PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

       President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday in Saudi Arabia said the sweeping offensive against drug trafficking will be sustained, urging Nigerians in diaspora to always provide information that will help the government to curb the menace. President Buhari, who received leaders of Nigerian Community in Saudi Arabia at the end of his Umrah trip, said efforts should be intensified to expose those involved in drug trafficking and illegal trade in the country, assuring that appropriate actions would be taken. The President said the recent exposure of a network of drug dealers operating at one of Nigeria’s international airports, who were discovered to be tagging bags filled with drugs in the name of innocent passengers, called for expansion of searchlights. He urged citizens to refrain from breaching the laws of Nigeria and other countries. “Every country has its own unpatriotic citizens. In China and Saudi Arabia, the laws are stringent on these things. Our citi...

       The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on May 21, 2019 arraigned one Bridget Okafor, a former Assistant Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs on a 13-count charge bordering on abuse of office to the tune of N3,336,176,661.24 (Three Billion, Three Hundred and Thirty-six Million, One Hundred and Seventy-six Thousand, Six Hundred and Sixty-one Naira, Twenty-four Kobo). She was arraigned before Justice Ve nchak S. Garba of a Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, Kwali. One of the counts reads: “That you, Bridget Chienyezu Okafor, whilst being employed in the public service and serving as Assistant Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service in charge of finance and revenue, sometime in 2015 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did knowingly acquire a private interest in a contract awarded by Nigeria Customs Service to Erman Global Energy Engineering Nigeria limited, a company in which your children are directors and ...

     The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal office, has arrested eight suspected fraudsters for an alleged involvement in internet crime. The suspects are: Adesanmi Abiodun, Olasupo Emmanuel, Segun Amudah, Aina Oladipo and Babatunde Olawuyi. Others are: Oluwaseyi Emmanuel Fagbemiro, Felix Onyebuchi and Abdulazeez Ismaila. The suspects were arrested on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 in the Forthright Estate, Magboro area of Lagos State. Their arrest followed intelligence report received by the Commission. Items recovered from the suspects include exotic cars, phones and laptops. The suspects will soon be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.More photos below.

     Veteran Nigerian musician, Baba Fryo, has said that one of the soldiers who beat him up on Sunday has been arrested. The musician told pressmen on Monday that he was assaulted and humiliated by some soldiers in Ojo, Lagos. He said he did not know the identities of the soldiers. The singer, who said he reported the matter at the Ojo Cantonment Barracks in Lagos, is in high spirits as one of his attackers has been arrested. The singer shared the update alongside a photo of the soldier in a WhatsApp message to our correspondent on Tuesday morning. His message read, ”This is one of the unknown fake soldiers that deliberately beat up our living legend Babafryo Igweh yesterday without a reason. People need to be very careful these days as there so are many Babylonians posing as soldiers. “I am very proud of the Nigerian Army and OC MP Ojo Cantonment Capt. A.S ATUNWA for his effective investigations and action taking in this matter. We give thanks to the mos...

       Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has approved the withdrawal of the Certificate of Recognition from His Royal Majesty, Chief Monday Frank Noryaa, Gbenemene Baabe. The withdrawal takes immediate effect. The withdrawal of Government Recognition from HRM Chief Monday Frank Noryaa followed his indictment on cult related activities within his kingdom. The Traditional Ruler was also indicted for harbouring cultists, leading to insecurity in the area. Governor Wike reiterated that his administration remains committed to the promotion of peace and security across the state, stating that any Traditional Ruler or Government Functionary indicted for promoting insecurity will face the full weight of the law. Simeon Nwakaudu, Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor, Electronic Media. 20th May, 2019.

      Lady Gabriella Windsor and Mr Thomas Kingston have released three official photographs from their wedding day. The images were taken by photographer Hugo Burnand at Frogmore House, Windsor.   Her Majesty The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh attended the wedding on Saturday, 18 May. Lady Gabriella Windsor is the daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent. Prince Michael of Kent is Her Majesty The Queen’s cousin.  ON SATURDAY: The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh and other members of The Royal Family attended the wedding of Lady Gabriella Windsor and Mr Thomas Kingston at St George’s Chapel, Windsor. Lady Gabriella Windsor is the daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent. Prince Michael of Kent is Her Majesty The Queen’s cousin. Lady Gabriella’s wedding dress was a bespoke design by Luisa Beccaria. Flowers in St George’s Chapel included coral sunset peonies, coral and white roses, white hydrangea, white delphiniums, apricot stocks and seasona...

        The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Kano Zonal Office on Monday May 20, 2019 arraigned one Hauwa Mohammed Sabo before Honourable Justice Obiora Atuegwu Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, sitting in Kano on a two-count charge of obtaining money under false pretence. The defendant allegedly obtained the sum of N2,150,000 (Two Million, One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) only from the plaintiff, Badura Kabir Idris on the gui se that he would invest the amount in his gold mining business. One of the charges read that: “You, Hauwa Mohammed Sabo (Alias Hajiya Nina), sometime in the month of November, 2017 in Kano, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N2,000,000 (Two Million Naira), only from Badura Kabir Idris, under the false pretence that the money was for investment into your hold mining business which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Sectio...

      President Buhari hosts Sultan of Sokoto, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Iftar meal in Makkah May 20, 2019 IFTAR MEAL: President Buhari shares Iftar meal with Emir of Kazaure, Dr Najib Hussaini-Adamu and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in Makkah, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Monday, May 20, 2019. With them is the President’s Personal Assistant, Mohammed Sabi’u Tunde with dried dates in a glass bowl.More photos below.

     Arrest of deadly Kidnappers Terrorizing Katsina State and Responsible for the recent Kidnapping of the Katsina State Governor’s Mother Inlaw,  65yrs Old Hajiya Hauwa Yusuf and Several armed robberies and kidnappings within Katsina, Kano and Zamfara States. Also Arrest of their Arms and Ammunition Suppliers And Hard Drugs Suppliers. Recovery of Weapons, Ammunition and Hard Drugs. Sequel to the recent Kidnapping of the Mother-in-law to Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State on 8/2/19 at her residence in Katsina, On the Instruction Of IGP Adamu Mohd, Operatives of the IGP-IRT attached to Operation Puff Adder launched a massive manhunt of the kidnappers and after serious and unrelenting follow up, The Notorious Syndicate of Kidnappers including their Arms and ammunition suppliers who confessed to the kidnapping and other armed robberies and kidnapping in Katsina State were arrested by IRT, including the Gangleader and the Mastermind behind the kidnapping, ...

       A kidnapping kingpin and notorious armed robber, who recently masterminded the kidnap of the UBEC Chairman along Abuja- Kaduna road is dead. The suspect, one Sumaila Sule, alias SHAHO, male (estimated be in his mid thirties), a native of Rijana village in Kachia LGA of Kaduna state is one of the most vicious and most wanted kidnappers that has been terrorizing citizens in Kaduna and its environs. He died in the early hours of 18th May, 2019 following multiple bullet wounds he sustained during a deadly shootout with police operatives attached to Operation Puff Adder. The shootout took place in the evening of 17th May 2019, at the outskirts of Rijana village. The police operatives, in line with the mandate of Operation Puff Adder, were carrying out routine surveillance and raid of suspected criminal hide-outs, when they suddenly came under gun fire attack from a heavily armed criminal gang. The police team fought back gallantly, repelling the attack and event...

       The federal government has described former President Olusegun Obasanjo's comments imputing ethno-religious motive to Boko Haram and ISWAP as deeply offensive and patently divisive, saying such indiscreet comments are far below the status of an elder statesman. In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said it was particularly tragic that a man who fought to keep Nigeria one is the same one seeking to exploit the country's fault lines to divide it in the twilight of his life. He said Boko Haram and ISWAP are terrorist organizations pure and simple, adding that they care little about ethnicity or religion when perpetrating their senseless killings and destruction. ''Since the Boko Haram crisis, which has been simmering under the watch of Obasanjo, boiled over in 2009, the terrorist organization has killed more Muslims than adherents of any other religion, blown upmore mosques than any othe...

    2019 Presidential Inauguration Calendar of Events ● May 20: World Press Conference ● May 21- 23: National Youth Entrepreneurship Empowerment Summit ● May 22: FEC Valedictory Session ● May 24: Special Jumma'at Lecture and Prayer ● May 25: First Lady's Interaction with Women ● May 26: Special Interdenominational Church Service ● May 27: Children's Day Broadcast by Mr President. Children's Variety Party ● May 29: Swearing In Ceremony. State Banquet 2019 Democracy Day Celebration Calendar of Events ● June 7-12: Historical Exhibition in Arts, Pictures and Immersive Environment ● June 9: Youth Concert, Creative Industry & Entertainment Night ● June 10: Secondary Schools Exhibition/ Panel Discussion ● June 11: PMB Oratorical Contest. Anti Corruption Summit. First Lady's Commissioning Program, Adamawa  ● June 12: Democracy Day Parade. Dinner & Gala Night. One more photo below.

    President ⁦Muhammadu Buhari⁩ has approved the appointment of Captain Rabiu Hamisu Yadudu as the new Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). The appointment takes immediate effect. Press Release May 20, 2019 FG APPOINTS HAMISU YADUDU AS MD FAAN The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved the appointment of Captain Hamisu Rabiu Yadudu as the new Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria. His appointment was conveyed through a letter, referenced FMA/PSAPPT/CEO/014/VOL.I/3 and dated May 20, 2019 from the Federal Ministry of Transportation. Capt. Yadudu, who took over from Engr. Saleh Dunoma as MD was the Authority’s Director of Airport Operations prior to this appointment. An ICAO/ACI accredited International Airport Professional, Capt. Yadudu holds professional certifications in Avionics, Airport Safety Management Systems, Airport Security Management, Air Transport Systems Management, among...