Emmanuel onwa's Blog

  "We are profoundly concerned by the unsettling claims [against Mason Greenwood] and will continue to closely watch the situation," Nike said in a statement, according to The Athletic. The Nike-sponsored 20-year-old is being investigated by police for allegedly hitting and rapping his girlfriend Harriet Robson. Harriet, who had published incriminating information on Instagram, has suddenly deleted everything once the police took over the case. Manchester United has also released a statement, but the situation does not appear to be improving, as several players have unfollowed Greenwood on social media. Nike may sever ties with Mason as a result of his acts, for which he must be held accountable.

  Cristiano Ronaldo, Edinson Cavani, David De Gea, and Alex Telles have all unfollowed Mason Greenwood on Instagram, as seen by eagle-eyed fans on social media. Telles and De Gea have also unfollowed him on Twitter. Following his partner Harriet Robson's frightening Instagram videos, serious claims of rape and domestic abuse were leveled against the 20-year-old on Sunday. David De Gea unfollowed Greenwood on Instagram and Twitter 👏🏼 — RP 🐐 (@RonaIdoProp) January 30, 2022 The Greater Manchester Police is investigating the case, while Manchester United have also stated they won’t ‘tolerate’ violence of any kind.  The audio files shared by Harriet, 22, are enough evidence as Greenwood is heard threatening her with violence and even forcing himself on her. It remains to be seen what this means for Mason’s football career and future but right now, things don’t look good.

  According to the Manchester Evening News, the Greater Manchester Police has begun investigations into rape accusation on Mason Greenwood. A statement from the force read: “Greater Manchester Police is aware of images and videos circulating on social media. “Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.” Since posting the images and audio file (where Greenwood is clearly heard forcing himself on her and threatening her with violence), Harriet Robson has deleted all posts from her Instagram account. With the police involved, it makes sense as to why she did that because that is now legal evidence. Manchester United have also issued a statement, claiming the club won’t ‘tolerate’ violence of any kind.

  Mason Greenwood's partner Harriet Robson has now leaked audios of the 20-year-old forcing himself on her, in addition to the horrible images she provided. The 22-year-old model is heard expressing she "didn't want to have sex," but Greenwood insists on forcing her to comply. Mason is also heard shouting: "Move your f*** legs up you t***!" in one of the released audios. Let me push you one more time and see what happens." The following is one of the audio files she published on Instagram (audience discretion is suggested due to the distressing nature of the audio): Harriet Robson just posted this voice note on her story. Mason greenwood is finished, what a vile fucking creature. @ManUtd get rid of him. pic.twitter.com/XI2U6DIAAj — H (@1hxssan) January 30, 2022 Harriet Robson just posted this voice note on her story. Mason greenwood is finished, what a vile fucking creature. @ManUtd get rid of him. pic.twitter.com/XI2U6DIAAj — H (@1hxssan) January...

The deaths of at least eight people in a stampede at Yaounde’s Olembe Stadium on Monday was a severe blow to an already troubled Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) tournament, which looked to be going ahead on Tuesday despite the disaster. At least 38 people were also injured as spectators rushed to get into the host nation's last-16 game against Comoros, throwing a tournament beset by problems into further crisis. It is, however, expected to continue with last-16 matches scheduled on Tuesday in Bafoussam and in Yaounde, at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium. Team officials told Reuters they had not been advised otherwise. Images shared on social media, which Reuters could not immediately authenticate, showed screaming fans being crushed at an entrance gate. There were also images of spectators streaming into the stadium on Monday through a small gap, and eye witnesses said many attempted to scale walls or push down gates to gain access. The casualties were confirmed in a government statement a...

International Nigerian gospel singer, Sammie Okposo has apologised to his wife and family for having an extramarital affair. The music star took to his verified Instagram page on Tuesday, January 25, 2022, where he penned the apology. On his Instagram page, he wrote; Dear Friends, I need to bring a very unfortunate incident to your attention as I am not proud of it but know that this is the right thing to do. On my recent trip to the USA (Late 2021), I got intimately involved with a lady knowing that this was not appropriate as a married man and a minister of the gospel. I am ashamed and regret my actions as it has caused a lot of pain to my dear wife, Ozioma, my family, and I. As I work in making peace with God repeating and asking for his forgiveness, I am suspending myself from all ministry work until full restoration as this is what is proper, and what I know I owe God and his people. To my wife, Ozioma. I am sincerely sorry in put you through this shameful and embarrassing situati...

 As he discussed his concerns for the future, Elon Musk revealed the reason why human civilisation will "crumble." Low birth rates on Earth could cause human civilization to crumble if something isn't done about it, said SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Twitter. Musk had previously warned about low birth rates proving detrimental in the future. The billionaire warned he would not be able to bring his dream of creating a sustainable human base of one million people on planet Mars to life unless there is a sufficient amount of people to make it happen, reports The Sun.   He told his Twitter followers on Tuesday, Jan. 18: "We should be much more worried about population collapse."   "If there aren’t enough people for Earth, then there definitely won’t be enough for Mars," he wrote in a follow-up tweet. This comes weeks after he said at The Wall Street Journal’s CEO Council: "I think one of the biggest risks to civilization is the low birthrate and the rapidly...

 A man has been charged with the murder of Ashling Murphy before a special court in the Republic of Ireland. Jozef Puska is a 31-year-old man from Lynally Grove, Tullamore, County Offaly. Last Wednesday, just around 16:00 local time, the 23-year-old teacher was attacked while out running by a canal in Tullamore, County Offaly. Mr Puska was charged and detained in detention for a week in Tullamore district court. A second man in his 30s who was arrested earlier on Wednesday has been released without charge. Gardaí (Irish police) say a file will be prepared for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

  The Federal High Court has set March 8 as the deadline for the Peoples Democratic Party to file a lawsuit seeking the removal of Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi from office. Justice Inyang Ekwo fixed the dates after counsel in the suits marked FHC/ABJ/CS/ 920/21 and FHC/ABJ/CS/ 1041/21 had adopted their briefs of final arguments for and against the suit. In an originating summons marked FHC/ABJ/CS/920/2021, the PDP had principally urged the court to make a declaration that by defecting from the party on which they were sponsored and elected as governor and deputy governor of Ebonyi State to the APC, a political party that did not win the election, they had resigned or are deemed to have resigned from office. The plaintiff stated that “by so doing, the defendants are deemed to have lost the majority votes scored at the election and consequently should be ordered by the court to vacate their respective offices like governor and deputy governor of Ebonyi State". The Independent Natio...

 On Tuesday night, an ostensibly drunk gang of persons posing as parents entered a North West school and abducted 162 students. On Wednesday, the North West education department expressed their displeasure with the occurrence. The mob arrived at the Boons Mega Farm School gates in four vehicles around 8 p.m. on Tuesday, according to the department. They were looking for Tirelong Secondary School students who had been housed at the farm school after thieves stole the school's electrical cables, water taps, roof, books, window frames, doors, and cooking equipment. The Tirelong school still lacks running water and electricity, so students were relocated to ensure that they did not miss out on their education. They were sent to the Moedwil, Naauwpoort and Boons Mega Farm Schools. According to the department, when the perpetrators arrived at the gate the security guards refused to let them in as they could not provide their necessary identifications. This caused a scene and the would-be...

   Wednesday afternoon, a man was electrocuted while working on an electrical box in Ikageng, Potchefstroom, in the North West. According to ER24's Russel Meiring, the provincial fire department arrived at 1.25 p.m. to find an electrical box on a pole on fire. On the dirt road beneath it, a man lay motionless. "Before paramedics could assess the patient, the provincial fire services had to extinguish the fire." Upon closer inspection, medics discovered that the man had already died as a result of his numerous injuries. There was nothing that could be done for him, and he was declared dead. "It's believed the man was working on the electrical box when he was electrocuted," he said. Authorities are looking into it.

  Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammad has reacted to Senate President Ahmad Lawan's disclosure of President Muhammadu Buhari not telling anyone to remove the petrol subsidy.    Lawan disclosed this yesterday January 18, after a meeting with President Buhari at the state house in Abuja.  Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday January 19, Lai Mohammed said he would be consulting with relevant departments and ministries for clarity on the controversy over the removal of fuel subsidy.

  Jonathan Ogbe, a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), is suspected of absconding after reportedly defiling a 12-year-old girl in Bayelsa state. Last September, a 31-year-old corps member assigned to the Asamabiri Community Primary School in Asamabiri, Sagbama Local Government Area of the state, allegedly defiled a kid, according to reports. According to Nigerian Tribune, Ogbe, an indigene of Kogi State with NYSC call up number NYSC/ABU/2020/113131, has since refused to pick up his discharge certificate to avoid being arrested and handed over to the police for further investigation and possible prosecution. The incident was said to be currently provoking members of Civil Society Organization (CSO) groups, gender-based advocacy groups and indigenes of the community over delays in prosecuting the alleged suspect. NYSC through its State Public Relations Officer, Mathew Ngobua, who confirmed the incident, said that the accused corps member have absconded. "The accused h...

   Briere, a detained French tourist in Iran, will appear before a Revolutionary Court on Thursday on spying allegations, according to his lawyer, more than a year after his detention while flying a remote-controlled small helicopter in the desert. "Benjamin will attend the court to be tried for spying and acting against national security charges," one of his lawyers Saeid Dehghan told Reuters. Briere has been held since May 2020, when he was arrested after flying a helicam - a remote-controlled mini helicopter used to obtain aerial or motion images - in the desert near the Turkmenistan-Iran border. He was charged with espionage and "propaganda against the Islamic Republic". His trial comes as the United States and parties to Iran's 2015 nuclear deal including France are trying to restore the pact, which was abandoned in 2018 by then-U.S. president Donald Trump. Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards have arrested dozens of dual nationals and foreigners in recent yea...

  The Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday January 17, 2022 secured the conviction of two internet fraudsters before Justice F. O. Olubanjo of the Federal High Court, Asaba, Delta State. The defendants, Okunrobo Smart and Osayi Casmir Osaruonameh were arraigned on one count charge of impersonation and obtaining by false pretence. The duo were said to have misrepresented their identities to defraud unsuspecting foreign nationals. The charge against Osaruonamen reads, “that you Osayi Casmir Osaruonamen (m) sometime between January and 12th of September, 2021 at Benin City, Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, sent electronic message which materially misrepresented your identity to Thejasminecarter, a lady in the United States of America upon which she relied and suffered financial loss in the sum of $15,047 and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 14(2) of th...

  The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), has paid an unscheduled visit to the Lagos State Public Advice Centre and the new Office of the Administrator-General and Public Trustee. The Commissioner said his visit was meant to encourage both the State counsel and support staff of the Office to always be at their best in the discharge of their duties. The Attorney-General reminded them of the greater tasks ahead, particularly in the areas of law reform as well as provision of easier and better access to justice for residents in the State. The Attorney-General reminded them of the greater tasks ahead, particularly in the areas of law reform as well as provision of easier and better access to justice for residents in the State. @jidesanwoolu @drobafemihamzat @LagosMoj @gbenga_omo #LASG #ForAGreaterLagos pic.twitter.com/xO5jYFh1tC — The Lagos State Govt (@followlasg) January 19, 2022

 on wednesday, january 19, an ikeja domestic violence and sexual offences court sentenced ofure siakpere, a 38-year-old businessman, to life in prison for defiling and impregnating his 14-year-old in-law. siakpere, who was 35 at the time of the occurrence, committed the crime at his home at no. 10, salaudeen imam street in lagos, according to the lead state prosecutor, funke adegoke. The victim and a medical doctor, Dr Aniekan Makanjuola, from Women at Risk International Foundation were called in as witnesses during the trial. The minor recalled being overpowered and defiled at least 15 times by Siakpere who is married to her aunt.    Though the convict and his wife countered the claim, Justice Abiola Soladoye ruled that the prosecution proved their case beyond any reasonable doubt and also brought in witnesses who gave “compelling and convincing” accounts.    Asides being sentenced to life imprisonment with no option of fine, the convict's name will also be reg...

 The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has refuted presidential candidate Bola Tinubu's claim that Permanent Voters' Cards (PVCs) are about to expire. Tinubu, who recently hosted some of his supporters, stated that the number of eligible voters has recently decreased due to the expiration of PVCs. This was however countered by Chief Technical Adviser to the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Bolade Eyinla.  Eyinla said those who have registered for election do not need to do so again because their cards are valid for future elections.   The INEC Chairman's CTA further noted that such claim could push people into registering twice. He said;    “This information is not correct. The PVC issued to all previously registered voters remains valid. This kind of statement will certainly push eligible voters to register more than once thereby creating the problem of double and multiple registrations."   Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Law...

 French actor Gaspard Ulliel, known for playing a young Hannibal Lecter in "Hannibal Rising", has died aged 37 after a skiing accident, his family say. More follows .......... #BREAKING French actor Gaspard Ulliel, known for playing a young Hannibal Lecter in "Hannibal Rising", has died aged 37 after a skiing accident, his family say pic.twitter.com/CD99nQXpLl — AFP News Agency (@AFP) January 19, 2022

  In Lambu village, Tofa Local Government Area, Kano, an unidentified individual was electrocuted while attempting to steal transformer cables. According to reports, the incident occurred in the early morning hours of Wednesday, January 19. Naziru Lambu, a village resident, told Daily Trust that the man who was electrocuted had already removed some of the transformer's cables and kept them near the transformer. He said nearby residents reported that they heard the sound of an electrical spark in the night and also heard the scream of the man before he died. Lambu also said the suspect was found hanging dead on the transformer alongside his phone and SIM cards. Officials from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, police and representatives of the Kano Electricity and Distribution Company (KEDCO) have arrived at Lambu to inspect the incident, he added. See graphic photos below...

 A middle-aged man has been charged with throwing harsh insults at Kenyan police officers in a Kisumu court. Samuel Omondi was brought before Winam Law Courts Senior Principal Magistrate R.M Wahanda on charges of assault and resisting arrest, among other things. Omondi was also accused of assaulting Samuel Okhako and officers who did not appear in court, causing them actual bodily harm contrary to section 251 of the penal code. The incident reportedly took place on January 8 at Kaloleni estate in Kisumu.    According to documents before the court, Omondi resisted lawful arrest that was conducted by PS Vincent Aliuba and PC Faith Chepng’etich. While forcefully being arrested, the suspect is said to have been shouting abusive words towards officers. He reportedly said;  You fools! Nowhere to go! You dogs! In the third count, he was also charged for refusing his fingerprints to be taken by police officers contrary to section 55(5) of the National police service no 1 of ...

 The entrance of security agents to the apartment of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, in 2017 was unlawful and an infringement on his human rights, according to Justice Benson Anya of the Abia State High Court. Kanu has petitioned the court for N5 billion in compensation for the military's raid of his father's home on September 10, 2017. Delivering judgment today January 19, the presiding judge also ruled that Kanu's arrest and forceful return to Nigeria in June 2021 was "illegal" under local and international laws. The presiding judge also ruled that the Federal government should pay Kanu the sum of N1billion as compensation for the violation of his fundamental human rights.   The court also recommended a political solution to the agitation for the restoration of the defunct Biafra Republic championed by IPOB.

  Hana Horka, a 57-year-old anti-vaxxer, died after deliberately contracting coronavirus in order to obtain a health pass to join a sauna. Jan Rek, her son, verified that she died on January 16th. When her vaccinated kid and husband contracted the virus before Christmas, the Czech folk singer, who sings for the band Asonance, was exposed to it. Rek told a pubilc radio;    "She decided to continue to live normally with us and preferred to catch the disease than to get vaccinated." Two days before her death, Horka reassured her followers on social media "I survived, it was intense. So now there will be the theatre, sauna, a concert... and an urgent trip to the sea." Rek who blamed his mother's death on a local anti-vax movement and claims she was brainwashed into not getting the jab by its leaders who have "blood on their hands", disclosed that she died after suffering from back pain as soon as she got back from a stroll. She died choking in her bed. He ...

 During Tuesday's legislative sessions in the Senate, a bill was introduced that would make it illegal for landlords to demand payment of advance rent from renters of residential and office buildings and spaces for more than three months. Senator Smart Adeyemi, the bill's sponsor, told reporters that the bill would allow tenants to pay up to three months' rent in advance, with subsequent monthly payments. Pointing out that landlords have been compelling tenants to make one-year and two-year advance rent payments before renting their apartments, which sometimes is not affordable for many Nigerians, Adeyemi revealed that the proposed legislation stipulates a maximum advance rent payment of three months and after the expiration of the three-month rent, the tenants are expected to pay monthly.

  Jonas Azevedo Mendes, the captain of Guinea Bissau's national team, has declared that they would rather 'die' than lose today's encounter against the Super Eagles. Mendes, the team's first-choice goalkeeper, stated that they will be out in force to defeat the Super Eagles. Asked if there was any particular player in the Eagles team they were targeting, Mendes said, “we know Nigeria is a good team. It will be a mistake to target any particular player. We are facing all of them with equal attention,” he said.   Raised in Portugal, the goalkeeper has spent most of his playing career in the third tier of Portuguese football.

  President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday morning, departed Nigeria for Gambia where he will be attending the second-term inauguration of President Adama Barrow holding today January 19. He left via the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.   The President will be accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama; National Security Adviser, Maj-Gen Babagana Monguno (rtd); Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ahmed Rufai, and other top government officials. The President is expected back in the country at the end of the inauguration ceremonies.

  Ahmed Musa, Alex Iwobi, and Tyronne Ebuehi of the Super Eagles are ready to make their first appearance in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Cameroon. When the Eagles face Guinea-Bissau in their final Group D match on Wednesday, January 19, the stars will start. Fatih Karagumruk forward, Musa is expected to lead the Eagles out in what will be their 96th match in the history of the competition. The three-time African champions have recorded 52 wins drawn 22 and lost 21. Iwobi and Ebuehi are expected to replace Samuel Chukwueze and Ola Aina in the starting line-up for the game against the Wild Dogs of Guinea-Bissau. Assistant captain William Ekong, midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, and striker Kelechi Iheanacho are likely to keep their places in the starting XI. Speaking ahead of his team’s final group fixture, interim coach, Austin Eguavoen, said, “Yes it is always good to qualify for the next round before your last game. We have done that with style. “So, expect few changes...

  Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has pleaded not guilty to the Federal Government's 15 accusations of treasonable felony and terrorism leveled against him. On Wednesday, January 19, Kanu pleaded not guilty before Justice Binta Nyako at the Federal High Court in Abuja at the case's resumed hearing. Kanu, who was brought into the courtroom around 10:15 am, said he was innocent of all the allegations levelled against him, even as he complained from the dock that some counts in the amended charge were similar. Meanwhile, immediately the embattled IPOB leader finished taking his plea, the prosecution counsel, Labaran Magaji, told the court that he was ready to proceed with the trial, adding that he brought two witnesses to testify against the Defendant. However, Kanu’s lead counsel, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), told the court that he had on Tuesday evening, filed a 43-paged preliminary objection for the charge to be quashed and struck out without the matt...

 Naomi Osaka improved her chances of defending her Australian Open title with a calm victory over Madison Brengle on Wednesday, edging closer to a showdown with top seed Ashleigh Barty. On Rod Laver Arena, the Japanese 13th seed breezed through the first set but had to battle hard in the second to beat the 54th-ranked American 6-0, 6-4 in 65 minutes and advance to the third round. After Amanda Anisimova defeated Tokyo Olympic champion and 22nd seed Belinda Bencic 6-2, 7-5, she will face another unseeded American. Anisimova, who won the Melbourne Summer Set championship in the build-up to the Grand Slam, is on a seven-match winning streak and should be a tougher opponent. But if Osaka can win she faces the prospect of a mouth-watering fourth round battle with world number one and Wimbledon champion Barty, who has dropped just three games so far and looks in ominous touch. The pair could meet early due to Osaka's seeding -- her lowest at a Slam since the 2018 US Open -- after a trunc...

  The administration of President Joe Biden announced Wednesday that it will distribute 400 million high-quality N95 masks to Americans for free as part of its effort to contain the coronavirus pandemic. According to the White House, the masks will be available beginning next week at tens of thousands of distribution points nationwide, primarily pharmacies and community health centers, and will be fully operational in February. In a statement, an unnamed White House official said, "This is the largest deployment of personal protective equipment in US history." With the Omicron variant on the rise, the White House is also focusing on expanding Covid-19 testing. It launched a website on Tuesday where every American household can order free tests to be performed at home. The government intends to distribute one billion rapid tests in the United States, which has the world's highest Covid-19 death toll of 853,000.

  Ogun State police officers apprehended seven members of an armed robbery syndicate that included two dismissed police officers and specialized in hijacking trucks carrying company goods along the Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode expressway. According to a statement issued by the state police command's Public Relations Officer, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, the suspected robbers were part of a syndicate gang that had been hijacking trucks loaded with company goods along the Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode Expressway. The statement says the robbers were caught along the Ijebu-Ode road recently following a distress call received by the state police command, which spurred the security operatives into giving the robbers a spirited chase.   The statement read in part   “The suspects, Onyegbuchi Nwafor, Idakole Benjamin, Ibrahim Musa, Abolade Shola, Ikem Ejimofor, Adebayo Jamiu and Ayeye Edwin were arrested following a distress call received at Odogbolu divisional headquarters on the 8th of December, 2021, at about...

  Sead Kolasinac's contract with Arsenal was mutually terminated, and the defender has left the club. After being permitted to leave Arsenal after nearly five years, the Bosnian international secured a free transfer to Marseille. A statement on Tuesday night confirmed the move, making Kolasinac the third first-team player to depart Arsenal this month. Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Folarin Balogun have also left on loan with Pablo Mari expected to follow suit and join Udinese.   A Gunners statement read: “Everyone at Arsenal would like to thank Sead for his contribution to the club since he joined us in 2017 and wish him all the best for his future.”   Signing on a free from Bundesliga side Schalke, Kolasinac scored on his debut to help the Gunners lift the 2017 Community Shield before claiming the Player of the Month award for that August. Before the move, he fell out of favour under Mikel Arteta and was a late substitute in the 2020 FA Cup final victory over Chelsea. He was...

  A village chief and a 16-year-old boy were killed in a recent wave of abductions in the state's Madagali Local Government Area, according to the Adamawa State Police Command. The teenager, known as Ijarshu Markus, was abducted along with his mother and brother from their home in Maiwandu village last week, according to reports. The mother and the other boy were rescued by local vigilantes, but Markus was taken by the shooters. The teen's body was discovered three days later in the bush, with two stab wounds to his chest and heart. This was fewer than 14 days after Ahmadu Sikari, the village chief (Lawan) of Mayo-Wandu in the Duhu District of Madagali, was shot twice in his  residence at night when the attempt to kidnap him went awry.   The District Head of Duhu, Mustapha Sanusi, told Daily Trust that the death of the village head and that of Ijarshu had caused panic among residents, calling on the government to increase security in the area.   He believed that some...

 President Buhari's efforts to combat insecurity in Nigeria have been lauded by Governor Ben Ayade of Cross Rivers State, who claims that the country would have crumbled if it weren't for his efforts. This was stated by the governor on Channels Television today, Wednesday, January 19. He explained that the President's military experience aided in this endeavor. He claims that there was an international plot against the country, notably in the north. "Perhaps the country would have imploded at this point if it hadn't been for Buhari's administration, which has a military background." People are unaware of this because if you are able to minimize risk, no one will notice because it was averted. I believe things may have turned out far worse."

 Due to the continued backlog of court cases, the domestic violence trial of ex-Manchester United footballer and Wales coach Ryan Giggs has been postponed for seven months. His hearing was scheduled for next Monday in Manchester Crown Court, but the venue does not have a courtroom ready to hear the case. "Unfortunately, it has become necessary to vacate this trial from the list," Judge Hilary Manley remarked on Tuesday (January 18). "This is due to the fact that there isn't a court accessible to hold this trial." "This is a problem that the criminal courts face on a daily basis due to the massive backlog of court cases, which has been compounded by the epidemic and the necessity for social isolation." Chris Daw QC, representing Giggs, said: 'I have of course explained the situation to him and he is extremely disappointed at the development.   'He is grateful efforts have been made to fix the earliest possible new date.'   Giggs, 47, who did...

  Following reports of kidnappings along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Ngozi Onadeko, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State Command, said her command has dispatched anti-kidnapping squads and tactical teams to the route, where they will be stationed at various places and patrol both sides of the road. Onadeko, who visited the highway on Tuesday, said her presence was to establish a kind of routine check on police officers stationed there to ensure their visibility and adequate monitoring. The police commissioner who led journalists to the axis within Oyo command’s jurisdiction and its boundary with Ogun State, was accompanied by the Deputy Commissioner, Operations, the Assistant Commissioner, Operations, the Officers-in-charge of Anti-Kidnapping Squad (AKS), Monitoring Unit, Swift Response Squad and Skynet, as well as Divisional Police Officer in charge of Toll Gate Division, among others.   ''We have deployed Anti-Kidnapping Squad and other tactical teams to the area. And we...