British actor Micheal Ward, celebrated for his role in the drama series Top Boy, has been acquitted of all rape and sexual assault charges by a jury at Snaresbrook Crown Court in London. Following a 10-day trial, the jury reached unanimous not-guilty verdicts on two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration, and one count of sexual assault.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The legal proceedings stemmed from an encounter in January 2023 with a woman he met at a New Year’s Day party. While prosecutors alleged that Ward ignored the complainant’s lack of consent during the incident in a vehicle, Ward consistently maintained that the encounter was entirely consensual, describing the interaction as “friendly and flirty” with “mutual interest”. His defense team also highlighted discrepancies in the evidence, including forensic findings that contradicted the complainant’s claims regarding her clothing.

Key developments and context regarding the trial include:

• Witness Testimony: Jasmine Jobson, Ward’s Top Boy co-star, testified for the defense, characterizing Ward as a “kind-hearted man” and a “beautiful soul”.

• Professional Impact: Jobson and Ward’s defense counsel noted that the legal battle had effectively halted the actor’s professional career for over three years.

• Trial Disruptions: The trial experienced brief interruptions due to online commentary regarding evidence; however, the presiding judge took measures to ensure the jury remained unaffected.

• Ward’s Career: Known for his roles in Blue Story and Top Boy, Ward, a BAFTA Rising Star Award winner, is now looking to resume his acting career following the conclusion of the case.

Zainab Sadiq, a journalist working for African Action Congress (AAC) 2027 presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, has been released from Department of State Services (DSS) custody.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Previously, the DSS had confirmed Sadiq was being held at its Abuja headquarters regarding an investigation into her possession of a drone without proper authorization. According to a statement released on July 9, 2026, by Favour Dozie, the agency’s Deputy Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Sadiq was intercepted on July 6 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos while attempting to fly to Abuja with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The DSS stated that she could not produce an End User Certificate (EUC), which is a mandatory document for drone usage under Office of the National Security Adviser regulations, and she admitted during questioning that she lacked the necessary documentation.

Following her release, Sowore posted on his handle on Friday, attributing her freedom to the determined efforts and pressure from Nigerians both domestically and internationally. Sowore celebrated her release as a victory against repression, thanking those who demanded justice and stood against the situation.

Peter Obi, the 2027 presidential candidate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has praised the successful rescue of teachers and pupils who had been abducted in Oyo State’s Oriire Local Government Area. The rescue was initially made public on Friday by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In a statement released on Saturday, Obi expressed his joy regarding the rescue and offered his gratitude to the security forces and all those behind the scenes whose efforts secured the captives’ freedom. Highlighting the need for a safer educational environment, Obi emphasized that the government’s primary responsibility is to protect lives and property, urging for a strengthened security architecture to end the recurring trauma of school abductions. He concluded by rejoicing with the affected families, schools, and the nation over the positive resolution of the incident.