American R&B star Chris Brown has pleaded not guilty to a charge of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm in connection with an alleged bottle attack at a London nightclub.

The 36-year-old musician is accused of attempting to unlawfully and maliciously cause grievous bodily harm with intent to Abraham Diaw during an incident at Tape nightclub on February 19, 2023.

His co-defendant, fellow U.S. national Omololu Akinlolu, also denied the same charge during a plea and trial preparation hearing held on Friday morning at Southwark Crown Court.

Both Brown and Akinlolu face an additional charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm against Diaw. Brown is also charged with possessing an offensive weapon in a public place. The defendants were not required to enter pleas for these counts at Friday’s hearing.

A further court session has been scheduled for July 11.

Around 20 people, many of them Brown’s fans, filled the public gallery behind the dock during the hearing.

The court has set a date for a five to seven-day trial, expected to begin on October 26, 2026.

Brown arrived at the court around 9 a.m., flanked by a crowd of photographers. He made no statement as he walked silently into the building.

The Go Crazy singer, who is currently on an international tour, performed in Wales on Thursday night. He was previously released on conditional bail after paying a £5 million (€5.7 million or $6.7 million) security fee to the court. The amount serves as a financial guarantee to ensure he returns for future proceedings and could be forfeited if bail terms are violated.

Nollywood actor Kunle Remi and his wife, Tiwi, have welcomed their first child following a challenging medical journey.

The couple shared their emotional path to parenthood, revealing the hardships they endured, including a difficult medical discovery, prolonged bed rest, and over 80 days of faith-driven visits to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

In an emotional video post on Wednesday, the actor via his official Instagram page, @kunleremiofficial, expressed gratitude to God, reflecting on the trials and triumphs of their journey.

Remi wrote: “From an early arrival… to the unfolding of God’s perfect timing.

“From waiting, countless NICU visits, and clinging to God for 11 weeks and three days (that’s 80 days of faith).

“Our story is living proof that God is God — unfailing, unwavering, and faithful till the very end.

“From an unexpected and unsettling medical discovery… to complete bed rest.

“From juggling demanding work schedules… to hopping on flights, both locally and internationally.”

The couple’s love story has been in the public eye, since the actor surprised Tiwi with a marriage proposal during a visit to the United States in early 2024.

They later held a grand wedding in January 2024, attended by top Nollywood celebrities

Fans and colleagues have since flooded social media with congratulatory messages, celebrating the couple’s resilience and the arrival of their baby.

The family of Nigerian music legend Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, has raised alarm over his disappearance, declaring him missing and petitioning the Department of State Services (DSS) for urgent intervention.

The petition, signed by Wilson Anuge of Anuge, Anuge & Co., has gone viral on social media, sparking widespread concern among fans and the entertainment industry.

The document states: “We are writing to urgently seek your assistance regarding a profoundly troubling situation involving a member of the Idibia Family.

“Mr. Innocent Idibia (also known as Tuface or 2Baba), our client, is reasonably believed to be missing since Monday, February 10.

“We believe that Mr. Innocent left his residence in the early hours of February 10 in his loungewear, suggestive that he was going on his habitual walk, but he has not returned home since then.

“In spite of the best efforts of his family members, staff, and management of his record label to reach or locate him, including reaching out to his friends and acquaintances, all efforts have proved abortive.

“They have been unable to establish any contact or ascertain his whereabouts.”

This development comes just 24 hours after 2Baba’s mother, Rose Idibia, made an emotional appeal to Nigerians, urging them to intervene in a situation involving Edo State lawmaker, Hon. Natasha Osawaru.

In a viral video, Mrs. Idibia accused the 31-year-old granddaughter of Chief Gabriel Igbinedion and Deputy Majority Leader of the Edo State House of Assembly of casting a spell on the music star.

She alleged that her son was not in his right state of mind when he proposed to Osawaru, adding that his ongoing divorce battle with his estranged wife, Annie Idibia, had left him vulnerable.

“Good evening, Nigerians. My name is Mrs. Rose Idibia, the mother of 2Face,” she said in the video.

“This message is for Miss Natasha Osawaru of Edo State. I’m calling on all mothers in Nigeria to help me beg her to free my son.

“My son is going through a divorce process, and he is clearly not in his right senses now. I know my son well. That is not him.

“Please Natasha, the beads you put on his hand and on his neck, remove them and free him.”

2Baba’s rumored romance with Osawaru has been a trending topic all week, with reports of the singer visiting the Edo State Assembly complex and later being spotted with the lawmaker at a Lagos nightclub.

The situation has fueled public speculation, adding to concerns over the singer’s mysterious disappearance.