PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

Murder In Hotel: Suspect Pleads Not Guilty, Matter Adjourned To 2nd June For Prosecution To Open Case Kingsley Ogbonnaya, the suspect standing trial in the murder of Miss Chinenye Promise Nwoye, an undergraduate of University of Benin, UniBen, has pleaded not guilty to the charge brought against him by the Anambra State Government. On 27th August 2020, Miss Nwoye, who hails from Ire village Abba, was reportedly strangled to death inside room fifty-seven in Akuu Hotel in Abagana in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, after she was lured to the facility for the dastardly act. Following the arrest of one principal suspect, Kingsley Ogbonnaya, aged twenty-four then, and from Amovu, Arochukwu in Abia State, the Anambra State Ministry of Justice filed papers at the Anambra State High Court, Neni for the commencement of his trial, while the state police command said manhunt for the other fleeing suspect, Chinedu Igwilo, from Adazi Nnukwu in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra...

I Never Stole A Kobo From Kaduna Coffers - El-Rufai Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has said he did not steal public funds during his two terms in office. He said this at the weekend during his final media broadcast as governor. Daily Trust reports that El-Rufai will hand over to Governor-elect Uba Sani, exactly a week from now. “I can swear I never stole a kobo from the government coffers,” Governor El-Rufai said in reaction to criticism of his performance in office. El-Rufai added that the only house he built before he became a governor was the same one he would retire to when his tenure expires on May 29, 2023. He said, “But those that are the day we took loans, they should look, look at their money on the ground. We didn’t collect this loan and run away to Dubai to buy houses or go to Jabi Road to build a mansion so that we can sleep well, that is not how we are. “I became governor of Kaduna with only one house on Danja Road at Ungwan Sarki. Now am finishing to the glory of...

POLICE RESCUE KIDNAPPED MEDICAL DOCTOR, NINE OTHERS IN BENUE 22nd May, 2023       In a successful operation on Monday, police in Benue State rescued ten kidnapped victims, among them Dr Etito Obadiah, a medical doctor. The Commissioner of Police, Okoro Julius, paraded eight suspects believed to be connected to the incidents. According to Commissioner Julius, three suspects were arrested in relation to the abduction of Dr Etito Obadiah and nine other individuals found in the kidnappers’ den. Additionally, five suspects were paraded in connection with the murder of Babatunde Moses, a 29-year-old victim. The medical doctor, who serves at the Federal Medical Center in Makurdi, had been kidnapped approximately ten days prior to the successful rescue. The police team from Operation Zenda JTF traced the kidnappers to their hideout in Gaya Village, Utange council ward, located in Kastina Ala Local Government Area. Upon encountering the police, the kidnappers engaged them in ...

GOVERNOR HOPE UZODIMMA ON A GRAND STYLE JOURNEY TO RIVERS STATE FOR A GRAND AWARD His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma will on Saturday 27th May 2023 grace a State event at Port Harcourt City, as he will be honoured with a Grand Award, in a grand Style. This was communicated to Governor Hope Uzodimma, in a letter signed by His Excellency Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, in recognition of the former's contributions to the unity and progress of the nation. By this, Governor Uzodimma will be joining the league of Grand Service Star of Rivers State (GSSRS), which is the State's highest award to distinguish personalities.  In the letter, Governor Wike acknowledged the valuable support of Governor Hope Uzodimma to the Government and the good people of Rivers State. To this, Governor Uzodimma has expressed appreciation to his brother Governor and the people of Rivers State for this honour, which is highly cherished.  

Two suspected thieves arrested with 15 stolen goats in Osun Police have arrested two suspected livestock thieves who allegedly specialized in stealing goats from Osogbo, Ikirun, Obagun, Iree, Eripa, Otan-Ayegbaju and Ila communities in Osun State.  Safer Highway patrol police operatives while on stop and search of vehicles in Odeomu-Sekona axis, apprehended the two suspects; Naheem Ibrahim, 46; and Suraju Isiaka, 33, while they were making attempt to move the animals to Lagos in a vehicle, Lexus SUV. Upon police search, it was discovered that the suspects were in possession of 14 live and one dead goat (she-goat), to sell to their prospective customers in Lagos State Upon discovering the stolen animals, policemen who immediately arrested the suspects and moved them to the police headquarters in Osogbo for questioning and further investigation . According to investigation, the suspects target the time the owners of the goats have gone to bed and the night guards employed to watch ov...

Ogun police arrests four farmers for allegedly k!lling a herdsman and cutting his body into pieces Operatives of the Ogun state Police command have arrested four farmers for allegedly k!ling and dismembering the body of a herder, one Umaru Aliyu, at Ijagunre village in Imeko-Afon local government area of Ogun state.  A statement from SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, the spokesperson of the command, says the suspects identified as Akinyele Adebayo, Gbalo Idosu, Abiala Segun and Kareem Fagbemi Lana, were arrested following a report lodged by one Umaru Jakake, who reported that while he and his brother Umaru Aliyu were grazing their cattle at Ijagunre village, they were accosted by one Ojugbele who warned them not to take their cattle near his farm. He stated further that upon the warning, they took their cattle to the other side of the bush for grazing. But the said Ojugbele later called two men who started chasing them about in the bush. The complainant further stated that he managed to escape,...

Jeff Bezos engages his girlfriend Lauren Sanchez on his  $500million superyacht with a massive diamond to seal the deal Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez are engaged. The Amazon billionaire boss, 59,  reportedly popped the question to his Emmy Award-winning journalist girlfriend,53, on board his $500million superyacht.  The happy news comes after the couple were seen kissing and canoodling on board ‘Koru’ across the weekend, while Sanchez, 53, flashed her massive rock on her ring finger, sparkling proof that she said, ‘Yes.’ The newly engaged couple took their relationship public in January 2019, after Bezos announced his divorce from MacKenzie Scott, with whom he shares four children, after 25 years of marriage. At the time, the former Good Day LA co-host was also divorcing her husband of 13 years, Patrick Whitesell. Sánchez has two children with the agent as well as a son from a previous relationship with former NFL star Tony Gonzalez. One more photo below. 

Do not judge me by my performance as Minister for Niger Delta - Akpabio Senator Godswill Akpabio has asked Nigerians not to judge him as he contests for the senate presidency, with what played during his tenure as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.    Akpabio said he preferred to be judged by his record as a lawyer of 36 years, commissioner for six years and a governor for eight years. Addressing journalists over the weekend, the self-acclaimed uncommon transformer said;  “I do know that I have not changed in any way. I am somebody God has given the opportunity to be an uncommon transformer wherever I go. I will not like to be judged by ministerial appointment for Niger Delta, which everybody knows is a problematic place. But I would like to be judged by my record as a lawyer of 36 years, commissioner of six years and a governor of eight years.”  During Akpabio's time at NDDC, the agency came under allegation of corruption and underwent a forensic audit of over N81.5bn...

Otti Receives Transition Report, Says ‘Mandate Abia People Gave Us Is Sacrosanct’ The Abia State Governor-elect, Dr Alex Otti on Monday said the mandate of the people which he received in the March 18 governorship election is sacrosanct. He called on the people of the state not to be dismayed over the recent judgement of the Federal High Court sitting in Kano State which dismissed his candidacy in the governorship election. Otti stated this while receiving the report from the Abia Transition Council Chairman, Dr. Victor Onyemkpa in Aba, the state’s commercial nerve centre where he reaffirmed that everything is going according to plan for his scheduled inauguration on May 29. “I would like to reassure you that the mandate Abia people gave us is sacrosanct,” Otti said. “Nobody should lose sleep; we will be sworn in on the 29th of May.” The governor-elect, who was speaking publicly for the first time since last Friday’s court ruling, reassured the Abia people that the judgement should not...

EFCC Re-arraigns Businesswoman For Alleged N57.6m Fraud In Lagos The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, May 22, re-arraigned one Oluremi Phillips for an alleged N57, 690,000 fraud before Justice I.O. Ijelu of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja. Philips was previously standing trial before Justice S.O. Solebo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, following her arraignment on January 27, 2022. However, the trial could not be concluded before the retirement of Justice Solebo in November 2022, a development that resulted in the re-assigning of the case file to Justice Ijelu. Philips was re-arraigned alongside her company, Omritas Energy Limited, on a five-count charge bordering on stealing and issuance of dud cheques to the tune of N57, 690,000. The defendant, again, pleaded "not guilty" to all the counts preferred against her. In view of her plea, the prosecution counsel, T.J. Banjo, asked the Court for...

EFCC Arraigns Ramallan Yaro, Company for N140bn Money Laundering The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Monday, May 22, 2023, arraigned one Saadatu Ramallan Yaro before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on separate charges of money laundering to the tune of over N140billion. In the first charge, a 25-count charge, the defendant is accused of failing in her duty as director of Tsami Babi Resources Limited, a Designated Non-financial Business, to make submissions of activities of the company that enabled financial transactions into the company’s account with a new generation bank to the tune of over N100billion to the Ministry of Commerce.  Arraigned alongside Tsami Babi Resources Limited, one of the counts against the defendants reads, “that you, Saadatu Ramallan Yaro, being a Director Of Tsami Babi Resources Limited, a Designated Non-Financial Institution, between 5th July, 2021 and 20th day of April, 2022, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of t...

Kwara Court Remands UITH's Admin Officer for N8m Fraud The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, May 22, 2023, arraigned a 45 year-old Mokuolu Oluwakayode Samuel, an Administrative Officer of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital on two counts of fraudulent conversion of fund to the tune of about Eight Million Naira, before Justice Mahmoud Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin. He pleaded not guilty to the charge. Following his plea, prosecuting counsel Aliyu Adebayo told Justice Abdulgafar to give a trial date to enable the prosecution to prove its case. He also asked the court to remand Mokuolu at the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Service. After listening to the arguments, Justice Abdulgafar ordered the defendant to be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service and adjourned till May 30, 2023 for further hearing.  

GOV. SANWO-OLU PRAISES BUHARI, TINUBU, DANGOTE CONTRIBUTIONS TO NIGERIA'S FIRST PRIVATE REFINERY   •LASG has provided enabling environment for private sector growth, says Dangote    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday, said the stories of President Muhammadu Buhari; President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote are a testament that prosperity can be achieved when  leaders have shared vision for the people they are leading.    Sanwo-Olu shared three different stories on how President Buhari, Asiwaju Tinubu and Dangote are connected to the newly commissioned first privately owned refinery in Nigeria, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, said the three leaders have shown Nigerians that leadership is about consistency and commitment to Nigeria's economic growth.    He said: "The vision of Aliko Dangote, President Muhammadu Buhari and incoming President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed T...

Election Petition: We have only one witness against Tinubu, APM tells court 22 May 2023  The Presidential Election Petitions Court resumed on Monday with the streamlining of witnesses by the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) amid the challenge of President-elect Bola Tinubu’s victory in the February 25 election. The party said it would be calling one witness and requested three days to testify. The star witness will take 20 minutes for examination, 25 minutes for cross-examination, and five minutes for re-examination. Other witnesses will get 10 minutes each, while 15 minutes is slated for cross-examination and five minutes for re-examination. Counsel for the party said documents that would be relied on by each party has been exchanged between the parties. For his part, counsel for INEC, said the electoral body was not invited for the meeting between petitioner and the respondents. He added that INEC has only one witness and would need just a day to prove its case. APC agreed substanti...

ANAMBRA STATE WOMEN AFFAIRS COMMISSIONER, OBINABO, INTERVENES IN THE CASE OF TEENAGE MAID CUT WITH A KNIFE BY HER MISTRESS IN LAGOS.  By Chidinma Ikeanyionwu  Anambra State Women and Social Welfare Commissioner, Hon Ify Obinabo has intervened in the case of the teenage girl whose pregnant mistress cut with a knife.  The Women Affairs Commissioner embarked on the trip to Lagos on Sunday following a viral video circulating on social media of a girl identified as Chinaza Anienene, an indigene of Anambra State, whose mistress gave an open wound with blood gushing out from the left side of her body. The survivor stated that her aunty cut her body with a knife because she failed to wash a bag given to her by the woman. Also according to a neighbour, he heard the teenager's cry again on Friday and decided to visit the apartment, where he found blood dripping from the girl's body and alerted other neighbors and security.  Upon the Commissioner's arrival, the Lagos State Poli...

IGP Charges Nigerian Children to Shun Social Vices As IGP Baba encourages youth on creativity IGP Usman Alkali Baba, CFR, has urged Nigerian children to avoid criminal activities and other perilous and destructive attitudes that many of today's youth are prone to. The IGP who was represented by the Force spokesperson, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, stated this today at the 5th edition of the Rainbow Art Unlocking Creativity, held at Cyprian Ekwensi Art and Culture Centre, Area 10, Garki, Abuja, today 22nd May, 2023 The program, which provided a platform for Primary School Pupils and secondary school students to showcase their innate talents, was chaired by the Minister of Education Hon. Adamu Adamu, and also had in attendance other heads of Ministries and Parastatals as well as media houses.  Speaking at the art exhibition and award-giving ceremony, the IGP attributed the decline in young people's creativity in this nation to their exposure to and participation in social vices includin...

 Ray Stevenson has suddenly and tragically passed away at the age of 58, with cause of death not yet reported. Last Saturday he required hospitalisation because he felt unwell while filming the movie Cassino in Ischia,directed by Frank Ciota (Stiff, Ciao America). Ray Stevenson's conditions worsened today Monday,untill his unfortunate passing. Ray Stevenson was one of the first recognisable character actors that I would always love to see across many projects, from Black Sails,RRR  Dexter, The Nice Guys to Punisher: War Zone, and of course his playing of Gar Saxon and soon to play Baylon Skoll all pale in comparison to his incredible performance as Titus Pullo in Rome. Rest in Peace Ray, thank you for everything.  More photos below. 

ALLEGED CULPRITS OF WIDOW OSTRACIZED FROM COMMUNITY ARRESTED AND ARRAIGNED IN COURT.  By Chidinma Ikeanyionwu Alleged culprits of widow ostracized from Umunankwo community has been arrested and arraigned before the Children, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Magistrate court in Awka. The arrest which took place in Awka was facilitated by the Anambra state Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Hon. Ify Obinabo. This is coming after a video of a 53 year old widow from Umunankwo in Ogbaru local government area of the state made rounds on the internet. The widow, Mrs Nneka Uzor, a caterer and a mother of two was banished from her community by her brothers and other relations who alleged her a witch. Narrating her ordeal to the women and social welfare boss, Mrs Uzor explained that she started living in her parents house in Umunankwo 9 years ago after her husband's death and since has been met with all kinds of abuse by her brothers and other family members. She noted that this part...

Shi’ites Accuse Kaduna Govt. Of Planning To Demolish 48 IMN Structures May 20, 2023 Leaders of the Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky-led Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) otherwise known as Shi’ites, have raised the alarm over alleged plans by Governor Nasir El-Rufai-led government to demolish 48 structures belonging to the Movement across Kaduna State. Addressing journalists on the development in Kaduna on Saturday, one of the Movement’s leader, Engineer Yunusa Lawal, who was flanked by other leaders, said the planned demolitions were not only illegal but vindictive, as the only reason given by the Kaduna State government was that IMN has been banned as a group. Lawal said though, the Islamic Movement was yet to receive any notice of demolition from Kaduna State Government or any of its agencies, it stumbled on a leaked memo where the Director-General of Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KASUPDA), Ismail Umaru-Dikko, was seeking approval of Governor El-Rufai to carry out ...

Pregnant lady arrested for stabbing teenage maid 22 May 2023  A 30-year-old pregnant woman, Eucheria Ndigwe, is currently in the custody of the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly stabbing her teenage maid, Chinaze Aneme, in Lagos for failing to wash her bag. Policemen arrested the suspect following a video on the plight of the maid recorded by one of her neighbours which went viral over the weekend. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the arrest in a message he posted on his Twitter handle, #BenHundeyin, on Sunday. Hundeyin disclosed that because of her condition, the suspect had been moved to the command’s gender unit where she would get adequate medical attention while the investigation continues. He said the victim was also receiving medical attention at the police hospital. He wrote, “The suspect, Eucheria Ndigwe, aged 30 was arrested yesterday. Due to the fact that she is heavily pregnant, she has been moved to our recently-upgraded ge...

Court Adjourns Nnamdi Kanu’s Suit Against DSS May 22, 2023 A Federal High Court sitting in the FCT, Abuja, on Monday, adjourned a suit filed by Nnamdi Kanu, Leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), against the Department of State Services (DSS) for the adoption of processes. The matter which was supposed to be heard today, was fixed for June 20 by the court registrar for the adoption of applications filed by parties following the absence of Justice Binta Nyako in court. Justice Nyako was said to have gone for an official assignment. Recall that the judge had, on May 3, warned lawyers to the DSS and Kanu against truncating proceedings in the next adjourned date. Nyako gave the warning following the day’s proceeding that could not go on due to an oral application by DSS counsel, Idowu Awo, seeking for more time to respond to a further affidavit served on him by Kanu’s lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, in the open court. NAN reports that Kanu, through his team of lawye...

El-Rufai Deposes Two Kaduna Monarchs, Sacks District Heads May 22, 2023 Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has approved the deposition of the traditional rulers of Piriga and Arak Chiefdoms, His Highness, Jonathan Paragua Zamuna and His Highness, General Aliyu Iliyah Yammah(retd.), with immediate effect. The state Commissioner of Local Government, Hajiya Umma Ahmad, disclosed this in a statement on Monday. According to the statement, the deposed monarchs cease to hold their respective offices from Monday. “The District Head of Garun Kurama, Babangida Sule, will oversee the affairs of Piriga Chiefdom, pending the appointment of a new chief, while the Council Secretary has been directed to initiate the process for the appointment of a new Chief.” “Gomna Ahmadu, the Council Secretary of Arak Chiefdom, will oversee the affairs of the chiefdom and also initiate the process for the appointment of a new Chief. “The government found unacceptable the r...

  Certificate Forgery : NYSC Invites Hon. Benjamin Kalu May 22, 2023 The National Youth Service Corps(NYSC) has invited Hon Benjamin Kalu, the member representing Bende Federal Constituency and anointed candidate of the All Progressive Congress(APC) for the Office of the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives for questioning over the controversy surrounding his NYSC discharge certificate. PUO reports that the invitation followed a letter of enquiry written to the National Youth Service Corp(NYSC) by the O.C Emmanuel Chambers, an Abuja legal firm to enquire the authenticity in the NYSC discharge certificate being paraded by a federal lawmaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, the agency has invited the lawmaker. NYSC In her response letter to the legal firm advised them to inform Hon. Ben Kalu to report to their office with his original certificate of his national service for further verification. The letter reads partly ” I am directed to refer to your letter dated 12th may 2023 on the above ...

 PRESIDENT BUHARI REVIEWS NAVAL FLEET, PLEASED WITH NIGERIAN MILITARY’S COMBAT READINESS   President Muhammadu Buhari Monday expressed confidence that the incoming administration of President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu would continue to provide crucial support to the Nigerian Navy, maintaining the positive trajectory achieved during his own tenure.   Speaking at the Presidential Fleet Review held at the Naval Dockyard Limited, Victoria Island, Lagos, possibly the last by him in his capacity as President and Commander-in-Chief, the President expressed immense satisfaction with the array of naval assets on display and combat readiness of the Nigerian military.   Recognizing the nation's pride in the navy's numerous achievements during his eight-year administration, the President stated:    ‘‘I have no doubt that the incoming administration of President-elect, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu will sustain the current tempo of my administration in giving the Navy...