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UN Judge Lydia Mugambe jailed for enslaving housekeeper in UK

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A United Nations judge and Ugandan High Court official, Lydia Mugambe, has been sentenced to six years and four months in prison after being found guilty of keeping a young Ugandan woman as a domestic slave in the United Kingdom.

Mugambe, 50, was studying for a PhD in law at the University of Oxford when police discovered the woman working unpaid in her Oxfordshire home as a maid and nanny.

She was convicted of modern slavery offences in March and sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Friday.

During the hearing, Judge David Foxton condemned Mugambe for showing “absolutely no remorse” and for attempting to blame the victim.

He described the case as “very sad,” especially considering Mugambe’s prior work in human rights law.

The court heard that Mugambe arranged a fraudulent visa for the victim, claiming she would be employed as a paid servant at the London residence of John Mugerwa, Uganda’s former deputy high commissioner.

However, the woman was instead taken directly to Mugambe’s home in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, where she was forced into servitude.

Prosecutors revealed that Mugambe and Mr Mugerwa entered into a mutual arrangement: Mugerwa sponsored the victim’s visa in exchange for Mugambe’s legal support in a separate court case in Uganda.

Although charges were approved against Mugerwa for conspiracy, he was not prosecuted due to diplomatic immunity, which the Ugandan government declined to waive.

Bodycam footage shown in court captured the moment Mugambe attempted to evade arrest by claiming diplomatic immunity, stating, “I even have immunity.”

The unnamed victim, speaking through a statement read by prosecutor Caroline Haughey KC, described her experience as one of “almost constant fear,” citing Mugambe’s political influence in Uganda.

She said she feared returning to her home country and might never see her mother again.

“Mugambe exploited a clear and significant imbalance of power,” Haughey said, adding that the victim was misled and lacked knowledge of her employment rights.

Chief Superintendent, Ben Clark of Thames Valley Police praised the victim’s courage and said, “There is no doubt that Mugambe knew she was committing offences.

“Modern slavery is a hidden and under-reported crime, and we hope this case encourages other victims to speak out.”

A University of Oxford spokesperson expressed deep concern over the case, stating the institution was “appalled” and had initiated disciplinary proceedings which could lead to Mugambe’s removal from the university.

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Police finally returned my stolen AI Ray-Ban sunglasses – Sowore

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The Nigeria Police Force, NPF, has returned the Artificial intelligence, AI, Ray-Ban sun glasses back to activist politicians, Omoyele Sowore.

Sowore had alleged that the sun glass was stolen during a protest by retired police officers on July 21, 2025 at the Force headquarters.

The protest was organised to demand improved welfare and retirement benefits for Nigerian police officers.

During the peaceful protest, Sowore had claimed that the glass was stolen by one Aku Victor Chiemerie.

However, Sowore confirmed the return of the glasses in a post on X.

“Today, the Nigeria Police Force returned my stolen Ray-Ban Meta eyeglasses, stolen by the National Thief, Aku Victor Chiemerie, to me,” he wrote.

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VP Shettima commissions library, other projects in Calabar

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The Vice President, Kasshim Shettima has commissioned a state of the art library in Calabar recently refurbished by Gov Bassey Otu of Cross River State

He also commissioned the two newly acquired aircrafts by the government of Cross River State in the Margaret Ekpo international airport Calabar.

The two now increases the fleet of Cally Air airline to four.

The Vice President, who represented President Bola Tinubu, commended the State government for the feat.

Governor Bassey Otu expressed gratitude to the President for permitting Shettima to represent him at the auspicious occasion.

Otu said he is consolidating on the efforts and achievements of his predecessors, Donald Duke, Liyel Imoke and Ben Ayade who laid good foundation in three different important areas.

He said the Foundations have helped him to consolidate.

“Donald Duke came with tourism mentality, Senator Imoke focused on rural development while Ayade looked at industries.

“It was Ayade that initiated the aviation business. He actually purchased the first two aircrafts.

“I am now building on their efforts. With these two new aircrafts we’re poised to bolster the tourism potential of the state.

“We’ll add two more aircrafts before long to dominate the gulf of Guinea air route.”

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Nigerian Govt arraigns Al-Shabab terrorists over killing of 40 worshippers in Owo church

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The Federal Government on Monday arraigned five men before a Federal High Court in Abuja over their alleged involvement in the June 5, 2022 attack at St. Francs Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, in which over 40 worshippers died

The five accused persons are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar.

Over 40 people were reported to have died in the attack, while over 100 others sustained injuries.

The five defendants were arraigned on a nine-count terrorism charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/301/2025 filed by the Department of State Services, DSS.

They are accused of being members of Al Shabab terrorist group, belonging to a cell in Kogi State.

The defendants are also alleged to have carried out the attack in furtherance of their religious ideology.

They pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them by an official of the court.

Following their not guilty plea, prosecuting lawyer, Calistus Eze urged the court to order that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the DSS pending trial.

Defence lawyer, Abdullahi Muhammad however prayed the court to order the DSS to allow members of the defendants’ families and their lawyers to have access to them.

Muhammad said the defendants have been in custody since 2022 when they were arrested and have not had access to family members and lawyers.

Eze said it was the standard practice that detainees’ family members and lawyers should be granted access after a formal written request.

He noted that it has become inevitable at this stage that the defendants be allowed access to their lawyers to enable them prepare their defence.

Ruling, Justice Emeka Nwite ordered that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the DSS.

Justice Nwite also ordered that the DSS grant the defendants access to members of their families and their lawyers.

He then adjourned till August 19 for the commencement of trial.

Some counts in the charge read:

* That you, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar adults, males, with others still at large, sometime in 2021, did join and became members of AL Shabab Terrorist Group, with cell in Kogi State and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 25(1) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

* That you, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, adults, males, with others still at large, on 30th May, 2022; 37 June, 2022 and 4 June, 2022, at Government Secondary School, Ogamirana, Adavi LGA, Kogi State and behind Omialafa Central Mosque, Ose LGA, Ondo State, respectively, attended and held meetings, where you agreed to and planned for the terrorist attack, which you carried out on 5™ June, 2022, at St. Francs Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 12(a) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

* That you, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, adults, males, with others still at large, on 05/06/2022, at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, with intent to further your religious ideology and while armed with IEDs and AK 47 rifles, did attack worshippers, held them hostage and in the process, caused grievous bodily harm to over 100 persons, including Onileke Ayodele, John Blessing, Nselu Esther and Ogungbade Peter and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24 Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 24(2)(a) of the same Act.

* That you, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, adults, males, with others still at large, on 05/06/2022, had in your possession IEDs and AK 47 rifles, with which you attacked worshippers at St. Francis Catholic Church, held them hostage, killed over 40 persons and caused grievous bodily harm to over 100 persons and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 2(1)(2) and (3)(v) and punishable under Section 24(1) and (2) of TPPA, 2022.

* That you, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, adults, males, with others still at large, on 05/06/2022, at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, with intent to cause death, did detonate Improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which led to the death of over 40 persons, including: Ajanaku John; Onuoha Deborah; Onileke Esther and John Bosede and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 42 (a)(ii) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

* That you, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, adults, males, with others still at large, on 05/06/2022, at St. Francis Catholic Church , Owo, Ondo State, with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, did detonate Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) which caused grievous bodily harm to over 100 persons, including: Onuchukwu Happiness, Ogungbade Vivan and Nnakwe Paschaline Ugochinyerem and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 42(a)(i) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

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