Passing sentence on Friday, High Court judge Mr Justice Choudhury said the tragic events meant that Noah’s parents, Mr and Mrs Sibanda, would never see their child alive again. The court reviewed CCTV footage from the baby room, which the judge described as “shocking.” The footage revealed repeated instances of rough handling of babies by several nursery practitioners, including Miss Cookson, often occurring in the presence of a manager. The judge noted that babies were frequently tightly swaddled and then covered with blankets or cloth—an “established” but dangerous practice. He emphasised that no staff member challenged this behaviour, allowing unsafe conditions to persist. “These dangerous and unacceptable practices, which went unchecked at the nursery, reached their inevitable conclusion on 9 December 2022,” he said. Addressing Cookson directly, the judge added: “In my judgment, Noah’s suffering may not have been obvious to you, but it ought to have been. This is not a case where you knowingly set out to suffocate or asphyxiate. “You are clearly remorseful. You have attempted to understand that Noah’s parents are the real sufferers here, and you have not sought to blame others.” In response, Ofsted, which ordered the nursery to close shortly after the incident, expressed deep regret. “Our thoughts remain with Noah’s family, and we are deeply sorry for their loss,” the statement read. “No child should ever come to harm in a place that is meant to keep them safe.” The organisation added that the government has announced new funding to enable more frequent nursery inspections, as part of ongoing efforts to improve child safety.

Popular Nigerian sports broadcast journalist, Temisan Okomi, has passed away. The sad news was announced on Friday by Olawale Adigun of News Central via his 𝕏 (formerly Twitter) handle. Reacting to the loss, Adigun wrote: “The worst way to go into the weekend is hearing about Temisan Okomi’s passing. I’m so gutted and, at the same time, terrified. This man meant so much to me.” Okomi was widely respected in the sports media space, having worked with Classic FM 97.3, Lagos Television, HiTV, and other prominent media organisations across Nigeria. His final post, shared on April 14, 2026, read: “The Champions League is hard, man.” Fernandez Set for Chelsea Return Amid Uncertain Future Meanwhile, Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez is set to return for Chelsea FC this weekend after serving an internal suspension. However, uncertainty remains over his long-term future at Stamford Bridge. Fernandez sparked controversy during the international break after granting multiple interviews while on duty with Argentina, where he expressed a desire to one day live in Spain’s capital. His comments reignited speculation linking him with Real Madrid. The situation led to a two-match suspension agreed upon by head coach Liam Rosenior and the club’s hierarchy. His representative, Javier Pastore, attempted to have the ban reduced, but the appeal was unsuccessful. As a result, Fernandez missed Chelsea’s 7–0 FA Cup semi-final victory over Port Vale, as well as their 3–0 Premier League defeat at home to Manchester City. In a recent interview, Pastore suggested that Chelsea’s struggle to secure a UEFA Champions League spot could influence his client’s future. Another loss has left the London club four points behind Liverpool FC in the race for fifth place.

Nigeria’s public debt continues to rise, with the latest figures from the Debt Management Office showing it stood at ₦159.28 trillion as of December 31, 2025. This represents an estimated burden of about ₦724,000 for every Nigerian. The growing debt profile is raising urgent concerns about how the government plans to service and repay these obligations. It also prompts critical questions about what future administrations may inherit and the broader implications for the country’s economic stability. For ordinary Nigerians, the effects are increasingly evident, with potential impacts on public spending, taxation, and the overall cost of living.