PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

                     The Lagos State Government today thursday denied the unsubstantiated claims being circulated in some sections of the media and on social media of its involvement in the fire incident that took place in Otodo Gbame Community in Lekki area of the State last wednesday.The State Government specifically puntured media reports suggesting that it authorized the burning down of the community,saying that the allegation was far from the truth.The State's Commissioner for Information and Strategy,Mr Steve Ayorinde,in a statement,said the State Government shared in the painful loss of the residents but explained that from Police reports and evaluation by the government,the waterfront community was razed by the fire incident that happened as a result of  the ethic clash that occurred between the Egun and Yoruba residents within the community.Ayorinde said while the Police succeeded in bringing to a halt the deadly clash...

                According to sources ,Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project {SERP} has asked Governor Godwin Obaseki not to sign the amended law by the state House of Assembly which approved N200m house for the former governor of Edo State,Adams OshiomholeIn a statement issued today thursday,SERAP condemned the N300 million mansion retirement benefits for Oshiomhole and the N100m house approved for his former deputy, Dr Pius Odubu.SERAP called on Governor Godwin Obaseki to ''immediately withdraw the bill,and use the funds to clear the backlog of pension arrears spanning between seven and 45 month.''.This followed reports of amendment of Law for Pension Rights of the Governor and Deputy Governor by the Edo State House of Assembly ,with the immediate past governor and deputy governor expected to be some of the beneficiaries.The new amendment contains provisions of residential buildings worth N200m and N100m for tthe governor and his deput...

                An attempt to kidnap a Nigeria oil magnate,Femi Otedola,has been foiled by the Nigeria Police Force. 2. The IGP's Intelligence Response Team {IRT} accomplished this task when it arrested a three man notorious kidnap gang on the 23rd June,20 1 6.The arrest was achieved through coordinated intelligence gathering and deployment of technical investigative tools that spanned several weeks. 3. The Principal suspect,one Ikechukwu Daniel,a 28 year old indigene of Imo State,who is the mastermind of the gang,was rusticated from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria due to his cult related activities on campus in 2009/2010.He also doubles as the IT guru of the kidnap gang with mastery of Computer applications.He made damning revelations of their criminal exploits in the South West of the Country. 4.Another member of the gang,29 year old Adeyemi Kayoode,a serving officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence corpps and a native of Ojoo in Ibada...

                                                                                   The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,EFCC,yesterday re-arraigned a Senior Advocate of Nigeria,Rickey Tarfa before Justice A.A Akintoye of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Igboshere,over an amended 26-count charge of refusal to fill asset declaration forms,making false information to an officer of the EFCC and offering gratification to a public official.Rickey Tarfa SAN was alleged to have intentionally offered gratification to Justice Nganjiwa Hyeladzira Ajiya,a Federal High Court Judge on several occasions in order to refrain the Judge from acting in the exercise of his officials.He was also said to have provided false information on the statement he made at the EFCC aand refused to fi...

                 According to sources,hundreds of Aguleri villagers gathered for spiritual cleansing and prayers at the Omambala River in Anambra state to celebrate the Eri Festival.The villagers underwent special prayers before being dipped into the river for the cleansing as depicted in the pictures.The Eri festival / Olili-Obibia-Eri is an Ancient festival celebrated by Ezeora Kings.This remarkable festival has been observed from the ancient times on the 8th native/Igbo month of the year,onwa-isato,in memory of Eri's journey and subsequent settlement.More photos below.