court

South Africa’s top court strips a colonial rule from the registry — and opens a conversation about names, identity and equality In a ruling that reaches beyond bureaucratic formality, South Africa’s Constitutional Court has declared unconstitutional a colonial-era provision that barred husbands from taking their wives’ surnames. The decision — prompted by two couples who challenged the Department of Home Affairs after being denied the right to assume or hyphenate their spouses’ names — requires Parliament to amend the…

Zambian court jails two for using “witchcraft” to target president — a case that cuts across law, belief and politics A Zambian magistrate has sentenced two men to two years in prison for what prosecutors described as an attempt to use witchcraft to kill President Hakainde Hichilema — a verdict that raises awkward questions about how state institutions confront age‑old beliefs when they intersect with contemporary politics. The ruling Magistrate Fine Mayambu on Tuesday handed down the custodial sentences to Leonard Phiri,…

The Ripple Effect of Fraud: Three Nigerian Men Sentenced in U.S. Unemployment Scheme In an unsettling yet revealing chapter of the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, a U.S. court has sentenced three Nigerian men for their direct involvement in a sprawling unemployment fraud scheme. This case not only shines a spotlight on the lengths individuals will go to during times of economic uncertainty but also underscores the ongoing vulnerabilities in international cybersecurity and fraud prevention systems. The Crime…

Kismayo (AX) — In a significant turn of events, a military tribunal in Jubaland on Monday handed clan elder Hassan Mahamud Salah a five-year prison sentence, finding him guilty of conspiring with the militant faction Al-Shabaab. The case highlights the ongoing struggle against terrorism in the region. Presiding over the case, Colonel Abdullahi Mahamud Ibrahim pronounced the verdict, articulating the court's unwavering position on affiliations with Al-Shabaab. "This is a cautionary tale for those who dare to aid terrorist…

The beleaguered aviation titan Boeing is gearing up for yet another challenge as it heads into a civil trial next week regarding the devastating crash of an Ethiopian Airlines flight in March 2019, which tragically claimed the lives of 157 individuals. This trial, set to unfold in federal court in Chicago, initially featured six plaintiffs, but according to sources close to the case, "all but one" have reached settlements. This leaves just a lone plaintiff pressing forward with claims against the aviation giant. Unless a…

Mogadishu (AX)—On Monday, a stern caution resounded from Salah Ali Mohamud, the presiding judge of the Banadir Regional Court, aimed squarely at the district leaders of Mogadishu. His message was clear: stay out of court matters pertaining to land and property squabbles. Only the judicial system, not local district bigwigs, has the clout to handle and enforce legal verdicts in these disputes. Making his stance crystal clear, Mohamud put out a potent statement directed at the district officials who lately seemed to imply…

A federal court has dismissed treason charges against numerous minors who were apprehended amid recent nationwide protests fueled by escalating living costs and discontent with the government. President Bola Tinubu had previously mandated their release after several young demonstrators collapsed during their court proceedings, a situation that drew sharp criticism from human rights organizations such as Amnesty International. In Nigeria, treason carries severe penalties, potentially culminating in the death penalty. "Any…

The Supreme Court of Liberia has made it clear that lawmakers attempting to oust House Speaker Fonati Koffa must respect the legal procedures in place. This ruling came in response to a petition urging the court to intervene and stop the various factions of legislators who have been conducting their own sessions aimed at unseating the Speaker. In the midst of this political frenzy, Speaker Koffa remains steadfast, declaring that he has no intention of stepping down, despite calls for his resignation. Instead, he has called…

The U.S. Supreme Court has vacated a lower court’s ruling that had shielded Joseph Clifton Smith, a convicted murderer from Alabama, from execution due to an assertion of intellectual disability. The justices determined that the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals needs to provide further clarification on its previous decision, which deemed Smith's death penalty unjustifiable following a pivotal 2002 Supreme Court ruling. This earlier decision established that executing individuals who are intellectually…

A multitude of lawmakers aiming to unseat House Speaker Fonatii Koffa remain resolute in their intentions, disregarding a directive from the Supreme Court that called for a suspension of their activities. This order springs from a formal appeal made by Speaker Koffa himself, intended to halt any proceedings concerning his potential ousting until a scheduled meeting between both factions on November 4. The faction opposing the Speaker, which boasts more than 40 representatives from the House, identifies itself as the…