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

Published

4 years ago

December 15, 2021

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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‘Pioneer Of Cable TV News’: Key Facts About CNN Founder, Ted Turner

Published

2 days ago

May 9, 2026

Editor

Ted Turner, the media businessman who founded CNN died at the age of 87. He died peacefully on Wednesday, surrounded by family, according to Turner Enterprises.

Contents

Launched 24-hour news television

Built a media network

Expanded through sports

Recognition and influence

Philanthropy and global causes

Environmental efforts

Health and later years

Early career path

Leadership and legacy

Personal life

Exit from business

Family

Below are key facts about his life and impact:

Launched 24-hour news television

Turner founded CNN on June 1, 1980, introducing the first 24-hour news channel and changing how audiences follow global events.

Built a media network

He moved from billboards into broadcasting, turning an Atlanta TV station into a national superstation in 1976. His business later grew to include CNN International, TNT, Turner Classic Movies and Cartoon Network.

Expanded through sports

Turner invested in sports broadcasting and owned teams including the Atlanta Braves and the Atlanta Hawks, using television to reach wider audiences.

Recognition and influence

In 1991, he was named Time magazine’s Man of the Year for his role in shaping modern news coverage.

Philanthropy and global causes

He founded the United Nations Foundation and supported campaigns against nuclear weapons. In 1997, he pledged $1 billion to the United Nations.

Turner supported conservation work, including reintroducing bison in the United States, and backed environmental education through the “Captain Planet” cartoon.

Health and later years

In 2018, Turner revealed he had Lewy body dementia. He also recovered from a mild case of pneumonia in early 2025.

Early career path

He took over his father’s billboard company at 24 after his father’s death and later expanded into radio and television, despite limited experience in journalism.

“I worked until 7 o’clock, and when I got home the news was over,” he once said. “So I missed television news completely. And I figured there were lots of people like me.”

Leadership and legacy

“Ted was an intensely involved and committed leader, intrepid, fearless and always willing to back a hunch and trust his own judgement,” Mark Thompson, Chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide, said in a statement. “He was and always will be the presiding spirit of CNN. Ted is the giant on whose shoulders we stand, and we will all take a moment today to recognize him and his impact on our lives and the world.”

Personal life

Turner married actress Jane Fonda in 1991, and they later divorced after 10 years, though they remained close.

“I would never love anyone like I love him,” she said. “But I just couldn’t keep moving in his world, along the surface for the rest of my life. I knew that I would get to the end of my life and regret not doing the things that I also needed to do for me.”

Exit from business

He sold his company to Time Warner in 1996 and later stepped away following its merger with AOL.

Reflecting on his life, Turner once said: “I lost Jane. I lost my job here. I lost my fortune, most of it. Got a billion or two left. You can get by on that if you economize.”

Family

He is survived by his five children, 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

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Iran’s Nationwide Internet Shutdown Hits 70 Days

Published

2 days ago

May 9, 2026

Editor

NetBlocks, a monitoring group, has disclosed that an internet shutdown enforced by the Iranian regime has entered its 70th day, severing key access from swathes of the population under the shadow of war.

NetBlocks reported on Friday that the blackout has now surpassed 1,656 hours, marking more than two months since US-Israeli strikes pounded Tehran and escalated across the Middle East.

“Digital connectivity is vital in times of crisis,” NetBlocks said in a post on X. “Limiting service harms those most in need – people with disabilities, students, small businesses and the general public.”

According to CNN, Iran imposed a separate internet shutdown on the country’s 92 million people earlier this year, when it launched the most lethal crackdown on anti-government protesters since the Islamic Republic’s founding 47 years ago.

CNN further reports that the latest blackout has cut off another potential lifeline for Iranian residents faced with high unemployment and economic pressure exacerbated by the US-Israeli campaign.

(CNN)

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Gas Prices In US Edge Down After Two Weeks Of Increases

Published

2 days ago

May 9, 2026

Editor

The cost of a gallon of regular gas in the United States (US) has edged down a little more than a penny to $4.55.

According to AAA’s readings, this marks the first decline in the average gas price after 15 straight days of increases.

The decline is minuscule compared to the large increases in gas prices over the last two weeks.

According to CNN, gasoline costs rose an average of nearly 4 cents a day during that period and had several daily increases of between 7 and 9 cents.

Also Read: Trump insists US-Iran ceasefire intact despite recent exchange of fire

CNN also reports that based on past gas spikes, it will likely take weeks for gas prices to get down below $4 a gallon.

The report, however, states that a previous two-week stretch of gas price declines only shaved 14 cents off the average price, taking the average price to $4.02, before the recent 15-day run of increases.

According to CNN, it could take months for the average price to fall below $3 per gallon, as it did before the war in Iran.

CNN further reports that only one state – Oklahoma – now has an average price of less than $4 a gallon, and its average stands at $3.98. California has the highest average price at $6.16.

(CNN)