of the weekend, but controversy soon followed after clips surfaced showing men in military uniforms managing access to parts of the venue and escorting some attendees.

The Nigerian Army is now investigating whether the soldiers acted on their own, received unofficial instructions, or were involved through another channel. The military has reiterated its commitment to professionalism and discipline, stating that any personnel found to have violated regulations will be sanctioned in accordance with the Armed Forces Act. Military sources said the soldiers would face disciplinary proceedings if the ongoing investigation establishes that they breached military regulations. The Army emphasised that military uniforms, weapons, and official authority must never be used for personal gain or private commercial engagements. At the time of this report, there is no indication that Peller or the event organisers are under investigation, and neither party has publicly reacted to the development. The focus of the military inquiry remains on the conduct of the soldiers and whether any superior officer or other authority approved their participation.

Army Arrests Two Soldiers for Acting as Bouncers at TikToker Peller’s Lavish Lagos Wedding

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Canada Deports 205 Nigerians, 10,607 Illegal Immigrants in June Crackdown

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Canada Deports 205 Nigerians, 10,607 Illegal Immigrants in June Crackdown

Canada Deports 205 Nigerians, 10,607 Illegal Immigrants in June Crackdown

No fewer than 205 Nigerian nationals were among the 10,607 illegal immigrants deported from Canada in June 2026, according to official data released by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) , as the Canadian government intensified enforcement of its immigration laws. The latest Immigration Removal Statistics show that Nigeria accounted for nearly two per cent of all deportations during the month, ranking 9th among the countries with the highest number of immigration removals for the first half of 2026. India recorded the highest number of deportations, with 3,323 nationals removed, followed by Mexico with 1,573, Haiti with 431, and the United States with 372. Other countries with significant numbers of nationals deported included Colombia (354), Romania (293), Bangladesh (227), Pakistan (207), and Chile (190), according to the CBSA data.

The latest figures bring the total number of Nigerians deported from Canada to 643 between January 2025 and June 2026, making Nigeria the only African country to appear among the top 10 nationalities removed from Canada during the period. Data shows that 438 Nigerians were deported in 2025, placing Nigeria 10th among countries with the highest number of immigration removals that year. Between January and June 2026, another 205 Nigerians were deported, moving the country to 9th position on the list.

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The deportation figures for Nigeria have fluctuated over the past six years: 302 Nigerians were deported in 2020, 242 in 2021, and 200 in 2022. Nigeria dropped out of the top 10 list in 2023 and 2024 before returning in 2025. For the first six months of 2026, the top nationalities removed were India (3,323), Mexico (1,573), Haiti (431), United States (372), Colombia (354), Romania (293), Bangladesh (227), Pakistan (207), Nigeria (205), and Chile (190).

According to the CBSA, the vast majority of deportations resulted from non-compliance with Canada’s immigration laws , particularly involving refugee claimants. In 2025, 19,225 removals involved refugee claimants found inadmissible due to non-compliance, while 2,549 non-claimants were removed on similar grounds. Other deportations were linked to criminality , organized crime , misrepresentation , and other violations under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

Canada has significantly increased immigration enforcement in recent years. Total deportations rose from 12,858 in 2020 to a record 23,160 in 2025. In the first half of 2026 alone, the country recorded 10,607 enforced removals, suggesting another high-deportation year is likely if the current trend continues. The CBSA is currently removing approximately 400 inadmissible individuals every week. Through Canada’s Border Plan, the agency received $30.4 million to strengthen its capacity to complete 20,000 removals annually. As of June 30, 2026, the CBSA reported 40,827 removal cases in progress , while its overall immigration enforcement inventory exceeded 572,000 active files. The agency has also stepped up enforcement against individuals linked to extortion-related activities. As of June 18, 2026, the CBSA had opened 484 immigration investigations, issued 139 removal orders, and removed 81 individuals in connection with extortion cases. In the Pacific Region, 46 individuals have been removed; in the Greater Toronto Area, 17; and in the Prairie Region, 18. Commenting on the enforced removals, the CBSA said: “Removing individuals who do not have the right to enter or stay in Canada is essential to maintaining the integrity of Canada’s immigration program and to ensuring fairness for those who come to this country lawfully.”

Canada Deports 205 Nigerians, 10,607 Illegal Immigrants in June Crackdown

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