Headline

25-year-old Nigerian Man Jailed For Rape In Ireland

Published

3 years ago

June 12, 2023

An Irish court has jailed a 25-year-old Nigerian, Utseoritselaju Uwatse for four years for raping a fellow college student.

The offence took place on April 20, 2018.

According to the prosecutor, Uwatse had met the victim, Danielle Lyons at a pub while celebrating some friends’ birthdays.

He said Ms. Lyons and another friend left the pub and returned to the student village, where a number of parties were taking place in different apartments.

The court heard that at one stage, Uwatse picked Ms. Lyons up and carried her into a bedroom and lay her on the bed, where she remembered him removing her shoes before falling asleep.

She woke early the following morning, and her clothes did not feel right, and she could feel pressure in her vagina.

Ms Lyons told the court that Uwatse was beside her, and he asked her if she “was on the pill”.

She found this question unusual, and he then told her that they had sex and that the condom had broken. She realized she had not consented to this and became upset.

The court heard that Uwatse left the apartment, and gardaí were called. He was arrested and questioned in June 2018 and told gardaí that the sex had been consensual.

Reading her victim impact statement to the court, the victim said: “I don’t think there are any words that would convey the damage that you have done”, and: “The woman who is here today is broken down”. She also said: “I felt guilty for the heaviness I brought to my friends and family.”

Sentencing Uwatse today Mr Justice Paul Burns said rape was a serious crime and he agreed that Uwatse deserved a headline sentence of between seven and 10 years.

He noted Uwatse had had a “promising future” ahead of him before this offence, and noted he has no previous convictions. He said he hoped that the woman, with the support of her family and friends, would be able to put the matter behind her as best as she could.
PUNCH

Headline

Indian Court Denies Bail To Nigerian Man Over Drug Charges

Published

1 hour ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

A court in India has denied bail to a 44-year-old Nigerian national, Cristian Soporuchukwu, who is currently facing drug trafficking charges in the country.

Cristian Soporuchukwu initially entered India on a business visa but was later arrested over allegations of involvement in the sale of hard drugs.

Reports indicated that after arriving in India, Soporuchukwu travelled through Goa, Delhi, and Mumbai, where he allegedly established links with suspected drug traffickers.

He was accused of purchasing MDMA crystals and distributing them to college students and information technology workers.

According to reports, operatives of the Beguru Police arrested Cristian Soporuchukwu in April 2025 for allegedly selling MDMA crystals around Begur Lake and the AECS Layout Road area.

The New Indian Express reported that the High Court of Karnataka subsequently dismissed the Nigerian’s bail application.

“The anti-narcotics wing seized about 1 kg of MDMA crystals, a pocket weighing machine, 10 zip-lock covers, a mobile phone and a scooter from him,” the report stated.

Justice V. Srishananda, while ruling on the bail application, reportedly held that errors relating to the grounds of arrest could not automatically justify bail in serious narcotics-related offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, NDPS, Act.

The court further noted that Cristian Soporuchukwu had allegedly overstayed his visa in India, according to the report.

Headline

Strait Of Hormuz: US Announces Sanctions Against Iran

Published

2 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The United States Treasury has announced sanctions against Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority.

Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, said this in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement extended the threat of sanctions to anyone paying the fees, saying they may be providing support to and receiving services from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, and therefore may be exposed to sanctions risk.

“The Iranian military’s latest attempt to extort global maritime trade is proof that Economic Fury has left the regime desperate for cash.

“Treasury has deprived the Iranian regime of revenue for their weapons programs, terrorist proxies, and nuclear ambitions,” Bessent said.

Bessent added that the US has succeeded in disrupting tens of billions of dollars’ worth of revenue from being accessible to Tehran.

Headline

US Launches New Airstrikes On Iran

Published

2 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The United States has launched new airstrikes in southern Iran.

The strike shot down four one-way attack drones that posed a threat around the Strait of Hormuz and then a ground control site.

A US official revealed that American forces struck an Iranian ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was about to launch a fifth drone.

The official described the strikes as purely defensive, saying the US intended to maintain the ceasefire.

Report says this is the second time in three days that the US has carried out self-defense strikes against Iranian military targets in southern Iran.

Recall that on Monday the US carried out airstrikes against Iranian missile locations and boats that US Central Command said were preparing to launch mines in the Strait of Hormuz.