PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

    PRESS RELEASE Eid el Kabir: Gov Bello Matawalle sets homes ready for joyful celebration with 993 Cattle and 5665 Rams This year’s Eid el Kabir celebration will be one like never before in Zamfara state. On July the 27th the Executive Governor of Zamfara state had distributed a total of 993 cattle and 5665 rams an unprecedented support to the people for Eid el Kabir. The Eid el Kabir ceremony, a yearly celebration of the Islamic religion to commemorate God's intervention and show of affection to Abraham, when he replaced His son Isaac with a sheep, has remained a high point celebration to Muslims who use that day to honour God by demonstrating that Love. The Celebration has become a yearly occasion of joy for all faithful Muslims all over the world, who use the occasion, to share gift and show love to loved once. His Excellency Dr. Bello Matawalle, the Executive Governor of Zamfara State thus became the first Governor in the history of Zamfara State to extend...

           The federal government has declared Thursday and Friday, July 30 and 31, 2020 as public holidays to mark this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration. This was disclosed in a statement signed by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Georgina Ehuriah, on Tuesday. The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, while making the declaration on behalf of the federal government, congratulated Muslim faithful and all Nigerians –  both at home and abroad – on the occasion. “He called on the Muslims to continue to imbibe the spirit of love, peace, kindness and sacrifice, as exemplified by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) and to also use the period to pray for peace, unity, prosperity and the stability of the country especially as the world is witnessing global health challenges caused by COVID-19 pandemic,” the statement said. According to the statement, Mr Aregbosola assured that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is fully committed...

      George Floyd Reburied in Mbaise, Imo State. This followed discovery by a clergyman, Pastor Humble Okoro, allegedly linking late George Floyd to Mbaise. According to pastor Okoro, "I have traced the ancestral root of George Obinna Floyd toc Umuoffor kindred in Obokwu obibi Aboh u Mbaise Imo State and I feel so happy now that we have reburied him alongside with his ancestors.More photos below.

      It is in the best interest of member states, and of Nigeria in particular, to fortify the Gulf of Guinea Commission, so it can perform the roles for which it was set up, President Muhammadu Buhari has said. The President spoke Tuesday in a virtual audience with the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mrs Florentina Adenike Ukonga, a Nigerian. “The Gulf of Guinea is very strategic, and i t is regrettable that most member states of the Commission are not up and doing. We need to check the theft of oil through the Gulf, the smuggling of arms and ammunition, and the breaking of border regulations through the waters,” President Buhari said. He promised that Nigeria would be alive to her responsibilities in terms of prompt payment of dues, adding that he would also write leaders of member states “to participate actively in the programmes of the Commission, and to defray their financial commitments.” While thanking Angola, where the secretariat of the Commission is b...

        The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction of Air Vice Marshal Alkali Mohammadu Mamu. Mamu, a former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Holding Company and Air Force Commanding, Training Command, was pronounced guilty by the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja. This followed the appellate court’s reversal of his discharge and acquittal on corruption charges earlier pronounced by Justice Salisu Garba of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The three-man panel of the Court of Appeal, in a unanimous judgement on Tuesday, July 28, 2020, convicted and sentenced Mamu to two years’ imprisonment in respect of one (count two) out of the four counts. The judgment read by Justice Yargata Byenchit Nimpar, which also had Justices Abdu Aboki and Emmanuel Akomaye Agim acquitted him on three other counts – one, three and four. Mamu was one of the senior military officers accused of abusing their p...

      The Benin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, July 28, 2020 arraigned one Anayo Nwankwoala before Justice E. I. Oritsejafor of the Delta State High Court, Effurun, Warri, Delta State for alleged stealing to the tune of N17,688, 986.00 (Seventeen Million, Six Hundred and Eighty Eight Thousand, Nine Hundred and Eight Six Naira). Nwankwoala was arraigned on four-count charges, borderi ng on stealing the said sum, while he was bursar of Sterling School, Ekpan, Effurun, Delta State, contrary to Section 383(1) of the Criminal Code Act CAP C21 Laws of Delta State of Nigeria 2006 and punishable under Section 390 (9) of the same law. One of the charges read, "That you, Anayo Nwankwoala while you were a staff and the bursar of Sterling School, Ekpan at Effurun, Delta State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, between 8th of August 2016 to 5th January 2017, being entrusted with the responsibility of receiving school f...

      President Muhammadu Buhari warmly rejoices with President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, on the clearing of all allegations against him by an anonymous group, and further validation of his competence and integrity to lead the institution. President Buhari congratulates AfDB Board of Directors, the Ethics Committee and members of staff for their courage, ma turity and patience in following through the process of investigations, and acceptance of Report of Panel of High-Level Independent Experts, which reviewed the Report of Ethics Committee of AfDB, and Dr Adesina’s response. The President commends the eminent personalities, consisting of Mary Robinson, Justice Hassan B. Jallow and Leonard F. McCarthy, who handled the review of the report of the Ethics Committee, and their professionalism in rejecting support services, and providing a unanimous report. President Buhari believes the conclusion of the review should finally draw a...

    As the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), joins other counterparts across the globe to commemorate the World Haematology Day, Dr. Charles Onyekwere, Head of Gastroenterology and Hepatitis Unit, Department of Medicine at the hospital, has called on all and sundry to take action and raise awareness towards a hepatitis-free future. Speaking on the theme of 2020 World Hepatitis Day,  tagged ‘Find the Missing Millions’, at a webinar held on Monday and organised as part of activities to mark the occasion by LASUTH, he noted that the World Health Organisation (WHO), had set a goal for the elimination of viral hepatitis by 2030 which means that “the number of newly infected persons and related mortality should be decreased by 90% and 65% respectively”. Onyekwere highlighted some areas in which the elimination programmes should focus on, which include testing, immunisation against Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), preventing mother to child transmission, blood saf...

      Recall that in December 2019, the former Abia state governor was sentenced to 12 years in prison after he was convicted for N7.1bn fraud alongside his firm, Slok Nigeria Limited, and a former Director of Finance during his tenure, Ugo Udeogu. The Supreme court on May 8, 2020, then nullified Kalu and Udeogo's conviction on grounds that the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, lacked the jurisdiction to have presided over their case. He was released from Kuje prison on June 3, 2020. On Monday, July 27, he made a triumphant return to the state and was received by his teeming supporters.More photos below.

      President Muhammadu Buhari has commended members of the Mai Mala Buni-led All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker Committee for the work they are doing in repositioning the governing party. Recall that following the suspension of the National Chairman and the National Working Committee of the APC in June, the National Executive Committee of the party chose the Yobe State governor and others as the Chai rman and members of the Caretaker Committee as well as of the extraordinary National Convention Committee respectively. At Tuesday’s Virtual interaction with the governors of the APC-controlled States with the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo in attendance, the President said that he is pleased with the work that the Caretaker Committee has been doing. According to him, “I am pleased with the Chairman and the work of the committee. He is highly mobile in the efforts to coordinate and strengthen the party. I am happy with his personal efforts.” President...

      TEXT OF PRESS CONFERENCE BY HMIC ON CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS IN GOVT AGENCIES TEXT OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE BY THE HON. MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND CULTURE, ALHAJI LAI MOHAMMED, ON THE ADMINISTRATION'S FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION...IN ABUJA ON TUESDAY JULY 28TH 2020 Good afternoon gentlemen, and welcome to this press conference 2. As you are all aware, Nigerians have recently been inundated with allegations of monumental corruption in a number of government agencies, including the NDDC, NSITF and the anti-corruption agency, EFCC. 3. Many, especially naysayers, have misinterpreted these developments as a sign that the Administration's fight against corruption is waning. In fact, the main opposition PDP has latched on to the developments to call for the resignation of Mr. President, a call that is nothing but infantile! 4. Let me state here and now that the fight against corruption, a cardinal programme of this Administration, is alive and well. President Muhamma...

     PRESS STATEMENT FROM HER EXCELLENCY MRS EUNICE ORTOM PhD, FIRST LADY OF BENUE STATE. On the 3rd of July 2020, results from samples earlier collected during routine testings at Government House, Makurdi showed that I, my son and some of my staff tested Positive to COVID-19. We went into isolation and began management treatment as adviced by medical experts. It is with gratitude to God that I wish to inform you that after series of review evaluations, today 28/7/2020, we hav e been confirmed to be fully recovered, certified to be COVID-19 NEGATIVE and so discharged from isolation. I want to extend my appreciation to my husband the Executive Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, my family, the medical experts who are at the frontline in the fight against this pandemic. To everyone who stood by me during this period through prayers, calls, messages and checked on me in one way or the other, the show of love, concern and support was totally overwhelming and unqua...

Cassandra Joseph Udokwu, the wife of popular actor Bob Manuel Udokwu, has spoken out after some news sites declared her and her kids dead and went on to narrate the fictitious gruesome story of how they allegedly died... Reacting to the story, Mrs Udokwu narrated how she watched her parents and two siblings cry in pain until they died after they were poisoned in 1998. She said death is not something to joke about and condemned the publications that carried the false report that she died. She mentioned that this isn't the first time news of her death has been published on websites. She went on to question who is behind the evil wishes on her life and stated that she "can't continue running" as she slammed the people coming up with such hateful wishes for her. Read her full statement below... A lot of people undermine death. They forget that it is a grave occurrence and not something to be spoken lightly of or joked about. I know death. I’ve lived it. Death...

      The Kano Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned four suspected fraudsters, Alhaji Musa Saleh; Shuaibu Muhammed, Garba Ado and Bala Mato, before Justice Lawan Wada of Kano State High Court, on eight- count charges bordering on criminal breach of trust and forgery. The accused persons allegedly conspired and diverted the sum of N71, 800,000 (Seventy One Million, Eight Hundred Tho usand Naira Only), which was meant for the supply of rice and spaghetti to members of National Union of Teachers, Gwarzo Branch, Kano State. It was further alleged that, the accused persons fraudulently forged award letters addressed to the Managing Director, Muzaimus Imports and Exports Nigeria Limited, in an effort to execute their illicit act. One of the charge read: “that you Alhaji Musa Saleh, while acting as the coordinator of National Union of Teachers, Gwarzo; Bala Mato, Garba Ado and Shuaibu Mohammed sometime on July 2018, or thereab...

       Video showing Izuchukwu Madubueze, 23, reading a suicide note before shooting himself dead has been shared online. Izu, from Anambra state, committed suicide in the US on Thursday, July 16, after a Twitter user accused him of harassing a woman. According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office in Florida, United States, the Nigerian entrepreneur died by self-inflicted gunshot wound. "Izuchukwu Madubueze was the victim of what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound on July 16, 2020. The case is open and active and no further information will be provided at this time," said Deputy Travis Sibley, a spokesman for the office. Before taking his life, Izu recorded himself reading his suicide note. The video has now been shared online. In the video, he addressed the harassment allegation, declared his love for his family, and said some words to his accuser. "I feel like it'll be awesome to say some last words before I leave," Izu began in the v...

      By Jimin Geoffrey Governor Samuel Ortom today signed into law, the revised appropriation bill of N108.8 billion for the year 2020. The revised budget has a total reduction of N80 billion from the earlier N190.8bn assented to by the Governor. This translates to 43 per cent reduction in the earlier reviewed budget signed by the Governor on 30th December, 2020. Governor Ortom while performing the ceremony, said the action became necessary following the reduction in oil-related and non oil revenues to the state occasioned by Coronavirus. The revised budget has reccurent expenditure of N68.6bn representing 40 per cent reduction from the former estimates and personnel cost of N37.3bn, representing a reduction of 26 per cent, while overhead cost and capital projects have estimates of N31.3bn and 40.3bn respectively, representing 51 and 46 percent reduction. The Governor explained that despite the huge reduction in the current expenditure estimates, government h...