PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

     President Muhammadu Buhari has approved replacements for heads of Federal Government agencies that were recently appointed as ministers. Sen. Basheer Garba Mohammed has been appointed Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons. He replaces Sadiya Umar Farouk. Dr. Chioma Ejikeme has been appointed Executive Secretary, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate, replacing Sharon O. Ikeazor, while Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi is now Director General/CEO, National Information Technology Development Agency. For Executive Commissioner (Stakeholder Management) Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), President Buhari has forwarded Adeleke Moronfolu Adewolu’s name to the Senate for confirmation as replacement for Sunday Akin Dare. The appointments take immediate effect. Garba Shehu Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity) August 20, 2019.

         Justice A. T. Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has convicted and sentenced Paul Otanor to six months imprisonment for defrauding a foreigner of the sum of $600 (Six Hundred United States Dollars). Otanor was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Port Harcourt's Zonal Office on a one-count charge bordering on impersonation contrary to Section 22 (3) (a) of th e Cyber Crimes (Prohibition Prevention, etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (4) of the same Act. Otanor's journey to prison started when operatives of the EFCC arrested him sometimes in May 2019 in Warri, Delta State for internet-related offences. Documents containing false pretences were found on him. He confessed to the crime through his written statements that he was operating different gmail accounts and identities to defraud his unsuspecting victims. Some of the gmail accounts are: paulnewlife217@gmail.com, otanor70@gmail.co

      The Case that was determined today by the Justice Dattijio Mohammed led five man panel of the Supreme Court, was an appeal filed by the PDP and Atiku/Obi on a ruling of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal concerning an application made by the APC to withdraw one of the replies made to the Petitioners’ Petition. The APC had erroneously made two replies to one of PDP  and Atiku/Obi’s petitions but later came to the court room and apply to withdraw the very reply the PDP and Atiku/Obi had replied to, thereby adopting the one not replied to. This request was later granted by the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal and the PDP and Atiku/Obi had gone to the Supreme Court, seeking the leave of court to grant the party fair hearing. Note Please note that the main petition is still before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal and the adoption of the final written addresses by various parties will take place on Wednesday, August 21, 2019 at the Court of Appeal,

       The operatives of the Nigeria Police have re-arrested the notorious kidnap kingpin, Alhaji Hamisu Bala Wadume. He was re-arrested in the late hours of yesterday, 19th August, 2019 in his hideout at Layin Mai Allo Hotoro area of Kano State.   It would be recalled that the Police had been on the massive manhunt for the suspect, Alhaji Hamisu Bala Wadume since 6th August, 2019 following the unfortunate incident in Ibi, Taraba State which resulted in the brutal murder of three (3) Police Officers and two (2) civilians, and injury to five (5) others. The suspect, who was appropriately restrained at the time of the incident, was subsequently released by his “rescuers” after they had destroyed the restraining handcuffs. Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM,mni while commending the Police operatives for their perseverance and painstaking efforts, has expressed his profound gratitude to all Nigerians for their unparalleled show of love and empathy to the F

     joy immunity against prosecution. The Commission hereby states with high sense of responsibility that the operatives did not raid Ambode’s residence. Whatever the Commission is presently doing with regards to the investigation is in line with its mandate and the rule of law. We wish to inform the social media to be circumspect in the reportage of any news with regards to investigation activities of the Commission. As a tradition, the Commission does not carry out investigation on the pages of the newspapers or through the media. Our operations are always covert until at a time when we file charges in court. Therefore, the attempt to cast the Commission in a bad light is unacceptable as the EFCC will never engage in illegal act. We remain committed to the war against corruption.

       Dignitaries at the Swearing-In-Ceremony of Honourable Commissioners and Special Advisers by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu  .More details later and more photos below.

       Lagos State Government, on Monday, appointed nine new Permanent Secretaries for key ministries and departments, with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu charging the appointees to ensure Lagos residents get the best of their services. At the swearing-in event held at the Banquet Hall in the Governor’s Office in Alausa, Sanwo-Olu said the appointees were selected for the position for their “exceptional pedigrees”, which, he said, indicated that the state was in for an enhanced service delivery in its public service. The Governor said the choice of the new Permanent Secretaries was based purely on merit, pointing out that he had no personal relationship with none of the appointees which could have influenced their appointments. This, he said, was a departure from established practice in making appointments of such nature, reiterating his administration’s belief in elevating merit and distinction above personal consideration. He said: “I charge our new Permanent Secretaries to see

       Not less than five governors, media gurus and prominent Nigerians are expected at the 13th edition of Nigeria Media Nite-Out Award (NMNA). Those expected according to Murphy Ajibade Alabi, the Media and Publicity Manager of the glamorous media event include the Governor of Zamfara, Matawalle, Governor Sanwoolu(Lagos), Tambuwa(Sokoto), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), the first lady of Ondo state, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, while the media will be well represented by the duo of Vanguard publisher, Sam Amuka, and Chairman, Board of Telegraph Newspaper, Mrs. Funke Egbemode. Others expected are vice chairman and governing body of NMNA, Omooba Segun Adewale, chairman of Lagos State Nigeria Union of Journalist, Chief Akinreti. The theme of this year award is Nigerian Economy and Political Development: Finding the Missing Piece… and will be delivered by the former presidential aspirant, John Onche Shaibu, who is the Keynote Speaker. “The event will come up on Sunday, September 15, 2019

      STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE Following reports making the rounds in some media outlets, it is necessary to state categorically that the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Babatunde Fowler, is not under any investigation. The letter from the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, on which the purported rumour of an investigation is based, merely raises concerns over the negative run of the tax revenue collection in recent times. Taking a cue from today’s (Monday) presentation of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Retreat for Ministers-Designate, Federal Permanent Secretaries and Top Government Functionaries , which dwelt on an ‘Overview of the Policies , Programmes and Project Audit Committee,’ a body he chaired, projected revenue of government falls behind recurrent expenditure even without having factored in capital expenditure. Consequently, it would appear that the country might be heading for a fiscal crisis if urgent steps are not tak

       PHOTSPEAK Kannywood Partners EFCC on Anti-corruption Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Magu (fourth right) and some members of Kannywood during their courtesy visit to the EFCC Boss in Kano on Saturday, August 17, 2019.

        The 'live sex' witnessed in the ongoing Big Brother Naija reality show seems to have gotten to the Federal Government as it has lodged a complaint with the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC). The complaint led to arrangement for launch of a modified reality show where the true Nigerian culture will be shown, Nigerian food will be eaten and Nigerian dresses worn. Otunba Segun Runsewe, the National Council for Arts and Culture Director-General disclosed this when paid a visit by the President of the National Council of Women Societies Dr Gloria Shoda. It is also expected that the NCAC will represent the 2008 Nudity Bill titled ‘A Bill for an Act to punish and prohibit nudity, sexual intimidation and other-related offences in Nigeria,' sponsored by the former chairperson, Senate Committee on Women and Youth, Eme Ekaette. “We are going to represent that bill You can’t fight a battle without a legal framework; we are definitely going to be conscious of that”,

     7-year-old boy from Ogun sold for N1m, recovered in Anambra after 2 years.... Joshua Joseph, a 7-year-old boy declared missing by his parents in Ijebu-Ode area of Ogun State in 2017, has been found with one Blessing Ozor who reportedly paid N1.05m for his ‘adoption’. The adopted mother of the boy renamed Chisom, said she paid N1.05m to a level-13 civil servant in the Anambra State Ministry of Women Affairs identified as Ifeoma Joy. Speaking at the state police headquarters where the boy was handed over to his parents, Ogun State Commissioner of Police Bashir Makama said the boy was found after officers from the command carried out a painstaking investigation. The staff of Anambra State Ministry of Women Affairs accused of collecting over N1m from the boy's adopted mother and forging adoption documents from the Anambra State Ministry of Women Affairs, was linked to a three-member syndicate which specialised in stealing and selling children. Other members of the gang i

         Rotimi Amaechi promoted to the highest rank in the Catholic Church under the order of the Knights of St. John. Rotimi Amaechi, a former Minister of Transportation and minister-designate has been promoted to the highest rank in the Catholic Church under the order of the Knights of St. John. Amaechi was on Sunday, August 18th conferred with the Exemplification honour of the Knights of St. John from Grand Master, Nigerian Temple Noble and Exalted Knights of the Holy Cross Knight of St. John International. His spokesman, Israel Ibeleme said Amaechi was conferred with the honour at the Pope John Paul II Catholic Centre in Abuja for his service to the Order and humanity for over 20 years. He quoted Monsignor Kenneth Enang, in charge of the Pope John II Catholic Centre, as saying that the promotion was premised on Amaechi’s support toward the growth of the Catholic church. “We want to thank you Knights of St John’s, all the other knights, college of knights for the work you

          Diezani Alison-Madueke, a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, has filed an appeal at the Federal High Court Lagos for the reversal of an interim order secured by the EFCC for the interim forfeiture of her 2,149 pieces of jewellery and a customised gold iPhone all valued at $40m, seized by the antigraft agency last month. Recall that on July 5th, the agency secured an interim order to conf iscate the former Minister's jewelries and iphone which is believed to be proceeds from acts of corruption perpetrated while she was in office. In an application filed by her counsel, Professor Awa Kalu, Diezani who is currently in the United Kingdom, accused the EFCC of entering her apartment illegally and taking the items without any court order. She said the anti-graft agency violated her fundamental “right to own property and to appropriate them at her discretion,” under sections 43 and 44 of the Constitution. She urged the court to reject the prayer by the EFCC to perman

        The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, August 19, 2019 arraigned Mrs. Isabella Oshodin and Bob Oshodin Organisation Ltd before Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja on a 25-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N22,964,228,414 (Twenty-two Billion, Nine Hundred and Sixty-four Million, Two Hundred and Twenty-eight Thousand Four Hundred and Fourteen Naira). Osh odin is alleged to have on 16 occasions, received the sums of N500,000,000; N750,000,000; N125,000,000; N350,000,000; N170,000,000; N85,000,000; N60,000,000; N50,000,000 and others which totalled N2,366,000,000 (Two Billion, Three Hundred and Sixty Six Million Naira) from theOffice of the National Security Adviser, ONSA under then NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd). Investigations further revealed that the defendant on eight occasions received from Dasuki’s ONSA sums totalling $57,217,301.15 (Fifty-seven Million, Two Hundred and Seventeen Thousand, Three Hundred and On