A takeaway and its owner have been handed hefty fines after fraudulently claiming £20,000 in COVID support grants.
Ajibola Jerimiah Adenuga, who is the owner of a takeaway food business – which trades under the name Suya Republick – on Chester Road, just outside of Manchester city centre, was last week (Friday 31 May) sentenced at a hearing, and subsequently fined following first pleading guilty to six offences at a Magistrates Court hearing back in November of last year.
The 35-year-old from Eccles benefited from a whopping £17,669 in fraudulent COVID support grant claims, and also attempted to claim a further £2,667 – which would’ve made it a total of £20,336.
Mr Adenuga first made his way onto the Council’s radar after his application for an Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant (OHLG) in February 2022 was declined and subsequently referred for investigation, as it was found that he was takeaway, rather than a restaurant as claimed in his application, and takeaways were not eligible under this scheme as they were not required to close.
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Chester Road in Manchester, where the takeaway was located / Credit: Google Maps
Following the Council’s investigation, it was found that Mr Adenuga had also received a Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) totalling £9,669.21 after claiming to be a ‘sexual entertainment and hostess bar’ when operating as a takeaway.
Mr Adenuga also received a Restart Grant (RG) of £8,000 by claiming to be an outdoor bar supplying alcoholic beverages.
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Mr Adenuga was interviewed twice by Council officers in June and July 2022, and admitted that he had made false applications to support his business.
His guilty pleas therefore saw him sentenced to a 12-month Community Order, 200 hours unpaid work with five Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) days attached, costs of £1,400 plus a £114 victims surcharge, and the Court also suspended his personal licence to sell alcohol for two months.
The company itself was also fined £1,000, along with £1,400 in costs under the Fraud Act 2006 for three offences, and ordered to pay a £400 victims surcharge.
Featured Image – Google Maps
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Manchester United’s statement in full as Michael Carrick is sacked as manager
Emily Sergeant
Manchester United has now released a formal statement following the news that Michael Carrick has been sacked with immediate effect.
Carrick – who initially played for Manchester United as a midfielder between 2006 and 2018 – was first appointed as a caretaker manager in 2021, before he went on to become the interim manager and then men’s first team head coach earlier this year.
Unfortunately though, United have struggled to find form this season – with the team winning only three of their first 15 games across all competitions.
The club’s statement reads in full: “Manchester United can confirm that Michael Carrick has departed his role as men’s first-team head coach.
“Michael rejoined the club in January and guided the team to a third-placed Premier League finish by winning 12 out of the remaining 17 games of the 2025/26 season, accumulating the highest points tally in the league during that period.
“After a disappointing start to the season, the club has come to the extremely difficult conclusion that a change is necessary in order to achieve our ambitions.
“Michael is, and always will be, a Manchester United legend. Just as he did as a player, he has conducted himself with the highest standards of dedication and professionalism throughout his time back with the club. His leadership and achievements last season will always be fondly remembered.
“The club intends to appoint a permanent successor as quickly as possible.”
Featured Image – Sky Sports (via YouTube – screenshot)
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‘First-of-its-kind’ reward offered to help find Salford man who went missing 10 years ago
Emily Sergeant
A first-of-its-kind reward is being offered for information on the whereabouts of a Salford man who went missing 10 years ago.
Michael Martin, from Salford – who was 25 when he disappeared – was first reported missing on Monday 8 August 2016 and was last seen at a petrol station on Bolton Road in Kearsley at 7:30am on Sunday 7 August 2016, but since then, there have been no further reported sightings him.
Following immediate enquiries, detectives launched a murder investigation the following week, and the investigation then became what is known as a ‘no-body murder’.
Over the past decade, detectives have been working to try and bring Michael’s body back to his family so they can lay him to rest.
But now, a first-of-its-kind reward of £50,000 is being offered for any information.
Micheal Martin went missing in 2016 / Credit: GMP (Family Handout)
“The not-knowing is gut wrenching every day,” Micheal’s father, Greg Martin, said as he appealed to the public. “We know he’s dead but it’s just not knowing where he was, where he is and what happened to him. It’d give the family some closure – a form of sort of peace.
“My message to the people is to do the right thing. Tell someone or indirectly let the police know what happened to Michael so we can get some peace of mind and closure.”
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Superintendent Lewis Hughes, added: “We are appealing directly to help his family lay their loving son to rest. Michael’s family have not been able to bury their son to bring an element of closure to this heartbreaking tragedy.
“The reward we are offering has never been offered before and that is how much we want to bring Michael home. His family deserve to bring their boy home.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact GMP’s Major Incident Team via the dedicated Major Incident Public Portal here, or alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Emily Sergeant -
4th June 2024 
