Category News

Abuja Lawyer Victor Giwa, Others Arraigned, Fined ₦30m Bail Over Alleged Forgery   

By in News, Nigeria News

Abuja-based lawyers, Victor Giwa and Ibitade Bukola, have been arraigned before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Apo Division, over charges of alleged document forgery and impersonation.

The defendants, who are facing a three-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy to commit forgery, false personation, and fraudulent execution of documents, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

According to the charge sheet, the alleged offences were committed on June 28, 2024, when Giwa and Bukola purportedly forged a letter using the official letterhead of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Awa Kalu and addressed it to the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi.

The forged letter allegedly sought to influence the AGF to stop Giwa’s arraignment scheduled before Justice Samira Bature at the High Court, Maitama.

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The matter, presided over by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, was previously stalled on September 15, 2025, prompting the issuance of a bench warrant against Giwa, who was later arrested.

During the day’s proceeding, prosecution counsel Asaph Eristo informed the court that the matter was scheduled for arraignment. The charges were read in open court, and Victor Giwa and his co-defendant pleaded not guilty.

The prosecution requested that Giwa be remanded in prison custody, citing the need to prevent interference with investigations.

However, Edwin Anikpenu (SAN), appearing for the defence, applied for bail, stating that both defendants are legal practitioners and argued that the second defendant, Bukola, is a nursing mother.

Anikpenu sought leave of the court to orally amend the existing bail application to include the second defendant.

Justice Onwuegbuzie, criticised the defence for presenting an oral bail request despite being represented by over a dozen lawyers.

The court subsequently refused bail for the second defendant and asked she be remanded at the correctional facility in Suleja, Niger State

Regarding Giwa’s bail, Anikpenu urged the court to consider admitting him on self-recognition or to the custody of a reputable executive of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Garki branch, promising that he would not interfere with the case.

The prosecution opposed the application, citing a counter-affidavit and evidence suggesting Giwa posed a flight risk, noting that public funds were used to effect his arrest.

After hearing both sides, the court granted victor giwa bail in the sum of ₦30 million, with two sureties in like sum, indicating he remains in police custody till he perfects its conditions.

The sureties must be civil servants not below grade level 16, resident in Abuja, with verifiable addresses and valid ID cards. They must also submit their international passports.

Mooney rescues Aussies from shock against Pakistan

By in News, Sports News

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Matthew Henry

BBC Sport journalist
  • 44 Comments

ICC Women’s World Cup, Colombo

Australia 221-9 (50 overs): Mooney 109 (114), King 51* (49); Sundhu 3-37

Pakistan 114 (36.3 overs): Amin 35 (52); Garth 3-14

Australia won by 107 runs

Beth Mooney’s masterful century rescued Australia from one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history and set up an ultimately resounding 107-run victory over Pakistan.

The defending champions were floundering at 76-7 against Pakistan’s spinners but the unflappable Mooney hit 109 to drag her side to 221-9, turning a day that could have been about exposed Australian frailties into a clear example of why they are huge favourites to secure an eighth title.

The left-hander was the latest member of Australia’s vaunted batting line-up to step up, repelling Pakistan as they sensed the most significant victory in their history.

Mooney initially halted the tumble of wickets in a patient partnership of 39 from 75 balls with bowler Kim Garth in the Colombo heat and then put on 106 from 97 balls with number 10 Alana King.

King made 51 not out – her first international fifty – as the pair steered Australia away from danger and then struck a flurry of boundaries to take 59 runs from the last five overs.

Faced with a target far greater than they had at one time expected and one always likely to be beyond their limited line-up, Pakistan crumbled to 49-6 before resisting for 36.3 overs to be 114 all out.

They now have three defeats from three at this World Cup while Australia go top of the standings with a second win to go with a washout.

    • 1 hour ago
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Mooney’s Colombo masterclass

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Pakistan had never beaten Australia in 32 previous attempts across formats.

Fatima Sana’s side had only won three matches at a World Cup and were heavily beaten by Bangladesh in their first game at this tournament last week.

The margin of victory may ultimately have been large but, before’s Mooney knock, Australia really were in danger of suffering the biggest World Cup shock of all.

After the seventh wicket fell – Georgia Wareham the latest in a line of Australians to chip a catch pushing hard against spin – Pakistan had a 92% chance of winning, according to analysts CricViz.

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She pushed singles, 48 in total, and the four boundaries that came in her last 10 balls were as many as she scored in her first 50.

The 145 runs added after the loss of Wareham were the most by any team after the fall of their seventh wicket in women’s one-day internationals. Credit too to Garth, and particularly King, who struck three sixes when the jubilation had long since drained from Pakistan.

Australia’s top-order struggles against New Zealand last week were similar, yet not quite as stark, when Ash Gardner’s 115 took them from 128-5 to 326.

They will need more contributors with the bat in their next match against hosts and fellow title contenders India on Sunday – but Australia remain the side to beat.

‘We were in a tricky situation’ – reaction

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Player of the match, Australia batter Beth Mooney: “We were in a tricky situation when I was batting. The messaging from the sideline was just about trying to get a partnership going.

“Pakistan bowled really well, they spun the ball and some didn’t turn, but we had to try really hard.”

Pakistan captain Fatima Sana: “We were on top for the first 20 overs. After that, Beth Mooney played well and our girls’ energy was down. We need to improve on that.

“If you are on top after 20 overs, you need to stay on top until the last ball. Our bowlers can get on top. We need more batters to bat long.”

Australia captain Alyssa Healy: “Two points is going through my head and we will move on.

“That is, hands down, one of the best innings I have seen Mooney play. Thanks to her we got ourselves on the board.

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    • 16 August

‘Buckle up’: IMF chief warns of economic uncertainty

By in News, World News

The global economy is holding up better than expected despite major shocks such as United States President Donald Trump’s tariffs, but that resilience may not last, the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) says.

“Buckle up,” Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said in a speech at the Milken Institute think tank on Wednesday. “Uncertainty is the new normal, and it is here to stay.”

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Her comments come on a day when gold prices hit $4,000 an ounce for the first time as investors seek safe havens from a weaker dollar and geopolitical uncertainty. She spoke before the IMF and World Bank hold their annual meetings next week in Washington, DC. Trump’s trade penalties are expected to be in sharp focus when global finance leaders and central bankers gather.

The global economy is forecast to grow by 3 percent this year, and Georgieva is citing a number of factors for why it may not slip below that: Countries have put in place decisive economic policies, the private sector has adapted and the tariffs have proved less severe than originally feared.

“But before anyone heaves a big sigh of relief, please hear this: Global resilience has not yet been fully tested. And there are worrying signs the test may come. Just look at the surging global demand for gold,” she said.

On Trump’s tariffs, she said: “The full effect is still to unfold. In the US, margin compression could give way to more price pass-through, raising inflation with implications for monetary policy and growth.”

The Republican US administration imposed import taxes on nearly all US trading partners in April, including Canada, Mexico, Brazil, China and even the tiny African nation of Lesotho. “We’re the king of being screwed by tariffs,” Trump said on Tuesday in the Oval Office during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

While the US has announced some trade frameworks with nations such as the United Kingdom and Vietnam, the tariffs have created uncertainty worldwide.

“Elsewhere, a flood of goods previously destined for the US market could trigger a second round of tariff hikes,” Georgieva said.

The US Supreme Court next month will hear arguments about whether Trump has the authority to impose some of his tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

Spillover effect

In her wide-ranging remarks, Georgieva pointed to youth discontent around the world as many young people foresee a future in which they earn less than their parents.

“The young are taking their disappointment to the streets from Lima to Rabat, from Paris to Nairobi, from Kathmandu to Jakarta. All are demanding better opportunities,” she said. “And here in the US, the chances of growing up to earn more than your parents keeps falling, and here too, discontent has been evident – and it has helped precipitate the policy revolution that is now unfolding, reshaping trade, immigration and many international frameworks.”

She also called for greater internal trade in Asia, more business-friendly changes in Africa and more competitiveness in Europe.

For the US, Georgieva urged the government to address the federal debt and encourage household saving.

The national debt is the total amount of money that the federal government owes to its creditors. The US federal debt has increased from $380bn in 1925 to $37.64 trillion in 2025, according to US Department of the Treasury data.

The Congressional Budget Office reported in July that Trump’s new tax and spending law will add $3.4 trillion to that total through 2034.

Boots rivals Amazon deal with £51 discount on ‘divine and long-lasting’ designer fragrance

By in Entertainment News, News

Shoppers looking to bag a designer fragrance without paying the designer price tag won’t want to snooze on this Boots sale which has beaten Amazon with a mega £51 discount

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Boots is currently trumping Amazon’s Prime Day deals, offering fragrance fans the chance to pick up a luxury fragrance for £51 less than its retail price, bringing the cost down to a much more affordable £50 for 100ml.

While Amazon is selling the Jean Paul Gaultier Scandal Le Parfum (100ml) for £83.59 and Sephora has axed its price down to £60.32, Boots comes out on top with a major 50% off. But you may want to act fast; there’s no telling how long this flash sale will last.

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Described as an intense floral amber fragrance, this scent boasts an alluring blend of jasmine and black vanilla notes, enhanced by the unexpected addition of salted caramel. Sure to turn more than a few heads, this deliciously intense fragrance features intensely bewitching Arabian jasmine, audacious caramel with its sweet-savoury notes, and the melting softness of vanilla.

Reinventing sensuality with such intensity, the Jean Paul Gaultier perfume comes in a smoking-hot red bottle, crowned with stunning golden legs that demand attention, which is sure to stand out and add a touch of luxury scandal to any vanity.

Whether you’re bestowing as a gift or treating yourself, the £101 fragrance has amassed over 300 5-star reviews on Boots’ website, with many singing its praises as their go-to scent.

One thrilled buyer beams: “Gorgeous perfume, I have all the Jean Paul Gaultier perfumes, this is my favourite, smells Divine and lasts for ages.”

More adoration comes from this shopper who shares: “Very nice scent and lovely, I have been receiving so many compliments from people anytime I use it.”

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A third chimes in: “I bought this perfume as a treat for myself, and I wasn’t disappointed. The fragrance is lovely and not too heavy, and the bottle is amazing; it’s very eye-catching. I got this perfume in the Boots fragrance 50% off and I’m pleased I purchased it- I got a bargain.”

Al Jazeera chief urges better protection for journalists in conflict zones

By in News, World News

The Director General of Al Jazeera Media Network has stressed the importance of protecting journalists working in conflict zones and called for more solidarity between media organisations and human rights groups.

In his first public address since he was appointed director general of the Doha-based network last month, Sheikh Nasser bin Faisal Al Thani said on Wednesday that Al Jazeera has made the protection of journalists a firm priority and the network conducts training and mentorship of its journalists to ensure this.

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“The press has never been a party to the conflict, but has been a tool for getting information to the people,” Sheikh Nasser told the Conference on The Protection of Journalists in Armed Conflicts, a two-day event held in Doha, Qatar.

He said it is critical to ramp up measures to safeguard journalists in war zones. “Otherwise, war crimes will remain unwritten” about.

He called for the implementation of human rights regulations and enhanced solidarity among media organisations and human rights organisations.

“Silencing free speech will not stop the truth,” Sheikh Nasser said. “Protecting journalists is protection of the truth itself.”

‘Journalists are being killed’

The first day of the conference comprised several sessions, where speakers included journalists who had reported in conflict zones, such as Al Jazeera’s Gaza bureau chief Wael Dahdouh, who was wounded in an Israeli attack on Gaza in late 2023.

Dahdouh has campaigned to raise awareness of the unsafe conditions for journalists working in Gaza since Israel launched its war on the Palestinian territory on October 7, 2023.

At least 300 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza during the two-year war, according to the Shireen Abu Akleh Observatory. This includes 10 journalists from Al Jazeera.

“Journalists are being killed and genocide is being committed against them,” Dahdouh told the conference.

Other speakers included legal experts and workers associated with nonprofit organisations that work for the safety of journalists, such as Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). A spokesperson for the International Criminal Court (ICC) also spoke at one of the sessions.

The discussions focused on attacks against journalists and the imprisonment of journalists in Gaza and around the world.

Several speakers throughout the day highlighted the importance of treating journalists like civilians. Speakers added, however, that international law provisions that lay down safeguards for civilians might not apply similarly to journalists. They pressed on the need for international laws that specifically focus on safeguarding journalists and media organisations.

“The civilian can go away from the combat field but the journalist has to stay. To assimilate the war journalist with the civilian is not right,” Omar Mekky, the regional legal coordinator for the Near and Middle East Region for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), said.

Speakers also asserted the importance of countries stepping in and putting pressure on the governments that are targeting journalists.

Zoe Ball opens up on Prince William’s ‘beautiful’ gesture to her dying mum

By in Entertainment News, News

BBC Radio 2 DJ Zoe Ball has revealed that Prince William sent her a touching letter to share with her dying mum, who was in the hospital battling pancreatic cancer

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BBC star Zoe Ball has revealed the touching gesture that Prince William made to her dying mum.

The BBC Radio 2 DJ’s mum Julia Peckham tragically passed away in April 2024 following a gruelling battle with pancreatic cancer.

But as Julia lay in her hospital bed, Zoe was able to read her a touching personal letter from the Prince of Wales himself.

Zoe explained that it brought her mum a great deal of comfort in her final days, and the prince wrote a second letter after her mother passed away.

“Prince William wrote to me when my mum was poorly,” Zoe told co-host Jo Whiley on their Dig It! Podcast.

Zoe explained: “He wrote the most beautiful letter and he wrote to me again after we lost mum. There was a really amazing moment when mum was really, really poorly, and I went up to see her. My brother was there. I said, Mum, we’ve had a letter.”

Zoe continued: “I read her Prince William’s letter. And at the time he was going through his own difficulties with both his father and his lovely wife going through their cancer journey. And I thought it was so kind of him to take the time to write. And it meant the world to her. She loved that letter.”

She added that she had been reminded of William’s moving gesture whilst watching his relaxed interview with Canadian comedy actor Eugene Levy on Apple TV.

Zoe explained the only reason the next-in-line to the throne had agreed to the unprecedented one-to-one was because he was a huge fan of bawdy comedy film American Pie. In honour of her late mum, Zoe is set to appear in a celebrity edition of Deal Or No Deal.

She’ll be joined by a “squad” of showbiz mates including her dad, children’s telly presenter Johnny Ball, her son, DJ Woody Cook, and Sally Boazman who handles the traffic and travel updates on her radio programme.

She told Jo: “It’s lucky because I’ve got Woody and my dad. I’ve got Sally Traffic, I’ve got Ian Waite, my lovely dance partner for Strictly Doing It, and Tina Daheley, that’s my squad. And then I’ve got loads of friends and family.

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“We’re doing it for pancreatic cancer and the hospice where my mum was. So I’ve got a few of my mum’s friends coming to do it and stuff like that. It felt like a really nice thing to do.”