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Retired Justice Omonua Fearless, Fair-minded – Edo Chief Judge

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L-R: Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Joe Acher, Retired Justice Omonua and his wife Mrs. Margaret Omonua

…. Olayiwola Afolabi Law Firm To Honour Retired Judge

The Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Joe Acher, has described retired Justice Stephen Akhetuamen Omonua as a man well known and respected by all as “an independent, no-nonsense, fearless, and fair-minded” throughout his career on the Bench as a Jurist.

Justice Acher made the assertion on Wednesday in Benin at a valedictory court session held at the new Edo State High Court complex where arrays of jurists gathered to honour Justice Omonua as he takes a bow from the Bench after a meritorious service in the dispense of justice at various levels in the judiciary.

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Speaking further at the valedictory court session, the Chief Judge said though Justice Omonua was sometimes perceived as harsh in carrying out his statutory duty, yet he was firm.

Retired Justice Stephen Omonua cutting the retirement cake

Justice Joe Acher who described retire Justice Omonua as a quintessential gentleman and a legal colossus of the finest breed, added that “His Lordship had contributed immensely to the development of the legal profession as encapsulated in a plethora of his landmark judgements and judicial pronouncements on topical matters right from the lower to the High Court bench.

“His firm belief in the dispensation of justice in accordance with law and the rule of law can be easily discerned from several of His Lordship’s judgements. What better way to speak of a Jurist than through his judgements?” (Sic).

“Undoubtedly, His Lordship hangs his ropes with the satisfaction of having discharged his duties in fear of God and to the solemn oath he had taken to do justice without fear or favour, affection or ill-will,” Justice Acher said.

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Commenting on the personality of Justice Omonua, a Benin-based rights lawyer, Mr Olayiwola Afolabi, Esq., described the retired Jurist as an asset to Edo State judiciary being one of the best judges the state has ever produced.

Retired Justice Omonua in a group judges of Edo State.

READ ALSO: Obaseki Calls For Partnership Between The Bar, Bench As Benin NBA Holds Annual Dinner, Award

Afolabi said, “Justice Omonua is an asset to Edo State judiciary. When people say Edo State judiciary is one the best in Nigerian, you have people like Justice Omonua in mind. whether you are his brother or friend, he will always give fair judgement, he doesn’t care, what he knows is justice. He is one the best judges we have in Edo State. And I wish him happy retirement.”

Mr Afolabi disclosed that for the retired High Court Judge’s uprightness and fairness in the dispense of justice, Olayiwola Afolabi & Co Chamber has decided to honour Justice Omonua with Transparency Award.

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Retired Justice Omonua in a group photograph with Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Benin branch.

He added, “For his uprightness and fairness in the justice system, my chamber – Olayiwola Afolabi & Co has decided to honour him with Transparency Award. This award will be given to the best young lawyer in an essay competition we are going to organise. This young lawyer would be given N100,000.00 and Justice Omonua alongside his wife would be there to present the sum to the best young lawyer.”

He continues, “I am very happy for him. You saw for yourself the arrays of personalities that were at the event. Our Chief Judge was there. And all the judges were there, that shows you Justice Omonua is a highly respected Jurist.”

Olayiwola Afolabi, Esq., Joins Retired Justice Omonua in cutting of the cake.

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Former NBA Player Ben McLemore Convicted Of Raping Incapacitated Woman

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An Oregon jury found former Houston Rockets guard Ben McLemore guilty on Thursday of raping a woman in while playing for the Portland Trail Blazers in 2021.

Deliberations lasting around 10 hours after an 11-day trial concluded with the jury in Clackamas County finding McLemore, 32, guilty on one charge of first-degree rape, one charge of first-degree unlawful sexual penetration and one count of second-degree sexual abuse. He was found not guilty on an additional count of second-degree sexual abuse.

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McLemore pleaded not guilty to all four counts before the verdict. His sentencing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 9.

READ ALSO:UK Police Charge Ex-Arsenal Midfielder Thomas Partey With Rape

The charges stem from a report of sexual assault in Lake Oswego, Oregon, on Oct. 3, 2021. McLemore was identified as a suspect during a police investigation.

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A Clackamas County grand jury heard evidence in the case in February 2024, which included testimony from the woman who said McLemore assaulted her. He was indicted and an arrest warrant was issued, according to Lake Oswego police. McLemore was arrested by U.S. Marshalls two months later.

Clackamas County prosecutor Scott Healy reportedly told jurors the victim found herself being sexually assaulted by McLemore while partially conscious the morning after a party.

READ ALSO:UK ‘Was Informed Of US Strikes’ On Iran, Plans Evacuating Briton Out of Israel

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Healy said that the victim had been drinking heavily at the party and had passed out on a living room couch at the party around 2 a.m.

McLemore’s attorneys reportedly disputed the victim’s account, claiming she had initiated sexual contact with McLemore and had consented to it. They also claimed that despite the victim and McLemore both being intoxicated, the victim was sober enough to consent.

McLemore played parts of two seasons with the Rockets from 2019-2021. He was the seventh pick in the 2013 draft out of Kansas and played for five teams across nine NBA seasons. After playing the 2021-2022 season with the Trail Blazers, McLemore went overseas to continue his playing career. He has played for teams in China, Greece, Spain and Turkey over the last three years.

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Russia Launches Largest Assault On Ukraine

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The Kremlin said on Friday that it sees no immediate diplomatic way out of the war in Ukraine, hours after launching its largest ever drone and missile barrage of the invasion.

The hours-long bombardments across Ukraine came just after a telephone call between the US and Russian presidents ended without any breakthrough.

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AFP journalists in Kyiv heard drones buzzing over the capital and explosions ringing out throughout the night as Ukrainian air defence systems fended off the attack.

We are interested in achieving our goals in the course of the special military operation and it is preferable to do it by political and diplomatic means,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, referring to its invasion, launched in February 2022.

But as long as that is not possible, we are continuing the special operation,” he said in a briefing, including with AFP.

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READ ALSO:Russian Strikes Kill Five In Ukraine

US President Donald Trump had said he made no progress in discussions one day earlier with President Vladimir Putin on ending the war, while the Kremlin vowed to pursue its war aims.

A senior Ukrainian official told AFP that Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky were planning to speak later on Friday.

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Tymur, a Kyiv resident who said he had experienced previous Russian attacks, told AFP that the assault in the early hours of Friday was different.

Nothing like this attack had ever happened before. There have never been so many explosions,” he said.

– ‘War and terror’ –
Zelensky said air alerts had begun echoing out across the country as the Trump-Putin call was getting underway.

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Yet again, Russia is showing it has no intention of ending the war and terror,” Zelensky said on social media.

READ ALSO:Children Killed As Russia Launches Largest Air Attack On Ukraine

All of this is clear evidence that without truly large-scale pressure, Russia will not change its dumb, destructive behaviour.”

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He urged the United States in particular to increase pressure on Moscow, which on Friday announced fresh territorial gains on the front line with the capture of a village in the Donetsk region.

Poland said its embassy building in Kyiv had been damaged in the attack but that staff were unharmed.

Germany’s foreign ministry meanwhile said that the timing of the attack — just after the leaders’ call — showed that Moscow “continues to rely on brute force”.

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Ukraine needs more to defend itself, not less,” the ministry said on social media.

A government spokesman said Germany was exploring the possibility of purchasing more Patriot air defence systems from the United States for Ukraine.

READ ALSO:Ukraine Worries Iran-Israel War Will Boost Russia’s Aggression

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Zelensky said 23 people were wounded in the barrage, which the air force said comprised 539 drones and 11 missiles.

A representative of Ukraine’s air force told Ukrainian media that the attack was the largest of the Russian invasion, launched in February 2022.

– ‘Complete disregard’ –

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Overnight Russia attacks have escalated over recent weeks.

An AFP tally found Moscow launched a record number of drones and missiles at Ukraine in June when direct peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow appeared to stall.

In Kyiv, AFP journalists saw dozens of residents of the capital taking shelter in a metro station.

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Yuliia Golovnina, who said she shelters at the metro regularly, described to AFP the worry that comes with hearing an explosion during an attack.

Will there be another one? Will something collapse on you?” the 47-year-old said.

READ ALSO:Ukraine Worries Iran-Israel War Will Boost Russia’s Aggression

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So in those seconds, you just hold your breath and wait to see what happens next,” she added.

In Kyiv, concerns mount over whether the US will continue delivering military aid, which is key to Ukraine’s ability to fend off the drone and missile barrages.

The US announced this week it was reducing some of its aid deliveries.

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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said this was a clear signal that the 27-nation European Union needed to “step up”.

Ukraine has also ramped up its retaliatory strikes in Russia, where a woman was killed when a Ukrainian drone crashed into an apartment building, the acting regional governor in Rostov said.

Talks, spearheaded by the United States to secure a ceasefire, have stalled but Ukraine and Russia announced a fresh swap of prisoners of war with Ukraine.

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The two sides said it was part of agreements reached during talks in Istanbul last month.

AFP

 

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We’re Ready To Start Gaza Ceasefire Talks ‘Immediately’ – Hamas

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Hamas said Friday it was ready to start talks “immediately” on a proposal for a ceasefire with Israel in Gaza, after holding consultations with other Palestinian factions.

The movement is ready to engage immediately and seriously in a cycle of negotiations on the mechanism to put in place” the terms of a draft truce proposal received from mediators, the militant group said in a statement.

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READ ALSO: Hamas Attacks Aid Workers In Gaza, Kills Five

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