PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

 October 1 protest: Ogun court restricts protesters to MKO Abiola Stadium, three other venues A High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State, has restricted members of the #FearlessInOctober protest groups in the state to the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, Gateway International Stadium, Sagamu; Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu Ode, and Ansar-Ud-Deen Comprehensive High School, Ota. The court presided by Tajudeen. A.Okunsokan gave this order following an application brought by the Attorney-General of Ogun State in suit no AB/667/2024, and with Messers Afolabi Adeboye, Ifemosu Michael, Lekan Soneye (for themselves and members of the#FearlessInOctober protests); Bestman Okereafor (on behalf of the Progressive Students Movement), Francis Adeyanju (on behalf of the National Association of Nigerian Students) and Thomas Kehinde (on behalf of the National Association of Ogun Students), as respondents. Other respondents listed in the suit are Yinka Folarin (on behalf of the Committee for the Defence of H

 STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU SWEARS IN JUSTICE KEKERE-EKUN AS CHIEF JUSTICE OF NIGERIA, PLEDGES TO PRESERVE SANCTITY OF THE JUDICIARY   Justice Kudirat Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun took the oath of office as the 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) on Monday, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reaffirming his administration’s commitment to upholding the judiciary's independence and sanctity.    Justice Kekere-Ekun, the second female CJN in Nigeria’s history, was sworn in following her confirmation by the Senate.     The ceremony occurred at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja.  Four former chief justices of the Federation, including the first female Justice, Aloma Mukhtar, the President of the Court of Appeal, and other heads of the judiciary divisions, witnessed it.   President Tinubu underscored the pivotal role of the judiciary in safeguarding Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.     ''The judiciary is an important pillar constituting the tripod that holds

 STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE OCTOBER 1ST 2024 INDEPENDENCE DAY: PRESIDENT TINUBU ADDRESSES THE NATION President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will make a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 at 7 a.m. The broadcast is part of activities to commemorate the 64th Independence Anniversary of the nation. Television, radio stations and other electronic media outlets are enjoined to hook up to the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria for the broadcast.   Bayo Onanuga Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy) September 30, 2024

  Catastrophic Flooding from Hurricane Helene Claims at Least 30 Lives in North Carolina At least 30 people have died in Buncombe County, North Carolina, following the catastrophic flooding caused by Hurricane Helene, which has left many others unaccounted for. The storm, initially a Category 4 hurricane, made landfall in Florida before moving northward, wreaking havoc across several states. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper described the devastation as "biblical," emphasizing that this is one of the worst natural disasters the state has ever faced. The death toll nationwide has climbed to at least 105, with expectations of further increases as rescue efforts continue. Buncombe County has emerged as one of the hardest-hit areas, with over 1,000 residents reported missing and many homes completely destroyed. Emergency crews are facing significant challenges due to downed trees and closed roads, complicating rescue operations. "This storm has brought catastrophic devastat

 PRESS RELEASE           30/09/2024 ENHANCED SECURITY MEASURES IMPLEMENTED AHEAD OF NIGERIA'S 64TH INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATION The Bauchi State Police Command, under the stewardship of  Commissioner of Police CP Auwal Musa Muhammad, psc, Anipr, has implemented rigorous security measures to ensure a peaceful and secure celebration of Nigeria's 64th Independence Anniversary. In accordance with the directives of the 22nd Indigenous Inspector General of Police Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD., NPM, CP MM AUWAL convened a crucial meeting at the State Headquarters with Heads of Departments, Area Commanders, Tactical Commanders, and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs). The focus of the meeting was to emphasize the effective deployment of human and tactical resources across the state to maintain law and order, especially in key public spaces. The CP has instructed all deployed officers to maintain vigilance, professionalism, and courtesy in their interactions w

 EFCC Arrests 24 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Benin City Operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday September 30, 2024 arrested 24 suspected internet fraudsters at different locations within Benin City. The suspects were arrested following actionable intelligence of their suspected involvement in computer-related fraud. Items recovered from them include 11 exotic cars, laptops and phones. The sum of N160,000 (One Hundred and Sixty Thousand Naira) was also recovered from one of the suspects.  The suspects have made useful statements and will be charged to court as soon as investigations are completed. More photos below. 

 Onitsha Chamber of Commerce Installs 15th President, Lauds Soludo On Partnership With Organized Private Sector By Juliana Nwachukwu  The Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ONICCIMA) has installed Chief Augustine Ibeme as the 15th President along side other executives to pilot the affairs of the chamber for the next new tenure. The National President of Chamber of  Commerce, Mr Dele Oye while performing the installation/inauguration ceremony charged the newly inaugurated president and other executives to do things that will promote the chambers' activities to  greater heights.  Oye, who was represented by Mr Humphrey Ngonadi, the President, South-East/South South  Chamber of Commerce, said that Onitsha is very rich in business and as such should be explored to improve the chambers. He lauded Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State for partnering with organised private sectors in making the state business friendly. He noted that the chamber was grateful t

Independence: Nigeria on the brink of one-party dictatorship – Atiku As Nigeria celebrate its 64th Independence Anniversary, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on the political elite to unite and safeguard the country’s democracy from the “precipice of authoritarianism.” Atiku, in a statement he personally signed, hinted that the political impasse in the country has become “corrosive; opposition parties languish in weakness, while the ruling party appears to manipulate internal processes to render them ineffectual.” The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last election, lamented that Nigeria is almost becoming a one party dictatorship and called on “politicians and statesmen of integrity to rise and reclaim our democracy from the encroaching shadows of oppression.” The opposition leader said, “while democracy has anchored our institutions in the principles of the rule of law, we have yet to achieve satisfactory progress in fostering politica

 ‘Why Is Our Currency Weak?’ Tinubu’s Supporter, Igbokwe, Rants Again Amid Hardship A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe, has again lamented the outcome of the economic policies of the President Ahmed Bola Tinubu-led administration. Daily Trust reports that this is the third time in weeks that Igbokwe, a Lagos- based south easterner, would criticise the economic interventions of the president. In early September, the APC chieftain had ranted about the new electricity tariff in the country urging the president to intervene. In the Facebook post, Igbokwe had pleaded with the president to “please look into the new electricity tariff in Nigeria. “It will kill businesses if the government does not act as quickly as possible. I have a small office in Surulere with about 7 units of AC. “We used to buy 300 plus units for N20,0000. Yesterday we bought N20,000 worth of units and it lasted for just one day. They call it band A group. I pray that we review this”, he said

 VeryDarkMan: How I got Bobrisky’s audio Social media influencer, Martins Vincent Otse, aka VeryDarkMan, has revealed how he got the phone recording of cross dresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky. VeryDarkMan had released an audio where Bobrisky  purportedly claimed he bribed officials of the EFCC with N15 million in exchange for dropping money laundering charges against him. In the audio, Bobrisky also claimed he avoided serving his six-month jail sentence at Kirikiri Prison in Lagos. Following this, the House of Representatives summoned VeryDarkMan, Bobrisky, and EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede. Appearing before the House of Representatives Joint Committee on Financial Crimes and Reformatory Institutions on Monday, VeryDarkMan, who had earlier refused to address the committee in the absence of Bobrisky,  admitted to having the phone recording in his custody. He explained the authenticity of the trending audio record, stating that it was received from someone whom Bobrisky

 ‘I wasn’t suspended’ — prison officer speaks on Bobrisky’s bribery allegation Michael Anugwa, deputy controller of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), says he was not suspended by the service. Anugwa is the officer in charge of Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC), Kirikiri, Lagos state, where Idris Okuneye, a popular crossdresser better known as Bobrisky, served his time. Anugwa spoke on Monday while addressing members of the house of representatives joint committee on financial crimes and reformatory institutions. The committee is investigating the bribery allegation against the anti-graft agency and the NCoS. “It was a social media report. I wasn’t served a letter,” he said. On Thursday, Ja’afaru Ahmed, the secretary to Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), had said Anugwa and Sikiru Adekunle, deputy controller of corrections in the MSCC, were suspended.

 October 1: Protest is your right — Afenifere tells Nigerian youths Ahead of the planned nationwide protests on Tuesday, October 1, pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, has said the planned demonstration is within the right of Nigerians. DAILY POST reports that some Nigerian youths are planning to stage a nationwide protest on the day the nation is celebrating its Independence Day anniversary. The protest is birthed by the growing hunger and other economic hardship bedevilling the citizens. Speaking on the matter, the Leader of Afenifere, Chief Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti, said in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, that “it is the right of the people to do so.” The organisation, however, pleaded that such should be done peacefully without looting or causing any damage to property and without harming anybody. The statement called on the federal government under President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to do more in the areas of security, agriculture, edu

 R Kelly’s Daughter Breaks Down Over Devastating Allegations In New Doc Trailer R Kelly's family discusses his alleged crimes in a documentary dropping on October 11. R Kelly is currently behind bars for alleged racketeering, trafficking, sexual abuse of minors, and more. Now, it looks like the disgraced R&B star could be facing even more disturbing allegations. While the public may think they know all of the disturbing crimes that R.Kelly has been found guilty of, there are new alarming allegations surrounding his children. theJasmineBrand exclusively reports that one of R.Kelly’s daughter’s alleges that the singer, who is currently in jail, did something inappropriate and heartbreaking while she was a child. In this exclusive clip obtained by theJasmineBrand, R. Kelly’s children speak candidly about their experience with their father and the current drama he faces. His ex-wife Drea Kelly, for example, gets tearful about what he's allegedly done to their children. She ques

 Body of Hezbollah Leader Recovered 'Intact with No Direct Wounds,' May Have Died from Trauma According to Sky News, The body of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has been recovered intact following an Israeli airstrike in Beirut's southern suburbs, according to two sources familiar with the situation. A medical source and a security source confirmed to Reuters that Nasrallah's body was found without any direct wounds, indicating that the cause of death was likely blunt trauma resulting from the blast's force. The airstrike, which targeted Hezbollah's underground headquarters situated beneath a residential building, has been described as a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Footage released by the Palestinian news agency Quds News Network shows a vast crater left in the wake of the attack, highlighting the destructive power of the bombs used. The crater, located in a densely populated urban area, raises concerns about ci

 Beyonce strips off blue jeans to reveal her underwear in Levi's ad Beyoncé Knowles-Carter's song Levii's Jeans came full circle as she starred in her first commercial for the 171-year-old denim brand set to the Cowboy Carter track. In the 30-second advert - titled 'Chapter 1: Launderette' - the 43-year-old pop diva headed inside a laundry mat while carrying a bucket of what appeared to be diamonds. Beyoncé then stripped off a $98 pair of Levi's Premium '501 90S Women's Jeans' to reveal her white Levi's panties underneath. A set of pre-teen twin girls could be seen in the background as Knowles-Carter showcased her 5ft6in figure in the snug boy-shorts and $29.50 Levi's 'Essential Sporty T-shirt.' The 32-time Grammy winner then grabbed her empty bucket and headed to the chairs where she took a seat to patiently wait for her 'laundry' to finish. Melina Matsoukas directed the spot for Beyoncé's Reimagine campaign, which was a

 80-year-old granny among finalists at Miss Universe Korea pageant Ms Choi Soon-hwa is not just a pretty face in a sea of hopeful women vying for the chance to be crowned Miss Universe Korea.  At 80 years old, the fashion model is also the oldest woman taking part in the beauty contest. Despite her silver hair, sagging skin and crow’s feet, the ageless beauty was named a finalist in the national pageant earlier in September, giving her rivals – who are young enough to be her grandchildren – a run for their money If she beats the other 31 finalists on Sept 30, she wins the chance to represent South Korea at the 73rd Miss Universe pageant in Mexico City on Nov 16, making her the oldest contestant in the history of the international pageant.  Eager to challenge stereotypes about ageing, she told CNN: “I want to stun the world, like, ‘How is an 80-year-old lady so healthy?’” She hopes to inspire others by showing that health and vitality can be maintained well into old age, reported CNN on

 Gabon, Equatorial Guinea meet at ICJ over disputed islands Gabon and Equatorial Guinea faced off on Monday at the International Court of Justice, hoping to resolve a decades-old scrap over the sovereignty of three disputed islands in potentially oil-rich waters, AFP reported. The two West African nations have been squabbling over the 30-hectare (74-acre) island of Mbanie and two smaller low-lying islets, Cocotier and Conga, since the early 1970s. Unlike most contentious cases that come to the ICJ in The Hague, the two countries eventually agreed to send the thorny issue to the judges to find an amicable solution. The dispute dates all the way back to 1900, when then colonial powers France and Spain signed a treaty in Paris setting out the borders between the two countries. Legitimacy claims Gabon argues that a later treaty signed in 1974—the Bata Convention—gives it sovereignty over the islands. But Domingo Mba Esono, Vice Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons of Equatorial Guinea, dispu

 APGA WINS ALL 21 CHAIRMANSHIP POSITIONS, COUNCILLORSHIP SEATS The All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, has won the September 28 local government elections in Anambra State, clearing all chairmanship and councillorship seats across the 21 local government areas of the state. The Chairman of the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission, ANSIEC, Genevieve Osakwe, announced the results at the ANSIEC office in Awka. Osakwe, while declaring the election as free and fair, said the ANSIEC carefully collated and analysed the results to ensure that there were no mistakes. She added that none of the opposition candidates or political parties and their party agents came to the ANSIEC office where the election was declared. She hailed the people of the State for trooping out en masse to exercise their civic rights, while also appreciating security agencies for ensuring peace and orderliness throughout the process. “This is to affirm the result of the chairmanship and councillorship electio

 SINGER FLAVOUR REPORTEDLY MAKES BILLIONS OFF NAIRA FROM 50 CENT’S POWER TV SERIES  Nigerian superstar, Flavour made it to the news recently after his song "Game Changer" was featured in 50 Cent's TV series Power Book II: Ghost Videos from the season's recent episode made the rounds online, showing when Flavour's song was used for a Nigerian wedding scene. Flavour whose real name is Chinedu Izuchukwu Okoli has been trending online following the feat. There are unconfirmed reports that the musician was paid over a billion naira for his popular song "Game Changer" to be featured in 50 Cent's TV series Power Book II: Ghost.  This came after a scene from the popular TV show went viral showing the hit song used in the background for an Igbo wedding scene.   Magic FM understands that Episode 9 of PowerBook Ghost has become the most viewed episode of the show as the US rapper promoted Nigerian culture in it.  Alongside Flavour's tune, 50 Cent used Niger

 PRESS RELEASE NIGERIA’S INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATION: IGP ORDERS WATER-TIGHT SECURITY, FELICITATES WITH NIGERIANS ON 64TH ANNIVERSARY. Orders Clampdown on Miscreants. As we celebrate our nation’s 64th Independence, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD., NPM has ordered water-tight security across the country to create a safe and conducive environment for citizens of our great nation to celebrate this landmark occasion. As part of the IGP’s comprehensive plan to ensure a seamless celebration, the IGP has ordered the deployment of adequate human and tactical resources to enable a maximum level of security for the independence celebration. The Police, in synergy with other security agencies, will fortify various designated event venues and the major highways across the country, to forestall any threats to lives and property and the celebration. Additionally, the IGP has directed all personnel deployed for various operations during the celebrations to be courteous

  VeryDarkMan vows not to address House of Representatives members due to Bobrisky’s absence.  Watch video below

 Truck Kills Family Of Six Riding On Motorcycle In Zamfara A road crash in Gusau, Zamfara state, left a family of six dead on Sunday.  The victims, who were riding a motorcycle, were struck by a truck near Gusau Hotel. One of the children was said to be an infant.  “Innalillahi wainna ilaihi-rraji'un. Six people died after their Motorcycle speeding collided with a truck, near (gusau waterboard) in gusau town of Zamfara early morning today,” an X user, @Kdankasa posted.   “The accident shocked many people, may God forgive them all, May their soul rest in peace.” When SaharaReporters reached out to Zamfara State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Yazid Abubakar, he confirmed the incident but could not provide details.   He simply said "the incident happened but it is still under investigation on how the incident happened. The six victims are all dead." In June, the Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) met with oil industry regulators, operators and enforc

 Man Strips Himself NAKED, Cuts Off His Pènis, Cooks & Eats It With Bread, See Why Police Arrested Him A 23- year- old Kwekwe man, Panankosi Phiri, has appeared in court charged with rape after a series of disturbing events. The case has left the community in shock and horror. According to reports, Phiri allegedly raped a 10- year- old girl, who is the granddaughter of his employer. The victim was threatened with death if she resisted. This heinous crime was only brought to light after Phiri’ s self- mutilation incident. The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) has revealed that Phiri forced the young girl into an unfinished building and raped her. The authority has applied for and received court approval for Phiri to undergo a mental health examination. In a twisted turn of events, Phiri allegedly cut off his own manhood with a knife and ate it with bread as a sandwich. This act of self- mutilation was committed while he was screaming that the 10- year- old rape victi

 Japa: Don’t flee Nigeria for greener pastures - Kumuyi The General Superintendent of Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor William Kumuyi, has urged Nigerians, particularly the youth, not to flee the country in search of greener pastures abroad. During a Sunday sermon in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as part of the ongoing Global Crusade with Kumuyi (GCK), the revered cleric expressed concern over the growing trend of young Nigerians leaving the country, only to face regret later on. He emphasised that prosperity would meet them at home, assuring that God’s goodness is not confined to any specific location. “Whatever nation you are born in, the goodness of the Lord will reach you there,” Kumuyi affirmed. He reflected on the experiences of many professionals, such as doctors, engineers, and lawyers, who sought opportunities abroad but soon discovered that life outside Nigeria was not as promising as they had imagined. “Doctors go there, engineers go there, lawyers go there, professiona

 Constitution review: Lawmakers disagree on state police, okay LG autonomy Members of the Senate Committee on the Constitution Review on Sunday concluded their two-day retreat on the amendments to the 1999 Constitution in Kano and unanimously agreed to include full autonomy for local governments in the nation’s legal document. The federal lawmakers, however, expressed divergent views on the issue of state police. Senators from the South-East and South- South geopolitical zones at the forum, advocated for the creation of an additional state. The legislators spoke at the sidelines of the Retreat which was organised by the Senate panel in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC). Their decision to save the third tier of government from total collapse following the abuse of their roles by the state governors, may not be unconnected to the recent Supreme Court verdict and the pledge by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, that the National Assembly would tinker with the