The United States Mission in Nigeria has announced the appointment of Rick Swart as the new Consul General at the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos.

Swart officially began his tenure on July 16, succeeding JoEllen Gorg, who had served in an acting capacity over the past seven months following the departure of former Consul General Will Stevens in November 2024.

In a statement issued by the Mission, Swart was described as the most senior U.S. Government representative serving the southern region of Nigeria, covering 17 states.

According to the statement, “He leads U.S. government efforts in deepening trade and investment partnerships, enhancing people-to-people ties, and advancing the full spectrum of priorities within the U.S.-Nigeria bilateral relationship across southern Nigeria.”

Expressing his delight at the new role, Swart stated, “It is an honour to serve in Nigeria. I look forward to exploring the region, connecting with its people, immersing myself in its rich culture, and promoting our shared objectives of building safer, stronger, and more prosperous nations.”

He also commended his predecessor, JoEllen Gorg, for her dedication during the transition period. “I’m grateful to JoEllen for her exceptional leadership and the vital work she has done to strengthen our partnership with the Nigerian people in this region,” he said.

Swart added that he is eager to collaborate with Ambassador David Greene and the wider U.S. Embassy team in Abuja to reinforce the strong ties between both nations.

A distinguished diplomat and senior member of the U.S. Foreign Service, Swart brings extensive international experience to his new role, having served in various assignments across Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia.

Prior to his current posting, he was the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Chad and previously served as Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., in Chad, Congo, and Burundi. His diplomatic resume also includes roles as Deputy Consul General in Baghdad and Humanitarian Assistance Officer for Africa at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in Geneva.

Swart’s overseas postings further include assignments in London, Manila, and Dubai, while his service in Washington, D.C. focused on critical issues concerning sub-Saharan Africa.

Before embarking on his diplomatic career in 2002, Swart worked on architecture and design projects across Asia and Africa and also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mali.

Lead counsel for Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Chief Kanu Agabi, told the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday that his client’s threats of violence were empty boasts, not actionable offenses.

Addressing Justice James Omotosho while adopting the defense’s no-case submission, Agabi argued that the prosecution failed to prove any elements of the charges against Kanu. He accused the prosecution of merely portraying Kanu as a villain without evidence, noting that no witnesses testified to being incited by Kanu’s broadcasts.

“Kanu was simply boasting when he claimed he could ‘bring the world to a standstill.’ Boasting isn’t a crime, and prosecuting someone for it is unwarranted,” Agabi said.

He pointed to widespread insecurity across Nigeria, asserting that Kanu, like others, was concerned about it. Agabi referenced statements by DSS Director General Adeola Ajayi and former Defense Minister Theophilus Danjuma, who urged self-defense against attacks, arguing that Kanu’s call for people to protect themselves was similar and lawful.

Agabi criticized the prosecution’s evidence, including an unauthenticated #ENDSARS report and death reports submitted without medical experts for cross-examination. He noted that prosecution witnesses frequently responded with “I don’t remember” or “I don’t know” – 80 times, by his count – undermining the case’s credibility. He also highlighted that the prosecution failed to address 10 of the 40 points raised by the defense, arguing that even one unanswered issue warranted acquittal.

On Kanu’s detention, Agabi claimed that over six years of solitary confinement had affected his client’s mental state, violating international standards limiting such confinement to 15 days. He also challenged the legality of IPOB’s proscription, insisting it lacked presidential approval. “If they have proof of the president’s approval, let them produce it,” he said.

Agabi further argued that the court lacked jurisdiction over a charge related to an allegedly illegal imported transmitter, citing a prior Court of Appeal ruling.

In response, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, the prosecuting counsel, urged the court to dismiss the no-case submission and order Kanu to defend himself against terrorism charges. Awomolo argued that the prosecution provided ample evidence, including audio and video clips, to establish a prima facie case. He noted that Kanu admitted leading IPOB, a proscribed group, and making broadcasts inciting violence and destruction, which allegedly led to the deaths of over 170 security personnel.

Awomolo rejected the defense’s claim that Kanu’s broadcasts were mere boasts, arguing that statements causing public fear are illegal. “Boasting about killing security personnel and inciting violence isn’t a joke. Kanu must explain his actions,” he said.

Countering the defense’s claim of prolonged detention, Awomolo clarified that Kanu was arrested in 2015, granted bail in 2017, and had it revoked in 2022 after absconding. He attributed delays in the trial to the defense’s tactics, not the prosecution.

On IPOB’s proscription, Awomolo noted that the matter is before the Supreme Court, making it inappropriate for the trial court to rule on its validity.

Justice Omotosho adjourned the case to October 10 for a ruling on the no-case submission after hearing both sides.

The first prosecution witness (PW1) in the trial of SunTrust Bank Managing Director, Halima Buba, and Chief Compliance Officer, Innocent Mbagwu, on Thursday, July 17, 2025, detailed before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, how multi-million-dollar cash transactions were routed through him for transfers.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting both bank executives on a six-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of $12 million.

Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, the witness, a bureau de change operator, described multiple foreign exchange transactions involving the first defendant, Aisha Achimugu, and himself.

“Sometime in March 2025, I received a call from Aisha Achimugu that she had some forex transactions at SunTrust Bank branches in Abuja and Lagos. I called the first defendant, and she confirmed her knowledge of the transactions,” he testified.

On March 13, 2025, the witness said a staff of Achimugu, Iliya, visited SunTrust Bank Abuja for a $1 million cash swap, to be paid into Ocean Gate Energy Oil and Gas’ Zenith Bank account. The witness confirmed the transaction with the first defendant before arranging for the collection of the cash through intermediaries.

The witness further narrated, “Aisha told me she needed dollar inflows into her Ocean Gate Energy account to purchase an oil block. I got to know her in 2021 through the first defendant, and we met at SunTrust Bank.”

He added that the first defendant communicated transaction confirmations through WhatsApp, including screenshots of chats with the second defendant when he initially denied knowledge of the transactions.

According to the witness, “On March 13, 2025, Muktar Miko received a $2 million cash payment from the second defendant. Another $2 million was received on March 14, while on March 20, an additional $2 million was collected for cash swap transactions, all confirmed with the first defendant.”

On March 24, 2025, another $2 million was collected, with subsequent dollar inflows transferred in tranches into Ocean Gate Energy Oil and Gas’ Zenith Bank account after the swaps were completed.

The witness also testified that aside from the oil block purchase, Aisha Achimugu conducted further Naira-to-dollar exchange transactions, which he regularly confirmed with the first defendant, with Naira credited to local accounts and dollar equivalents transferred to Ocean Gate Energy.

The matter continues as the EFCC seeks to establish its case in the ongoing multi-million-dollar money laundering trial.