PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

Rihanna’s beloved cousin Tanella Alleyne dies aged 28 in latest blow to family after brother shot dead RIHANNA’S beloved cousin Tanella Alleyne died suddenly at the age of 28 just days after the singer gave birth. The star’s heartbreak also comes just six years after Tanella’s brother Tavon was shot dead hours after the siblings spent Christmas Day with her. Tanella’s twin sister Taneisha also died more than a decade ago at the age of 14. Fashion lover Tanella, who had almost 55,000 Instagram followers, was often pictured beaming with her cousin Rihanna. Her death came just days after the Diamonds singer gave birth to her baby boy – her second with rapper boyfriend A$AP Rocky. Friends, loved ones and fans have taken to social

DSS arrests Kingsley Obiora, CBN Deputy Governor  The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested Kingsley Obiora, deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in charge of economic policy. According to reports, his arrest followed allegations of financial mismanagement under Godwin Emefiele, suspended CBN governor. Reports said Obiora was being targeted as a principal witness against Emefiele, his boss. Obiora, born March 06, 1976, resumed as a Deputy Governor in the Central Bank of Nigeria on March 02, 2020.  

President Tinubu appoints 32-year-old Khalil Suleiman Halilu as new NASENI boss President Bola Tinubu has named Khalil Suleiman Halilu as the new Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI). A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale on Friday evening, September 1, said Halilu will serve for an initial term of five years in accordance with the relevant sections of the NASENI Act, 2014. "Mr. Halilu, 32, is expected to bring his significant experience as an innovator and technology expert to bear in this important new national assignment", the statement read  The statement says by the directive of the President, this appointment takes immediate effect.  

 Court Convicts Five For Internet-related Fraud in Kaduna Justice N.U. Sadiq of the Kaduna State High Court sitting in Kaduna has convicted and sentenced five people to various prison terms on charges of internet-related frauds brought against them by the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.  The convicts: Jonathan Oluwasegun, Joseph Maurice, Paul Odoh, Gideon Udochukwu, and Alexander Onyema were convicted after pleading guilty to the separate one count charges that bordered on cybercrime and cheating by impersonation. The charges read: “that you, Jonathan Oluwasegun (aka Keanu Reeves), Male, sometime in May, 2023 in Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, committed the offence of cheating by impersonation when you presented yourself to be one Keane Reeves (a Canadian Actor) on Instagram to Eleanor Lakin and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable u...

‘Isese’ Traditional Worship Must Not Rest Until Perpetrators Of Crime Are Brought To Justice – Soyinka Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, has said that adherents of Isese traditional worship must not be intimidated nor relent until all perpetrators of crime against humanity are brought to justice. Soyinka added that these perpetrators included the “purveyors of sectional hate and discord who applauded the deed, including those who have obstructed the cause of justice.” The Nobel laureate also called for religious tolerance in the country. Soyinka made this call on Friday in Lagos State, at a Public Exchange on the topic “Isese, Samarkand, And Other Markets Of The Mind”. He commended all those – human rights activists, community leaders, affronted citizens, advocates of equity and all – who had taken the course of defending the traditional adherents who had recently been vicitimised in Ilorin, Kwara State, by state actors including the Nigerian Police. In the statement titled “Thus Coun...

 Chelsea sign Palmer from Man City Chelsea signed England Under-21 forward Cole Palmer from Manchester City on Friday in a deal worth an initial £40 million ($50 million). Palmer agreed a seven-year contract with Chelsea, who have a club option of a further 12 month extension and could pay City an extra £2.5 million in add-on clauses. City were keen to keep Palmer, but the size of Chelsea’s offer eventually persuaded them to cash in on a rising star who was keen for more regular first-team opportunities. The 21-year-old could make his Chelsea debut in Saturday’s Premier League match against Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge. “I’m excited to get started and it feels great to sign,” Palmer said. “I’ve joined Chelsea because the project here sounds good and because of the platform I will have to try to showcase my talents. It is a young and hungry squad and, hopefully, we can do something special here.” Palmer’s move to the Bridge takes Chelsea’s spending in the 16 months since Tod...

FRSC driver killed in Abuja road crash  A Federal Road Safety Corps Tow Truck driver was killed following a road traffic crash that occurred at Karu bridge, on the Nyanya-Maraba Expressway, Abuja, on Friday. In a press release, the  FRSC stated that the crash occurred at exactly 04:02am while its truck on tow services was removing a  broken down vehicle along the aforementioned route. "Investigation into the crash revealed that a total of four people were involved, out of which three sustained different degrees of injuries while one person who happened to be the driver of the tow truck was killed.  "Only the two vehicles, the Truck and FRSC Tow Truck were involved," the statement added. More photos below. 

I want to open a church, 2baba teases fans, reveals name Celebrated Nigerian singer, Innocent ‘2baba’ Idibia has teased his fans about opening a church. He expressed the desire to launch a chapel after sharing what seemed as a throwback video of him in a spiritual gathering. The video saw him in the midst of people singing one of the very popular Christmas songs, ‘O Come Let Us Adore Him’. The African Queen singer was holding a leaflet from which he was sounding the lyrics of the song while they danced and the congregation watched on with others busy filming with their phones. Possibly nostalgic about the moment spent doing one of the things he loves and in church too, the 47-year-old Hypertek Digital confessed to feeling the push to open a worship house. 2baba also went a step further to tease fans with the likely name of the chapel should he execute his burning desire. “He wrote: “Open church just dey hungry me. (STHICOGNL) Straight To Heaven International Church Of God Nigeria Limit...

Navy Arrests, Parades Tompolo-led Tantita Guards as Oil Thieves  The Nigerian Navy has arrested and paraded some men who work for the Tompolo-led Tantita Security Service as crude oil thieves. Punch reports that earlier this week, the Nigerian Navy stationed at Forward Operation Base (FOB) Lekki at waterways near the Itolu community, Lekki responded to distress calls by residents that there were gunshots heard from the waterside.   The Navy Statement  According to the Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft, Commodore Kolawole Oguntuga, the men were arrested while they were attacking a local from whom they tried stealing a boat engine. He said:  “In a swift response to a distress call, the Nigerian Navy stationed at FOB Lekki foiled an attempted oil theft operation on the waterways near Itolu community, Lekki, in Lagos State. The incident occurred in the early hours of August 29, 2023, when local youths reported gunshots in the vicinity of the community....

Transport Minister Supports Kaduna Metropolitan Rail Mass Transit Initiative  The Minister of Transportation, Alhaji Ahmed Alkali has promised to support the Kaduna State government in it's drive to provide a metropolitan rail mass transit scheme for its citizens. This is to help with transportation challenges occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal.  Alhaji Alkali who made the promise during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the Kaduna State Government to the Ministry in Abuja, remarked that the ingenuity of Governor, Uba Sani to place premium on a viable means of transportation should be commended and given the necessary support it deserves.  The Minister stressed that the initiative is well-timed, aligning with President's directive to State Governors to propose relief measures to mitigate the impact of removing petroleum subsidies on the Nigerian population. Earlier, the head of the delegation, Prof. Muhammed Sani Bello, who is also the Commissioner for Educatio...

NIGER GOVERNOR DECLARES 3 DAY PUBLIC HOLIDAY FOR DISTRIBUTION OF PALLIATIVE. NIger state government has declared a three day public holiday for the distribution of palliative to all the twenty five local government councils. The three day declared are Wednesday Thursday and Friday next week..   State Governor Alh Mohammed Umar Bago stated this at his maiden press conference in Minna the state capital. Alh Umar Bago explained that the decision to declare the three day public holiday for civil servants in NIger state is to shut down governance so that Nigerlites will have soccur and relief as a result of the palliative. He however directed all politcal appointees Permanent Secretaries and  Local Government Councils Chairman who are members of standing Committees set up by the state government to return to their ward for the distribution of palliative. Accoding to him all former Presidents Vice Presidents former Governor's and their Deputies SSG"s  former members of Nat...

LASURA RECEIVES APPROVAL FOR RESETTLEMENT OF OCCUPANTS OF DISTRESSED BUILDINGS AT ADENIJI-ADELE LOW-COST HOUSING ESTATE  The Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA) has secured the approval of the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to resettle residents of distressed buildings at the Adeniji-Adele Low Cost Housing Estate Phase I-IV. This was made known by the General Manager of the Agency, Tpl. Ajibike Shomade during a recent stakeholders' engagement with the representatives of the residents of Dolphin Anikantamo Low-Cost Housing Estate, Phase 1-4, Adeniji Adele. Shomade revealed that the Lagos State Governor has graciously approved the proposed site of resettlement for the residents who will be affected during the execution of the regeneration plan for the Estate.  She said, "During our last meeting, there was a suggestion to make use of the abandoned cable car land for resettlement of residents of Adeniji Adele, l want to inform you that we presented the proposal...

Two Jailed 5 Year for Land Fraud in Sokoto Justice M.U Dogondaji of the Sokoto State High Court has convicted the duo of Sanni Dikko and Naabu Umar on two count charges bordering on conspiracy and cheating.   Dikko allegedly connived with Umar to fraudulently obtain the sum of N1, 500,000 from one Mustapha Mudashir in a land deal.  Investigation revealed that Dikko, having previously sold the plot of land to one Ashiru Muhammed, got Umar to present himself as the owner of the land to convince Mudashir to buy the property at the rate of N1.5m. Mudashir was in the process of developing the property when he stopped by the actual owner.   Justice Dogondaji convicted and sentenced the defendants to five years imprisonment or a fine of N200, 000 each. They were also ordered to pay N1, 500,000.00 as restitution to the victim through EFCC or risk a further five years in prison. More photos below. 

Court Convicts Six ‘Yahoo Boys’ in Abuja Justice O. I. Adelaja of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Kubwa, Abuja on Thursday, August 31, 2023 convicted six people on one count separate charges bordering on internet fraud. The defendants who were docked by the Abuja Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, are Anekwu Chibuike Peterdamian, Eta Iso Okang, Kolawole Michael Taiwo, Ohue Daniel, Ocholi Husseni and Olatunji Anuoluwapo Johnson. The charges against two of the defendants read: “that you Anekwu Chibuike Perterdamian (aka Nguyen Dinh) sometime in 2022 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, falsely represented yourself as a pilot in the United States of America through dating site and obtained the sum of $7,000 (Seven Thousand Dollars) from one Christian through Bitcoin and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 321 of the Penal Code, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) and punishable ...

Anambra Government organises residential training for Tuberculosis, Buruli Ulcer, Leprosy Supervisors   By Chukwudi Nwauba    The Anambra State Government through the State Ministry of Health has organized a five day residential training for Tuberculosis, Buruli Ulcer and Leprosy Supervisors in the state. The training, which is ongoing in Awka, was for supervisors who are working in the various local governments as well as those working at the state level. Addressing the participants, the Head of Medical Services in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Ugochukwu Chukwulobelu said that the training was very important to the state. ``Those managing the three diseases will gather more sufficient knowledge that would help them to efficiently execute their Jobs."  Dr. Chukwulobelu explained that the training before now was being done in Zaria but because of insecurity in the country, Gov. Chukwuma Soludo approved for the exercise to be held in Awka. He pointed out that they have r...

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU APPROVES INITIATIVE TO PROVIDE FIVE MILLION EYEGLASSES TO NIGERIANS WITH SIGHT IMPEDIMENTS President Bola Tinubu, on Friday in Abuja, declared his unwavering support for a partnership between the Federal Ministry of Health’s National Eye Health Programme and the Peek Vision Foundation to provide more than 5 million pairs of eyeglasses to Nigerians with sight impairments. The President recounted how close to home his first intervention in eye health was as he made a pledge on behalf of the Federal Government during a courtesy visit by the Founder and CEO of Peek Vision Foundation and Co-Founder of the Vision Catalyst Fund, Prof. Andrew Bastawrous. "My first experience was with my mother of blessed memory. She was ill and she could not recognise me. When I intervened, she was treated and given a pair of glasses. The next question she asked me was: I have you, and you are able to do this for me. What about those other women and their childre...

 President Tinubu Receives Nigerian Supreme Council For Islamic Affairs President Bola Tinubu has called on the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs to be in the forefront of his administration’s National Re-orientation Agenda.  The President sought their input in Abuja when executive members of the Council, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, paid him a solidarity visit.  Speaking to State House Correspondent on the visit, the Minister of Information, Alhaji Muhammad Idris, said the President had asked them to make their impact felt in hot-spots.  “The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, was also in Niger to engage with the junta there. He has asked them to go back, in the spirit of his belief that only dialogue can end crises across the world”, the. Minister explained.  Alhaji Idris said members of the Council also made reference to situations in the country, and advised the President on the possible ways of solving them.  “They came t...

63-year-old man kills wife for denying him sex A former staff of Adamawa State Universal Basic Education Board, Aminu Mahdi has been arrested for allegedly beating his wife to death. Aminu, who is 63 years old and hails from Yelwa Ward in Mubi North Local Government Area, allegedly descended on his second wife, Hadiza Zubuchi, 46, for denying him access to her bed. The suspect, who has confessed to the crime, told the police that he did not intend that his wife should die, according to the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Nguroje. Nguroje disclosed in an interaction with newsmen late on Thursday that Aminu returned home at 9:00 pm last Sunday, the 27th August, 2023, to meet the circumstances that culminated in his snuffing the life out of his wife. Nguroje said after Aminu ate his food and changed his clothes, he went to the room he was to spend the night with his wife, but his wife denied him the use of her bed. As the wife would not let him touch her and she instead...

Tinubu Govt Inherited Economy ‘Like A Dead Horse But Standing’ – Soludo The Governor of Anambra State, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, on Friday, analysed the country’s macroeconomics, concluding that President Bola Tinubu inherited an economy that could be compared to a “dead horse but standing”. Soludo shared this insight on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, when asked to respond to Tinubu’s stance kicking against spending 90 percent of the country’s revenue on external debt service. “This government inherited, from a macroeconomic standpoint, I would say the economy was like a dead horse but standing, in macroeconomic terms and modelling through this over the coming months we will bumpy, no question about it,” he said. The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governor added that his position was in “empathy and commiserations” for Tinubu’s economic team. “But I am glad that at least, the first salvos by the president, by his courageous step to remove the obnoxious scam that has festered ...

 NOLLYWOOD ACTOR, BOLANLE NINALOWO Announces SEPARATION FROM WIFE IN EMOTIONAL POST  Popular Nollywood Actor, Bolanle Ninalowo, and his wife, have gone their separate ways, the movie star confirms on Friday. Ninalowo, in an emotional post on his Instagram page, said they decided to go their separate ways and headed for an irreconcilable marriage dissolution. “A sad reality that gives room & hope for a brighter and more fulfilling future! “A reality that is SAD for my loving and adorable children but necessary for a peaceful and loveable future. “A sad reality i prayed, nutured and worked tirelessly hard never to experience for the sake of all. “A sad reality i now have to accept as i realize that my kids are much grown with better sense of understanding and knowledge of my pain & struggles regarding them! “A sad reality that screams that i wont live or be around forever and must take care of my health & mental state for the goodness of all. “May God help me and rew...