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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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‘Top Boy’ Star, Micheal Ward, Charged With Rape, Sexual Assault

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Bafta-winning British actor, Micheal Ward, has been formally charged with multiple sexual offences, including rape and assault.

The charges were confirmed by the Metropolitan Police on Thursday.

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Ward, 27, who rose to fame for his role in the critically acclaimed drama Blue Story and later starred in Top Boy and Small Axe, is facing two counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault.

The alleged offences are said to have occurred in January 2023.

He said: “I deny the charges against me entirely,” and added that he had co-operated with police fully throughout their investigation and had full faith it would lead to his name being cleared.

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READ ALSO:JUST IN: Pandemonium At Benin Abattoir As Gunmen Attempt To Arrest Butchers Union President

Ward’s alleged offences relate to one woman and are reported to have taken place in January 2023, according to the police force.

The actor made his name as one of the stars of cult hit Blue Story in 2019, and won the Rising Star prize at the Bafta Film Awards the following year.

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He played Jamie in Netflix hit Top Boy from 2019 to 22, and was nominated for best supporting actor at the Bafta TV Awards for Small Axe in 2021.

The Jamaican-born actor also starred in the acclaimed 2022 drama Empire of Light, and will be seen in the forthcoming US pandemic-era Western movie Eddington, which is due to be released in the UK on 22 August.

Ward is due to appear at Thames Magistrates’ Court in London on 28 August.

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READ ALSO:Guinea-Bissau President, Niger Republic PM, Others Attend Buhari’s Burial In Daura

Metropolitan Police Det Supt Scott Ware said: “Our specialist officers continue to support the woman who has come forward, we know investigations of this nature can have a significant impact on those who make reports.”

Catherine Baccas, deputy chief crown prosecutor for CPS London South, said: “Having carefully reviewed a file of evidence, the Crown Prosecution Service has authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge Micheal Ward, 27, with two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration, and one count of sexual assault against a woman in January 2023.”

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She added: “We remind all concerned that proceedings against the suspect are active and he has a right to a fair trial.

“It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in anyway prejudice these proceedings.”

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9 Most-requested Documents For Work Visas

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Planning to work abroad? Whether you’re heading to Canada, the UK, Germany, Australia, or the UAE, securing a work visa is a critical step and the process often comes with a long list of required documents.

While specifics vary by country, most immigration offices demand a core set of paperwork before granting a work visa. Here’s a breakdown of the most commonly requested documents:

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1. Valid Passport

Your passport must typically have at least six months’ validity beyond your intended stay. Some countries require blank visa pages as well, so double-check the requirements.

2. Job Offer Letter

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This is one of the most important documents in your visa application. It must come from a verified employer or government-approved sponsor. The letter should include details such as your job title, salary, and terms of employment.

READ ALSO:Fashion Designers, IT Specialists: UK Opens Door To Foreign Talents With New Visa Rules

3. Educational Certificates

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These include your university degrees, diplomas, and any vocational qualifications relevant to the job you’re applying for. In some cases, you may need to have these credentials assessed or authenticated.

4. Proof of Work Experience

Most countries will want to see evidence of your past employment. This could include:

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Reference letters from previous employers
Employment contracts
Payslips

5. Language Proficiency Test Results

If you’re going to an English-speaking country like the UK, Canada, or Australia, proof of English proficiency is often required. Commonly accepted tests include:

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IELTS
TOEFL
PTE Academic

Some non-English-speaking countries may ask for proof of proficiency in their official language.

READ ALSO:PHOTOS: President Tinubu Hosts Class Of 1999 Governors In Aso Villa

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6. Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)

This is a document issued by law enforcement to confirm that you have no criminal record. It’s essential to prove your good character and legal standing in your home country.

7. Medical Certificate

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Many countries require a medical exam to ensure you’re fit to work and free from contagious diseases. The test is usually conducted by a panel physician authorized by the destination country’s immigration authority.

8. Proof of Funds

You may need to show bank statements or other financial documents to prove you can support yourself (and your dependents, if applicable) until you start earning.

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9. Professional Accreditation or Licensing

If you’re applying for jobs in regulated sectors like healthcare, education, or engineering, you may need proof of accreditation or registration with a professional body in the destination country.
(VANGUARD)

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Over 1.3 Million Return To Homes In Sudan – UN

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More than 1.3 million people who fled the fighting in Sudan have headed home, the United Nations said Friday, pleading for greater international aid to help returnees rebuild shattered lives.

Over a million internally displaced people (IDPs) have returned to their homes in recent months, UN agencies said.

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A further 320,000 refugees have crossed back into Sudan this year, mainly from neighbouring Egypt and South Sudan.

While fighting has subsided in the “pockets of relative safety” that people are beginning to return to, the situation remains highly precarious, the UN said.

Since April 2023, Sudan has been torn apart by a power struggle between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, commander of the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The fighting has killed tens of thousands.

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READ ALSO: Militia Attack On DRC IDP Camp, Kills 10, Mostly Women, Children

The RSF lost control of the capital, Khartoum, in March and the regular army now controls Sudan’s centre, north and east.

In a joint statement, the UN’s IOM migration agency, UNHCR refugee agency and UNDP development agency called for an urgent increase in financial support to pay for the recovery as people begin to return, with humanitarian operations “massively underfunded”.

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Sudan has 10 million IDPs, including 7.7 million forced from their homes by the current conflict, they said.

More than four million have sought refuge in neighbouring countries.

– ‘Living nightmare’ –

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Sudan is “the largest humanitarian catastrophe facing our world and also the least remembered”, the IOM’s regional director Othman Belbeisi, speaking from Port Sudan, told a media briefing in Geneva.

He said 71 percent of returns had been to Al-Jazira state, with eight percent to Khartoum.

READ ALSO: Katsina, UNDP To Return 270,000 IDPs To Ancestral Homes

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Other returnees were mostly heading for Sennar state.

Both Al-Jazira and Sennar are located southeast of the capital.

We expect 2.1 million to return to Khartoum by the end of this year but this will depend on many factors, especially the security situation and the ability to restore services,” Belbeisi said.

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With the RSF holding nearly all of the western Darfur region, Kordofan in the south has become the war’s main battleground in recent weeks.

He said the “vicious, horrifying civil war continues to take lives with impunity”, imploring the warring factions to put down their guns.

READ ALSO: Panic In Borno IDP Camp As Police Defuse IED Planted By Boko Haram/ISWAP Insurgents

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“The war has unleashed hell for millions and millions of ordinary people,” he said.

“Sudan is a living nightmare. The violence needs to stop.”

– ‘Massive’ UXO contamination –

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After visiting Khartoum and the Egyptian border, Mamadou Dian Balde, the UNHCR’s regional refugee coordinator for the Sudan crisis, said people were coming back to destroyed public infrastructure, making rebuilding their lives extremely challenging.

Those returning from Egypt were typically coming back “empty handed”, he said, speaking from Nairobi.

READ ALSO: One Dead, Scores Injured As Mysterious Fire Hits IDPs’ Camp 

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Luca Renda, UNDP’s resident representative in Sudan, warned of further cholera outbreaks in Khartoum if broken services were not restored.

What we need is for the international community to support us,” he said.

Renda said around 1,700 wells needed rehabilitating, while at least six Khartoum hospitals and at least 35 schools needed urgent repairs.

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He also sounded the alarm on the “massive” amount of unexploded ordnance littering the city and the need for decontamination.

He said anti-personnel mines had also been found in at least five locations in Khartoum.

“It will take years to fully decontaminate the city,” he said, speaking from Port Sudan.

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