PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

World record: Gbajabiamila celebrates Hilda Baci's tenacity The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has congratulated Hilda Effiong Baci for her record-breaking 100-hour cooking marathon on Monday. According to the Speaker, the feat could not have been possible but for the tenacity and the Nigerian can-do spirit that shone through her. Saying that Nigerians are very proud of her accomplishment, Gbajabiamila noted that besides placing Nigeria on the global map of resilience, Ms Baci has, through her sheer determination and resilience, inspired millions of youth around the world toward the fulfilment of their dreams. While wishing her more success in her chosen endeavours, Gbajabiamila expressed appreciation to everyone that contributed to the success story of Hilda Baci, which everyone is celebrating today.  

President Buhari Returns From London President Muhammadu Buhari has returned to Abuja after an official engagement and treatment of toothache in London. The President, who came back at about 5 pm, was, as usual received by top Government Officials at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Abuja. While in London, President took part in the coronation of King Charles lll, and later held bilateral talks with other leaders, who partipated in the ceremony. He was however advised by his dentist to stay one week longer in London to engender effective treatment of his teeth.  

SAD! Legal Practitioner, Muhammad-Noma, Dies Aged 54  ***  A Lafia-based legal practitioner, Muhammad Muhammad-Noma, is dead.  Muhammad-Noma died Monday night after a brief illness. He was aged 54.  He has since been buried according to Islamic rites.  May his soul peace,Amen.  

Gunmen kill two US consulate Staff, set their bodies ablaze in Anambra Two staff of the United States consulate in Nigeria were m¥rdered and their bodies set abl@ze by unknown gunmen in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State today May 16. The US consulate staff were in the area for a humanitarian work when they were attacked by the assailants who also k!lled two Police Mobile Force operatives. The spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed this in a statement released. The statement reads ‘’The Joint Security Forces have embarked on a rescue/recovery operation in Ogbaru LGA, following an attack on a convoy of staff of U S Consulate today 16/5/2023 by 3:30 pm along Atani, Osamale road. The hoodlums m¥rdered two of the PMF operatives, and two staff of the Consulate, and set their bodies abl@ze and their vehicles. Also, the arsonist/murderers on sighting the responding joint security forces abducted two Police operatives, the driver of the second vehic...

EFCC Arrests Eight Suspected Internet Fraudsters In Ogun  Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested eight suspected internet fraudsters in the Giwa Oke- Aro area of Ogun State.  The suspects are: Michelle Adesunloye Segun; Musa Kunle Ige; Lawrence Oladayo Oyeyiga; Ademide Tobi Aroyehun; Adebisi David Olalekun; Emmanuel Oluwapelumi O;  Opadotun Truth Segun and Ogundare Mayowa Babatunde. The suspects were arrested on Monday, May 15, 2023 during a sting operation at Abosede Akinlaja Street, Giwa Oke-Aro, Ogun State, following credible intelligence on the activities of some young boys involved in computer-related fraud. Upon their arrest, three vehicles, laptop computers and iPhone devices were recovered from them. The suspects will be charged to court once investigations have been concluded.  

Alleged $1.4million Fraud: Court Adjourns Businessman’s Trial Till June 27 Justice R.A. Oshodi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, adjourned till June 27, 2023 for final hearing in the alleged $1.4million fraud involving one Kolawole Adedayo Erinle and his firm, Rinde-Remdex Nigeria Limited. Erinle and his company are standing trial on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, retention of proceeds of criminal conduct, and obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of $1,410,000 (One Million Four-Hundred and Ten Thousand United States Dollars).  The defendant is accused of defrauding the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, KCUMB, in the United States of about $1,412,509 United States Dollars. He pleaded "not guilty" to the charges.  The defendant, who opened his defence on Monday, May 15, 2023, denied the charges against him, while being led in evidence by his counsel, Lawal Pedro, SAN. He claimed that the...

Court Dismisses Nadabo Energy Boss, Ali Peters’ Application in Alleged N1.4bn Oil Subsidy Fraud Justice C.A. Balogun of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, dismissed the application filed by Nadabo Energy Boss, Abubakar Ali Peters,  seeking him to disqualify or recuse himself from sitting on the alleged N1.4bn oil subsidy  fraud trial “on the allegation of likelihood of bias.” The EFCC is prosecuting Abubakar and his company, Nadabo Energy Limited, on a 27-count charge for allegedly using forged documents to obtain the sum of N1,464,961,978.24 from the Federal Government as oil subsidy, after allegedly inflating the quantity of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, purportedly imported and supplied by the company. He pleaded "not guilty" to all the counts.  While the fifth prosecution witness, PW5, Abdulrasheed Bawa, the Executive Chairman  of the EFCC, was still being cross-examined in the course of the trial by the defence counsel, E.O. Isir...

Romance Scam: Court Convicts Yahoo Boys for impersonating US Air Force Officer The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has secured the conviction of one AbdulBasit Abdullahi Yahaya before Justice A.A Bello of the Kaduna state High Court on a one count charge bordering on cybercrimes.  AbdulBasit who was arrested at Yoruba Road, Karji, Kaduna State, allegedly created two fictitious accounts on Instagram with the names of CamilaCosta6498 and Valentinardiaz266, which he used in defrauding victims whilst representing himself as United States Air Force officer. He pleaded guilty to the charge. Consequently, Justice Bello convicted and sentenced him to two years imprisonment with the option of N 100,000 fine. He was ordered to forfeit his Samsung S7 phone which he used to commit the offence to the Federal Government of Nigeria.  

N212.4m Fraud: Reps Member, Mansur Mashi, Others Know Fate June 15 Justice Sale Musa Shuaibu of the Federal High Court, Kaduna has reserved judgment in the case of alleged N212, 439,552 fraud involving a serving House of Representatives member representing Mashi Dutsi federal constituency, Mansur Ali Mashi for June 15 and 16, 2023. Mashi is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for allegedly obtaining a loan facility to the tune of N212,439,552 (Two Hundred and Twelve Million, Four Hundred and Thirty Nine Thousand, Five Hundred and Fifty Two Naira) only from Sterling bank using fictitious companies. He was docked alongside four bank officials, Abdulmumini Mustapha, Shehu Aliyu and Muazu Abdu, Hassan Usman (deceased).  Upon arraignment, the defendants pleaded not guilty and the matter consequently proceeded to trial. This case has suffered so many setbacks due to elevation and retirement of the trial judges. In the course of trial, the prosecution called s...

Gunmen kill nine in Benue 16 May 2023  Gunmen, suspected to be herders, have killed nine persons in separate attacks on communities in Apa and Gwer West local government areas of Benue State. Six people were reportedly killed in Uchen community in Gwer West LGA while three people were said to have died in Apa LGA. The National Chairman of the Apa Development Association, Mr Eche Akpoko, said three villages were attacked on Friday and Saturday by suspected herdsmen who invaded Akpanta, Ochumeko and Ijaha villages. He said, “Akpanta and Ogwuji villages were burnt down and the attackers killed three people at Ijaha village. Speaking of the attack on Ucheen community, the traditional ruler of Makurdi, Vincent Aule, said that the herders killed six persons in the village, adding that a family member of the deceased fell and died on seeing his relatives’ dead bodies. The traditional ruler said, “Yes it happened at Ucheen village, after Adaka, a border community in Makurdi. They came arou...

Governor Umahi’s convoy involved in accident, 3 victims confirmed dead 16 May 2023  No fewer than three persons on Tuesday lost their lives after the convoy of Ebonyi State Governor, Engr. David Umahi, rammed into their motorcycle. The victims, indigenes of Ezza South Local Government Area of the state, were on Muhammadu Buhari International Airport Road when an advance team of the Governor rammed into them. News Express learnt that the convoy had dropped Umahi at the airport located at Onueke area of the state and was returning to town when the tragic accident happened. The accident occurred shortly after the commissioning of a flyover at Abaomege in Onicha local government area which was named after Prince Arthur Eze. The flyover was commissioned by Prince Arthur Eze, together with the Governor Umahi. It was gathered that the governor left for Abuja shortly after the commissioning ceremony. Prince Arthur Eze and the state deputy governor, Eric Kelechi Igwe, stepped down at the ac...

  We’ve developed diagnosis, drugs for sickle cell, others — Science Minister 16 May 2023 The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Olorunnimbe Mamora, says the ministry through, its agencies, has developed diagnostic process, treatment and drugs for common diseases like sickle cell and hypertension. Mamora disclosed this on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, while featuring in the State House briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team. The minister said that his ministry had also made significant achievements in food processing and fabrication of equipment to boost food production. “In the area of medicare and health of Nigerians, of course a lot of these came to the from burner during the COVID era; so many things were developed from our indigenous companies under our various agencies like the disinfectant towel, sanitisers, solar-powered smart hand washing machine. “Nigeria has a very large population of sickle cell disease patients and carriers; to that...

WHO warns against using artificial sweeteners 16 May 2023 Artificial sweeteners, used to replace sugar in a vast range of products, do not help in losing weight and can have serious health effects, according to the World Health Organization. The United Nations’ health agency released new guidelines on Monday advising against using so-called non-sugar sweeteners or NSS. A systematic review of available evidence “suggests that use of NSS does not confer any long-term benefit in reducing body fat in adults or children”, the WHO said. In addition, results from the review “suggest that there may be potential undesirable effects from long-term use of NSS, such as an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and mortality in adults”. Sweeteners are consumed by millions of people every day in products like diet soda or to sweeten coffee, partly as a way to avoid weight gain from sugar. But how healthy these substitutes are has long been a matter of controversy. The WHO’s direc...

RRS STOPS MAN FROM JUMPING INTO LAGOS LAGOON   Operatives of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) this morning prevented a 25 year old, street hawker from jumping in the Lagoon.   The hawker, Rabiu Nafiu was restrained from leaping into the Lagoon around 8:00 a.m.   Nafiu, who on sighting the RRS officers approaching him, warned them not to restrain him from jumping. The officers managed to calm him down before getting him off the edge of the bridge.   He has been transferred to RRS HQ on the instruction of the Commander RRS, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi.  

Man Arrested For K!ll!ng Friend In Adamawa The Adamawa State Police Command on May 15, apprehended a 34-year-old man identified as Inuwa Yunusa, for allegedly st@ning his close friend, Augustine Otti, to d€ath and robbing him of the sum of One Hundred Thousand Naira (100,000) A statement from SP Suleiman Nguroje, says the suspect who is a resident of Gyawana, Lamurde Local Government Area, subdued the deceased by hitting him with a strong object on the head and then threw him into a gutter. ‘’In addition to that, he stoned the deceased until he was sure he had died before taking away from him the sum of  N100,000 Cash. The suspect brutally k!lled the deceased on the 18/4/2023 at about 8:00pm while accompanying him to go and complete payment of rice he bought at Mbemum village. ‘’ Nguroje said the suspect was apprehended following the recovery of material evidence at the scene of the crime which is linked to him. He said interestingly, the suspect voluntarily made a  confession...

Court Remands Nasarawa Born Killer Security Guard, Danjuma for Alleged Murder of Ex-UPTH Director, Boma Jumbo May 15, 2023 A Magistrate Court sitting in Port Harcourt has remanded Nasarawa State born John Danjuma, the alleged killer of a former Director of Administration at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Boma Amaomu-Jumbo at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre, Bundu-Ama, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The Magistrate, Collins Ali, who presided over the matter in Magistrate Court 14, gave the order on Monday, May 15, 2023 after receiving a remand warrant from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). He further ordered that the case file be handed over to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for his legal opinion on the matter, saying further proceedings by the court would depend on the advice of the DPP. The charge sheet with suit number, PMD/RMP/162A/2023, which was sighted by Kristina Reports, charged Danjuma with murder, stealing and malicious damage contrary to...

PHOTO NEWS : Late TB Joshua's daughter 'Promise' bags Master's Degree in Public Administration at Colombia University in New York, USA.  Congratulations 🎉🎈  More photos below. 

Today, I participated in the ongoing induction for incoming and serving Governors, in Abuja, as organised by the Nigeria Governor's Forum (NGF). The business of Governance is a sacred contract with the people and as such there is need for adequate development of key players in the political sector. I am glad to have shared first time experience with my new colleagues, which is the beginning of a new relationship that will be translated to greater partnerships for the benefit of all. - Hope Uzodimma. More photos below. 

 ☀️ A lovely afternoon at Buckingham Palace for The Not Forgotten Garden Party, hosted by The Duchess of Edinburgh.   An annual tradition since 1921, the Garden Party brings together over 2,000 ex-servicemen and women and their families for a special afternoon in the garden.   The Not Forgotten Association is a tri-service charity which provides entertainment, leisure and recreation for ex-service men and women with disabilities or illnesses and serving personnel who are wounded, injured or sick. More photos below. 

EFCC Arrests 25 for Alleged Internet Fraud in Abuja The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arrested 25 suspected internet fraudsters in Abuja. The suspects arrests include Joseph Otache, Lisumu Emmanuel, Ojomake Daniel, Chisom Okoye, Collins Kelvin, Redeem James, Isaac Ebohon, Favour Arosomvan, Mgbemene Chidozie, Ugonna Oscar Ezema, Chijioke John, Okoroafir N. Alex, Johnson Daniel Chukwuebuka, Odo Victor, Akinnagbe Endurance, Oyebaniyi I. Stephen, Ogedengbe Emmanuel, Mamah Jude Ifeanyi, Micheal Nnadozie, Solomon Nnamdieke, Gode Solomon Buka and Emmanuel George Shakan. They were apprehended at the Nigerian Army Post Housing Scheme, Kurudu, Abuja.  Items found in their possession during the arrest include a white Toyota Venza 2010 model car with registered number, AGL 971 HN, laptops, phones and furniture. They will be charged to court upon conclusion of the investigation.  

70-Year-Old Man Graduate With 4.32 CGPA From UNIJOS  ***  A 70-year-old man, Ben-Lutnaan Duamlong has graduated top of his class from the University of Jos, Plateau State.  Duamlong graduated with 4.32 CGPA in the institution's Department of Fine and Applied Arts.  At 70, he became the oldest graduate from the university during its just concluded 33rd & 34th Combined Convocation.  Congrats, Sir!  

DANGOTE REFINERY COMMISSIONING: LASG URGES RESIDENTS TO PLAN THEIR MOVEMENT AROUND LEKKI-EPE CORRIDOR … Charges LASTMA, Others on Effective Traffic Management Ahead of the proposed commissioning of the Dangote Refinery by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, the 22nd of May, 2023, the Lagos State Government has urged residents to plan their movement in and out of the Lekki-Epe corridor between 8.00 am and 2.00 pm. A statement signed by the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde noted that it becomes imperative for the State Government to alert the public, particularly regular road users in the Lekki-Epe zone, of the high vehicular movement that will be witnessed in the axis as a result of the commissioning. He advised concerned residents to plan their journeys around the axis in order to forestall avoidable delays in travel time. Oladrinde added that Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and other traffic enforcement Personnel have been charged to ensure e...

LAGOS PILGRIMS HOLD THANKSGIVING SERVICE … As Sanwo-Olu Calls For Spiritual Rebirth As a way of appreciating God for a successful pilgrimage exercise, pilgrims to the Holy Land of Jerusalem and Jordan for the 2022 pilgrimage exercise with the State Government, friends and family members recently gathered for a Thanksgiving Service held at Chapel of Christ The Light, Alausa. Speaking during the Thanksgiving Service, the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs.) Obijoke Sanwo-Olu told the returnees from the Holy Land of Jerusalem and Jordan to be true ambassadors of Christ and allow their encounters during the Pilgrimage to strengthen their relationship with God and the people around them.  Represented by the wife of the former Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mrs. Mayowa Ikuforiji, the Governor's wife urged the Pilgrims to become Godly role models and positive influencers to people within the society.  She stated that the Pilgrims cannot afford to live in obscurity again but...