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Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was sentenced to more than four years in prison on Friday for his conviction on prostitution-related charges.

Prosecutors had sought 11 years behind bars for Combs but Judge Arun Subramanian handed down a 50-month sentence after an emotional daylong court hearing.

Combs’s lawyers had urged the judge to sentence the 55-year-old hip-hop star to 14 months, which would effectively have been time served since he has been incarcerated in Brooklyn for more than a year.

Addressing the court before the judge handed down the sentence, Combs said he was “truly sorry” for his actions and asked the judge for “another chance.”

“I ask your honor for mercy,” he said. “I beg your honor for mercy.”

Diddy Combs was acquitted by a jury in July of the most serious charges against him — sex trafficking and racketeering — but convicted of two counts of transporting people across state lines for prostitution.

Combs’s former girlfriend Casandra Ventura submitted a letter to the judge asking him to consider “the many lives that Sean Combs has upended with his abuse and control.”

Ventura, the 39-year-old singer known as Cassie, described in wrenching detail the physical, emotional and sexual abuse she suffered while in a more than decade-long relationship with Combs.

Ventura and another woman, identified as Jane, said they were coerced into performing so-called “freak offs”: sexual marathons with hired men that Combs directed and sometimes filmed.

“The entire courtroom watched actual footage of Combs kicking and beating me as I tried to run away from a freak off in 2016,” Ventura wrote. (Vanguard)

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the winners of the by-elections held on Saturday, August 16, across 16 constituencies in 12 states, in which the All Progressives Congress secured victory in 12 of those constituencies.

The announcement was made in a press release issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Sunday afternoon.

Announcing the results of the elections, Onanuga said APC won in 12 constituencies, the All Progressives Grand Alliance won in two, the Peoples Democratic Party won in one, and the New Nigeria Peoples Party won in one.

The statement noted that the president commends INEC “for the hitch-free elections, mostly devoid of violence,” and lauded the newly appointed APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, for steering the party to its first major triumph under his leadership.

Tinubu also congratulates the APC governors and other leaders on the success of the by-elections.

“Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda has shown leadership capacity and demonstrated what is achievable when popular candidates are fielded and with unity of purpose among party leaders,” the statement quoted the president.

“To all APC faithful and the electorate, thank you for the confidence reposed in our party. Be assured that our Renewed Hope slogan is not a mere slogan. Our destination is a better, more secure and prosperous Nigeria. We shall take you there, by the Grace of God,” he said.

“President Tinubu commends all the political parties and candidates who participated in the election and enjoins them to continue to be guided by the spirit of sportsmanship, fair contest and magnanimity, which are enablers of enduring democracy,” the statement concluded. (Punch)

All markets in Ibadanland were ordered closed on Friday morning as the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, is buried.

Oba Olakulehin, the 43rd Olubadan, died on July 7, 2025, two days after his 90th birthday.

He will be buried today, August 8, at the St Peter’s Cathedral, Aremo, Ibadan.

The Babaloja General of Oyo State, Alhaji Yekeen Abass, in a statement on Thursday, directed that all markets be shut from 5 am to 12 noon on Friday, to honour the departed monarch.

The closure, according to Abass, was to pay last respects to the revered traditional ruler who, he said, “diligently served the country, the state and, most importantly, Ibadanland.”

He stated, “Traders and artisans in Ibadan will continue to remember the late monarch for maintaining peace and creating an enabling environment for marketers in the ancient city.

“Let me, therefore, advise the market leaders in Ibadanland to ensure strict compliance with the directive in their various markets.”

The closure, according to Abass, was to pay last respects to the revered traditional ruler who, he said, “diligently served the country, the state and, most importantly, Ibadanland.”

He stated, “Traders and artisans in Ibadan will continue to remember the late monarch for maintaining peace and creating an enabling environment for marketers in the ancient city.

“Let me, therefore, advise the market leaders in Ibadanland to ensure strict compliance with the directive in their various markets.”

Abass also prayed for the soul of the departed king and asked God to grant the royal family the fortitude to bear the loss.

Meanwhile, the final burial ceremony began on Thursday with a lying-in-state at the historic Mapo Hall in Ibadan South East Local Government Area.

Present at the solemn ceremony were members of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, Mogajis (family heads), religious leaders, both Christian and Muslim, traditional worshippers, and other dignitaries.

The Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Interfaith Affairs, Femi Ibikunle, described the late Olubadan as “an astute and articulate traditional ruler.”

He said, “The late Oba Olakulehin always had the people’s interest at heart. He was hardworking and accommodating, and his tolerance of all religious groups helped ensure peace during his reign.”

Also speaking, the President of the Ibadan Mogajis, Chief Asimiyu Ariori, said the late monarch lived a meritorious life, leaving an indelible impact on Ibadanland.

On behalf of the family, the first son of the late king, Sunmbo Owolabi, expressed gratitude to CCII, Mogajis, and all indigenes of Ibadan for their support.

He prayed that the city would “continue to wax stronger.”

Later in the evening, a Christian wake was held at the Olubadan Palace in Oke-Aremo, within the Ibadan North Local Government Area, as part of the continuing rites of passage. (Punch)

Former Arsenal footballer Thomas Partey was granted conditional bail on Tuesday after appearing in a London court on rape and sexual assault charges.

The 32-year-old Ghana international has been charged with five counts of rape against two women and one count of sexual assault against a third woman.

The alleged offences took place between 2021 and 2022, when he was an Arsenal player.

Partey was charged on July 4, four days after leaving the Gunners when his contract expired at the end of June.

The midfielder stood with his arms behind his back in the dock at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, wearing a black zip-neck jumper.

The footballer showed no reaction as the charges were read out and was not asked to enter any pleas.

Partey’s lawyer Jenny Wiltshire previously said Partey “denies all the charges against him”, adding he welcomed “the opportunity to finally clear his name”.

Under his bail conditions he cannot contact any of the three women and must notify police of any permanent changes of address or international travel.

Reports in recent days have linked Partey with a move to La Liga club Villarreal.

As bail conditions were discussed in court, chief magistrate Paul Goldspring said: “I understand he’s no longer employed in this country and playing in Spain now.”

Partey is due to appear at London’s Old Bailey court on September 2.

A spokesperson for Arsenal Supporters Against Sexual Violence said the group was “profoundly disappointed” in the London club over their handling of the matter.

Speaking outside court, Honor Barber told the PA news agency: “We never wanted to be in a situation where the club that we love and the club that has values that we believe in was playing, week-in, week-out, a player who is now facing court appearances on six counts of sexual violence.

“We protested outside almost every home game last season because we wanted to disrupt the wall of silence that the club has put up around this issue.”

Barber said the group wanted the club to publish their sexual violence policies, “suspend anyone under investigation for sexual offences” and “properly support the survivors”.

British police said they first received reports of an allegation of rape in February 2022.

Partey joined Arsenal for £45 million ($60 million) from Atletico Madrid in October 2020.

He appeared 52 times for the Gunners last season, scoring four goals. Overall he played 167 games for the club, scoring nine times.

Partey has also made 51 appearances for Ghana.

An Arsenal spokesman previously said: “The player’s contract ended on June 30. Due to ongoing legal proceedings the club is unable to comment on the case.” (Guardian)