PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

 A three-year-old boy died after gunfire broke out at a Florida birthday party, fatally striking him as he played on a park slide. The child was attending the party at Riverland Park in Fort Lauderdale when the gunfire erupted on Sunday afternoon. Police said several people in two cars were involved in the incident, but it’s unclear if they were shooting at each other or someone at the park, WSVN reported. It’s not known if someone has been arrested in connection with the shooting. The child was transported to the Broward Health Medical Center, where he died just after 11pm. “I feel so bad for the parents because I know their heart is very hurt just coming out here just to enjoy what somebody had put forth for kids,” a neighbor told the TV station. It’s thought that dozens of kids were attending the event when the child was shot. “They had a bounce house, and they had set up for the pavilion down there,” Luis Smith, an area resident told the outlet. “Everything was normal, everythi...

 A gunman has opened fire in a nursing home in Croatia, killing at least six people, including his mother, officials have said. Five residents and one employee were fatally injured when the gunman entered the private nursing home in Daruvar in north-east Croatia on Monday and began shooting, according to police, in a rare instance of gun violence in the Balkan country. The gunman fled the scene and was later arrested at a cafe, where he was carrying unregistered firearms. The man had a police record for disturbing public order and domestic abuse, said the Croatian national police chief, Nikola Milina. Officials first reported that five people had been killed during the shooting, but Milina confirmed a sixth victim had died after being taken to hospital. Marin Pelić, the Croatian social policy minister, said: “This is an unprecedented crime. According to the information we have, the mother of the killer had been in the nursing home for 10 years.” After the shooting, police sealed of...

 Ogun Court Jails Six Fraudsters for Money Laundering, Impersonation The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has secured the conviction and sentence of six fraudsters before Justice A.A.Okeke of the Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The convicts are: Aladeusi Korede Seun, Akande Habeeb Kunle, Aliu Faleti Opeyemi, Oseni Suleimon, Tobiloba Ebhodaghe Wadiale and Shedrack Obioma. They were arraigned on Friday, July 19, 2024 on separate charges bordering on money laundering, contrary to Section 18 (2) of Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition ) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same law and Impersonation, contrary to Section 22 (2) (iv) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022. They all pleaded “guilty” to the charges when they were read to them. Following their pleas, prosecution counsel, R.A. Abdulrasheed, prayed the court to convict them accordingly. Delivering judgment, Justice ...

 Two tropical cyclones will bring gales and heavy rain to China’s eastern seaboard this week, with the first expected to make landfall on Sunday, after deadly flash floods struck the country’s interior over the weekend. Cyclone Prapiroon is expected to make landfall in China’s southernmost island province of Hainan on Sunday night as a strong tropical storm, the first tropical cyclone to hit China this year, national forecasters said. Formed in the South China Sea, Prapiroon’s centre was about 275 km southeast of the Hainan city of Wanning early Monday, Reuters reported. The maximum wind speed near its centre will be up to 110 kph when Prapiroon lands, the National Meteorological Centre said, predicting torrential rains in Hainan and along the coast of Guangdong, China’s most populous province. Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration said it expected Gaemi to be closest to the island on Wednesday and Thursday, bringing heavy rain. Extreme rainfall has hit China’s southern, central ...

  Brain Jotter meets Mike Ejiagha Brain jotter visit the original owner of the music he used that went viral on TikTok and other social media platforms.  He visited the legendary singer at his country home in Enugu State.  Credit: Facebook // Brain Jotter. ACCORDING TO ANOTHER SOURCE: Brain jotter set's social Media ablaze as he finally meets with the crooner of  the trending song Gentleman mike Ejiagha "gwo gwo" and gifted him 2.million naira 🙌🙌 ❤️❤️

 Amaewhule-Led Rivers Lawmakers Seek Arrest Of Caretaker Chairmen The Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly has frowned at the continued stay in office of the Caretaker Committee Chairmen (CTC) despite a Supreme Court judgement declaring them illegal. The lawmakers want them arrested.  The apex court had recently given judgement in a case between the Attorney General of the Federation and the Attorneys General of the 36 states, ruling that CTC is illegal. At plenary on Monday, the leader of the House Major Jack informed the members of the Certified True Copy of the aforementioned Supreme Court judgement in his possession which he laid before the speaker. While presenting his report, the Chairman of the House Committee on Local Governments Ignatius Onwuka raised an alarm over the continued activities of CTC Chairmen despite the Supreme Court judgement. “Some impostors are parading themselves as caretaker committee chairmen and members in the 23 local governments. ...

 EFCC Arraigns Fake Content Creator for Internet Fraud in Jos   The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arraigned one Audu Ishida (a.k.a Baddie Kylemilli) for internet crime.   Ishida is facing a one-count charge, bordering on impersonation, retention of proceeds of crime and money laundering before Justice Hauwa'u Buhari of the Federal High Court, sitting in Kaduna State.    The charge reads: “That you Audu Ishida (Baddie Kylemilli) on or about the 2nd of June, 2024 in Jos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, retained the total sum of $50 USD from your victim which you reasonably ought to have known, forms parts of proceeds of an unlawful act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 20(a) of the Money Laundering(Prevention And Prohibition)Act,2022 and punishable under Section 20(b) of the same Act.” He pleaded “not guilty” to the charge, prompting prosecution counsel, M.E Eimonye to pray t...

 EFCC Arrests 10 Suspected Illegal Miners in Ogbomoso Operatives of Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested  10 suspected illegal miners in Ogbomoso, Oyo State. They were arrested with six trucks  fully loaded with lithium. The suspected illegal miners are: Yunusa Adisa, Ganiyu Kazeem, Muideen Babayemi, Sulaiman Usman, Adeleke Waliu, Tiamiyu Rokeeb, Olusola Sunday, Oyedokun Oluwagbemiga, Sulaimon Ishiaq and Olufimihan Eniola. The arrests  followed credible intelligence  on their suspected involvement in criminal extraction of solid  mineral resources  in the state, especially  lithium and their evacuation to unknown destinations.  The suspects would be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations  More photos below.

 Businessman Bags Seven Years Jail Term for Fraud Justice (Professor) C. A. Obiozor of the Federal High Court sitting in Benin City has convicted and sentenced one Olabinjor Ajobor, a businessman to seven years imprisonment without an option of fine. The defendant was first arraigned in 2018 before being re-arraigned in July 2023 on an amended three count charge of obtaining by false pretence.   One of the charges reads : "That you OLABINJOR AJOBOR and BISOFRANK INVESTMENT LIMITED on or about the 21st day of February, 2017 in Benin, Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable did with intent to defraud induced one Mr. George Ezomo to deposit the sum of N6,270,000.00 (Six Million, Two Hundred and Seventy Naira) through Mr. Michael Ezomoghene into Account No: 1771641039 domiciled in Skye Bank Plc operated by you with the pretence that the said money was an investment in 66,000 litres supply of Low Pour Fuel Oil (L.P.F.O) from Petroleum Pricing Marketing Company (PPMC) w...

 Umahi: Tinubu 'doing good', unpatriotic people behind plan for protests The Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is doing good things for Nigerians and those planning to protest against it are not patriotic. Umahi, said this while speaking with newsmen on Sunday in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi. The Minister said instead of protests, the focus of Nigerian workers and citizens should be on how to improve productivity, saying such push would improve living standards of the people across the country. Umahi noted that hunger could go, “if we improve production by engaging in agriculture and step up daily working hours”. According to him, there is no way we can improve our standard of living, if we do not improve on our productivity and hours we put in. “We should be able to tell ourselves the basic truth,” Umahi said. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has done good for the people. ...

 Era of buying fuel at N750 per liter over – Nigerian Govt The Nigerian government said the era of buying Premium Motor Spirit, known as fuel between N750 to N1000 per liter, is over as it will commission 30,000 Compressed Natural Gas powered vehicles in the next 90 days. The Project Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative, Michael Oluwagbemi, disclosed this during the Park to Park CNG Mobilisation program held at the Ojota Park in Lagos on Saturday. He said the initiative is expected to gulp N36 billion for 30,000 CNG conversion kits for distribution free of charge nationwide within the period. The kits and the conversion costs were valued at the rate of N1.2m per vehicle, making a total of N36bn within the next three months. He stressed that the move was to ensure the adoption of CNG as an alternative fuel for transportation. “Today, we are here with conversion kits. We have bought over 30,000 of these kits, mainly for distributi...

 Impeach Obaseki now before he burns down Nigeria, Edo APC urges Assembly The Edo chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the State House of Assembly to immediately commence impeachment proceedings on Governor Godwin Obaseki, for allegedly threatening to burn down the country. The State chairman of the party, Emperor Jarret Tenebe, said this in a statement in reaction to a video of the Governor speaking on the shooting incident that led to the death on Inspector Akor Onuh, the police orderly of Senator Monday Okpebholo last Thursday. The is even as he linked incessant deaths occasioned by alleged inter-cult fights to state-sponsored extra judicial killings. Tenebe described the viral video as a “melodrama wherein the Edo State Governor Mr. Godwin Obaseki gloated like a villain in a video, threatening to burn down Nigeria, if the murderers of Inspectors Akor Onuh at the Benin City Airport are arrested by the Police.” The Edo APC chairman likened the Governor’s alle...

 Fathia Balogun shares bag of rice, noodles, others at father’s burial ceremony The final funeral celebration of Sir Williams Onoughwujovwo Ikperha, father of popular Yoruba actress Fathia Williams, was a grand affair that drew many celebrities to Ikorodu, Lagos, on Sunday. The event was a fitting tribute to the late patriarch with a star-studded guest list and generous souvenirs that left a lasting impression. Among those who attended were MC Oluomo, Laide Bakare, Iyabo Ojo, Lizzy Anjorin, Seyi Edun, Yewande Adekoya, Bimpe Akintunde, Bimbo Thomas, Saidi Balogun, Mercy Aigbe and Kazeem Adeoti. The celebration was filled with music, dance and merriment as friends and family gathered to honor the deceased. The souvenirs handed out to guests contained a vast array of essential items such as bags of rice, packs of Indomie and spaghetti, beverages, vegetable oil, palm oil, detergents and sauces. A video capturing the souvenirs went viral on social media, garnering widespread reactions a...

 ‘Nature Of Politics,’ Oshiomhole Reacts To Shaibu’s APC Return Senator Adams Oshiomhole has described the return of Philip Shaibu to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the “nature of politics”.  Shaibu, the reinstated deputy governor of Edo State, is the political protege of Oshiomhole who is a former governor of the South-South state. The duo fell out in the wake of Governor Godwin Obaseki and Shaibu’s second term win which led them to quit the APC for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Despite returning to the APC after falling out with Obaseki, Oshiomhole who spoke on Sunday said Shaibu’s action is common in politics. “Well, that is the nature of politics. Whatever you have done wrong, the day you realise that you have done wrong, and you have the courage to own up to your poor judgement or actions that were undemocratic, like they said, it is still better,” Oshiomhole who represents Edo North in the upper chamber said. He said Shaibu had made mistakes in the past, be...

 Don’t protest in FCT, CP urges residents The FCT Commissioner of Police, Bennett Igweh, has called on residents and indigenes not to partake in the nationwide protest. Some groups and citizens had scheduled a nationwide protest for August 1 in response to the economic hardship in the country. However, the FCT CP, while speaking with journalists in Abuja on Monday, urged residents to shun the protest. He stated that the police have made significant efforts to ensure security in the FCT, adding that the protest could jeopardise it. Igweh said, “I want to appeal specifically to the residents and indigenes and everybody in the FCT. Please, lions do not destroy their dens. You cannot see a lion who destroys its den. No, I would not like you to join this protest. I plead with you because we have worked hard to ensure your safety. “We have fought those people outside Abuja. We have been to Kaduna, Nasarawa, and Niger to fight criminals so that you can be safe. I have lost men. Last week ...

 Police rescue corps members, others kidnapped in Ondo The Ondo State Police Command said it had rescued all the Corps members kidnapped by bandits along the Benin-Owo Expressway. The kidnappers, numbering about 15, armed with AK-47 rifles, were said to have accosted the Sienna bus conveying the travellers, who include corps members, at about 11 pm last Friday at Omi Alafa Village in Ifon, Ose LGA, and dragged the victims into the forest. It was gathered that the driver and one traveller sitting in front of the vehicles were shot dead by the bandits. The Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, confirmed the release of the victims to newsmen on Monday. The PPRO said, “We have rescued all the victims, I will issue a press statement on the development shortly.”

 US Secret Service failed to protect Trump, says Director The United States Secret Service Director, Kimberly Cheatle, acknowledged on Monday that the agency “failed” in its mission to prevent the assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump. “The Secret Service’s solemn mission is to protect our nation’s leaders,” Cheatle said during testimony before the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. “On July 13, we failed,” she said. “As director of the United States Secret Service, I take full responsibility for any security lapse.” Cheatle, who is facing bipartisan calls to resign, said the assassination attempt on Trump, who was slightly wounded in the ear while speaking at a campaign rally, was “the most significant operational failure of the Secret Service in decades.” The 20-year-old gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, opened fire on Trump with an AR-style rifle just minutes after the former Republican president and current White House candidate began speaking at a c...

 Some Cabals In Govt Victimising Me For Refusing To Sign Dubious $500m Loan —  Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye The embattled Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye has said that she was allegedly being victimised by some cabals in government because she refused to sign a $500 million World Bank loan request. On July 10, 2024, a near physical confrontation between Kennedy-Ohanenye, and the House of Representatives Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development was averted at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja, where the minister had appeared to clarify the controversy surrounding her alleged diversion of N1.5 billion meant for the payment of contractors by officials of the ministry. But speaking with newsmen through a phone interview, the minister said that “There is a $500 million loan that was meant to be signed by me, but I refused to sign. There was also a case of $100 million earlier as well. Find out what it was meant for. “All the loans they collect, including World B...

  GWR: Nigerian doctor completes largest individual painting in Lagos Nigerian doctor and visual artist, Dr. Fola David, has completed a massive drawing measuring 1,000 square metres. With this, David surpassed the previous Guinness World Record of 629.98 square metres held by Ravi Soni from India. David’s six-day record-breaking attempt began on July 16 at the Onikan Stadium in Lagos. His artwork, titled “Unity in Diversity,” features a map of Nigeria highlighting the country’s diverse tribes through their unique attire, languages, art, and essence. In a post on Instagram late Sunday, David wrote, “My heart is full of gratitude. Thank you, God. Thank you everyone. Thank you for doing this with me.” During the course of his attempt, celebrities and dignitaries visited him at the stadium to offer their support and witness his artistic feat firsthand. More photos below.

  Reps probe missing crude, dirty fuel The Joint Committee of the House of Representatives carrying out a forensic investigation into the challenges affecting the downstream and midstream petroleum sectors has commenced a probe into allegations of importation of contaminated Premium Motor Spirit, also known as fuel, into the country. The committee’s Chairman, Ikenga Ugochinyere disclosed this at the formal inauguration of the panel in Abuja on Monday. The investigative panel will also look into allegations of the non-availability of crude oil to domestic refineries, disruption in distribution and favouritism in the pro forma invoice regime, among others. Briefing newsmen at the event, Ugochinyere said, “The committee will conduct a legislative forensic investigation into the presence of middlemen in crude trading, indiscriminate issuance of licences and alleged unavailability of international standard laboratories to check adulterated products.” He noted that the panel would also p...

 STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE  PRESIDENT TINUBU CONGRATULATES NBA PRESIDENT-ELECT, AFAM JOSIAH OSIGWE President Bola Tinubu extends his congratulations to Mazi Afam Josiah Osigwe (SAN) on his election as the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). The President also congratulates all newly elected officers of the NBA and members of the association on a successful conduct of the elections. President Tinubu commends the outgoing NBA President, Mr. Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau (SAN), on his stewardship of Nigeria's foremost legal association. The President assures the new leadership of the NBA of his administration's support in addressing challenges affecting the association and the legal profession in general. Chief Ajuri Ngelale Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) July 22, 2024. More photos below.

 Dubai Police issues 212 Violations Against Maritime Vessels Dubai Police's Port Police Station has issued 212 violations against maritime vessels over the past two months. This includes 160 violations against personal watercraft (jet ski) owners and 52 violations for other types of maritime vessels. Brigadier Dr. Hassan Suhail, Director of the Port Police Station, indicated that the violations against jet ski users were due to a variety of reasons, such as operating jet skis with expired licenses, entering prohibited areas like swimming zones and hotel beaches, failing to operate within designated time frames, not wearing required life jackets, underage operation of recreational maritime vessels, and overloading the vessels.   Brig. Suhail explained that the jet ski violations were issued across the various beach areas in Dubai. He indicated that the fine for operating a jet ski with an expired license is AED 1,000, and the fine for using it outside authorized periods is AED ...

 Tanzanian President Suluhu Hassan dismises two prominent ministers  Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan removed two prominent ministers as part of a major Cabinet reshuffle, according to the acting director of presidential communications, Sharifa Nyanga. The dismissal of Foreign Minister January Makamba and Minister of Information, Communication and Information Technology Nape Nnauye on Sunday, came amid rumors that they were secretly plotting to challenge President Hassan's re-election bid. The dismissal of Nnauye comes a week after comments he made surfaced in a video, saying elections results would depend on who counts votes and announces the results. Nnauye later apologised, saying it was a joke, but activists and some social media users said the statement undermined Hassan's push to improve democracy. Hassan appointed Mahmoud Thabit Kombo as new foreign affairs minister and Jerry Silaa as minister of information, communication and information technology. Before Kombo...

 Vice President Harris’ presidential campaign has raised nearly $50 million in grassroots donations since President Biden suspended his re-election bid and endorsed her.  "Since the President endorsed Vice President Harris yesterday afternoon, everyday Americans have given $49.6 million in grassroots donations to her campaign," the Harris campaign told Fox News Digital.  The campaign told Fox News Digital that the figure represents grassroots donations raised across "all entities, including ActBlue."  Harris announced her presidential campaign Sunday afternoon just after Biden announced he would drop out of the 2024 race, amid pressure from within the Democratic Party The unprecedented announcement came as an increasing number of Democrat lawmakers had begun to publicly call for Biden to step aside and the party's leadership reportedly was engaged in efforts to convince Biden, 81, he could not win in November's general election against former President Trump...

 The Appeal Court Lagos Division has dismissed the appeal filed by a Denmark national, Peter Nielsen, who was sentenced to d£ath for k!lling his Nigerian wife, Zainab and daughter, Petra Nielsen. Nielsen was on May 20, 2022, found guilty, convicted and sentenced to d£ath by hanging for the murd€r of Zainab and Petra, by Justice Bolanle Okikiolu-Ighile,(retd.), of the Lagos State High Court, at the Tafawa Balewa Square. The Lagos State Government had accused Nielsen, now 57, of smothering Zainab and their daughter Petra Nielsen, to death at about 3:45 am, on April 5, 2018, at their No. 4, Flat 17, Bella Vista Tower, Banana Island, Ikoyi residence. Two counts of m¥rder was filed against him. Dissatisfied with his conviction and sentencing, Nielsen approached the appellate court for the judgment to be upturned. However in a ruling delivered on Friday, July 19, the Appeal court upheld his conviction by the trial court and dismissed his appeal for lack of merit. The appeal court held th...

 Copy Kenyan officials. Confess your sins, apologise and return stolen loot - Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Rev Ignatius Kaigama, challenges Nigerian leaders The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Most Rev Ignatius Kaigama, has challenged Nigerian leaders to publicly “confess their sins against the people and return all they have corruptly looted for Nigeria to be a better place.”   The cleric who threw the challenge in his message delivered at St. Charles Lwanga Catholic Parish in Apo, Abuja, on Sunday July 21, drew reference to the open confession and apology by a Kenyan official in a recent video clip in which he promised to return all properties and money he acquired through corrupt means.   While delivering is sermon, the cleric said; “How I wish in Nigeria our present and past political leaders will willingly come forward with such courage to tell the truth, and like Zacchaeus to honestly confess their acts of injustice and corruption committed against th...

 US Congresswoman Grace Meng Is ‘Mad’ Biden Bowed To Pressure From Bullies To Withdraw From Presidential Race  Biden had faced pressure to withdraw from the race since his debate with rival Donald Trump which was recently organised by CNN, in which many adjudged the president to have performed woefully. A US Congresswoman, Grace Meng, has faulted President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the US 2024 presidential election race following calls by some Americans, including Democrats for his withdrawal from the race. President Biden had withdrawn from the presidential race following pressure on him, particularly from party members, to step down Biden had faced pressure to withdraw from the race since his debate with rival Donald Trump which was recently organised by CNN, in which many adjudged the president to have performed woefully. There have also been speculations that old age has caught up with him. Following Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race, the President and the pa...

 Harrison, human rights activist, plans to fight for Obasi against Yul Edochie and Judy Austin Harrison Gwamnishu, a human rights activist, has sparked outrage on the internet by publicly supporting Emmanuel Obasi, Judy Austin’s ex-husband, in his contentious child custody battle with the actress and her husband, Yul Edochie. In a heated live chat with Facebook blogger Uju, Emmanuel Obasi did not mince words. He revealed Judy Austin as his ex-wife and the mother of his two children, accusing her of heartlessly denying him access to them for more than a decade. Obasi portrayed a grim picture, claiming that his 16- and 14-year-old children are regarded as second-class citizens, ignored and abused by their mother. The narrative intensifies as Obasi reveals that his children do not even reside with Judy and Yul Edochie and are instead left to fend for themselves. He didn’t hold back, characterizing Judy Austin as dangerous and unfit to care for their children. As Emmanuel Obasi unleash...

  Max Air aircraft lose tyres during take-off roll A Max Air aircraft departing Yola airport for Abuja yesterday evening suffered a tyre burst during take-off. Max Air’s flight number NGL1649, a Boeing 737 with registration mark 5N-ADB, reportedly carried 119 passengers and six crew members on board. ACCORDING TO ANOTHER SOURCE: Max Air flight grounded as four tyres burst during takeoff The Max Air aircraft carrying 119 passengers and six crew members, was cleared for takeoff before its first rear gear tyres burst, while the remaining two also went the way of the initial one while attempting to taxi off the aircraft from the runway. This was contained in a statement made available to PUNCH Online by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, Bimbo Oladeji, at 11:22 pm on Sunday. Olajide, however, added that no death nor injury was recorded from the development. The statement read, “This evening, Max Air’s flight NGL1649, a Bo...