PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

 Fake police officer arrested for defrauding PoS operators The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a 25-year-old man, Bukola Olabode, who allegedly defrauded Point of Sale operators and residents of Ihunbo in the Ipokia Local Government Area while impersonating a police officer.  Our correspondent learnt on Thursday that residents apprehended the suspect on Tuesday, and subsequently handed over to officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, who later transferred him to the police at the Idiroko Division. The Ogun State Police Command revealed to newsmen that the suspect’s modus operandi involved wearing a police camouflage shirt paired with jeans to execute fraudulent transactions using PoS machines. The suspect met his Waterloo when he attempted a similar fraudulent act at the PoS stand of an operator named Mary Midoyin. When his deception was discovered by the operator, the suspect was said to have fled the scene. The residents pursued him, leading to his e...

 Bandits abduct Kaduna village head, 14 others Bandits have reportedly attacked and kidnapped the village head of Ungwan Babangida, and 14 others in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Thursday night. The youth leader of Dokan Karji, Aminu Khalid, confirmed the incident in a phone interview with City Round on Friday. According to him, the attackers invaded Ungwan Babangida Village at midnight with sophisticated weapons shooting sporadically at vantage positions before whisking their victims away. This incident came barely 48 hours after bandits had kidnapped four farmers in Libere community on Wednesday in the same Local Government Area. “Amongst the victims kidnapped in Ungwan Babangida were three women, and nine men including the village head of the community, identified as Babangida Sojiji,” Khalid said. He added that some of the victims were two labourers who came for farming activities from Jigawa State and Ikara Local Government Area of Kaduna State. “Kauru communi...

 Police arrest man, girlfriend for murdering septuagenarian A 33-year-old man, Ikechukwu Okoye, and his girlfriend, Juliet Ogbodo, 39, have been arrested by the Enugu State Police for allegedly abducting and murdering a 70-year-old woman, Mrs Mary Nwatu. The couple, from Onuorie-Obuno in Akpugo Community, Nkanu West Local Government Area, allegedly buried the victim in a shallow grave and demanded a N6 million ransom from her children. They were caught after collecting N20,000 from the family to facilitate a phone call with the victim. A statement on Thursday by the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, said the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad made the arrest. According to him, preliminary investigations revealed that Mrs Nwatu was reported missing on September 15, 2024. Ndukwe explained, “On October 5, 2024, Ikechukwu Okoye, identified as the principal suspect and a kinsman of the victim, began contacting her children, demanding a ransom of N6m. “Upon ...

 2025 budget will underperform, stakeholders caution Economic stakeholders have projected that the 2025 proposed budget of N47.9 trillion may underperform due to its bullish assumptions. In the proposed budget, the naira was pegged at N1,400 to the dollar and the crude oil benchmark of $75 just a few weeks after Donald Trump emerged as the president of the United States of America. Donald Trump’s stance on increasing local production is expected to lead to a drop in the price of oil globally and a stronger dollar. Senior Market Analyst at FTXM, Lukman Otunuga, asserted that Trump’s policy direction might impact Nigeria’s economic climate negatively. He worried that Trump’s victory might pressure oil prices as he was seen pushing for a further increase in domestic oil and gas production, leading to increased supply in the long term. Otuga said Trump’s policies could see a boost in US growth – triggering inflationary pressures. “Should this prompt the Fed (the Federal Reserve) to kee...

 CCT Chairman’s sack: Senate goofed — Senior lawyers Three senior legal practitioners including the Executive Director of the Centre for Socio- Legal Studies, Prof Yemi Akinseye George, SAN and a Law scholar, Dr Wahab Shittu, SAN, have dismissed as illegal and unconstitutional last Wednesday’s sack of the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Yakubu Danladi Umar. The lawyers contended that the upper chamber of the National Assembly has no powers under the law to sack a judicial officer just as they expressed worry that a Senate populated by senior and knowledgeable lawyers could go that route. They have consequently advised the Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN to call the attention of President Bola Tinubu to the anomaly, saying the senate cant remove a judicial officer as it did in the case of the CCT chairman I Can't give up because I have a mother and two brothers — Blind 23-Yr-Old Fabiyi...0:00 / 0:00 from office in a democracy. The other lawye...

 Three Enugu farmers killed in renewed herdsmen attacks No fewer than three farmers have been confirmed killed in the Mgbuji community in Eha-Amufu, Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State by suspected killer herdsmen in renewed attacks. Several others were also reported wounded in the attacks which took place on Friday morning. Video clips seen by City Round showed one of the victims slaughtered inside his rice farm lying beside a basket of cassava he reportedly harvested before he was attacked. It should be recalled that suspected herdsmen militias under President Muhammadu Buhari, had sacked over 20 farm settlements in Eha-Amufu communities and killed no less than 123 locals between 2019 and 2022, during clashes over farm destruction. A community leader, Ogenyi Odoh, who confirmed the latest attacks and killings, begged for the government’s urgent intervention to stop what he described as murderous attacks by killer herdsmen. He said, “Today three people who went to their f...

 Lakurawa Attacks…Normalcy Returns To Kebbi, Sokoto Communities ....We have flushed out terrorists from LGs, Army declares  ....How sect infiltrated us – Residents  ....New group not present in our areas, say Bauchi villagers Normalcy is gradually returning to communities in seven local government areas of Kebbi and Sokoto states that were recently invaded by a new terror group, Lakurawa. Top state and local government officials, community leaders and residents told our correspondents that the terrorists had fled their areas following a series of military offensives against the insurgents. They also told newsmen how the terror group, whose members came from Mali and Burkina Faso, infiltrated their communities. Following the discovery of the new terror group in the two states, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, assured Nigerians that the President Bola Tinubu-led government would take decisive action to eliminate the terrorists. Ribadu, who emphasised the go...

 Ann-Kio Briggs Criticizes Scrapping of Ministry of Niger Delta – "A Major Mistake," She Says Human rights activist Ann-Kio Briggs has condemned President Bola Tinubu's decision to dissolve the Ministry of Niger Delta. According to earlier reports, President Tinubu abolished the Ministry of Niger Delta in October. A new Ministry of Regional Development was created to manage all development commissions, including the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), South-West Development Commission, North-West Development Commission, North-East Development Commission, and the South-East Development Commission. Briggs, speaking on Channels TV on Friday, expressed her disagreement with the dissolution of the Ministry of Niger Delta, calling it a misguided move. She emphasized that the Ministry was established for a specific purpose. "The Ministry of Niger Delta was created by the late President Umaru Yar'Adua for a reason," she said. "It wasn’t just created for ...

PRESS RELEASE  POLICE PROs CONFERENCE: MILESTONE ACHIEVEMENT TOWARDS MORE EFFECTIVE POLICING, ENDS ON HIGH-NOTE WITH REGIMENTAL DINNER. As Officers Receive Awards for Exemplary Performance. The 2024 Conference of Police Public Relations Officers (PPROs) and Communications Experts held in Asaba, Delta State, from 18th November, finally came to a close on November 21st 2024, with a regimental dinner ceremony to signify the end of the annual conference. The Conference themed “Strengthening the Nigeria Police Force Oversight and Accountability” which aided in equipping PPROs with the required expertise for effective communication, police accountability, improved human relations and public trust, was facilitated by resource persons and experts in the Public Relations sector, NGOs, International organizations and experts in other relevant fields. As a keen reminder of the rewards of hard work and diligence, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D, NPM, represen...

 PRESIDENT TINUBU WRITES NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, SEEKS CONFIRMATION OF LT. GENERAL OLUYEDE AS CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF President Bola Tinubu has sent a letter to the Senate seeking confirmation of Lieutenant General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede's appointment as the substantive Chief of Army Staff.  President Tinubu also despatched a similar letter to the House of Representatives.   In the letters addressed today to both the Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, President Tinubu seeks Oluyede’s confirmation in accordance with the provision of Section 218(2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended and Section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act.   President Tinubu appointed Oluyede as the Acting Chief of Army Staff on October 30 following the illness of Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja.    General Lagbaja, however, died on 5 November.    President Tinubu is confident about the leadership qualities,  professi...

 Putin and Senegal's Faye hold phone talk on counterterrorism Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Senegalese counterpart Bassirou Diomaye Faye discussed counterterrorism efforts in the Sahara-Sahel and West Africa during a Friday call, the Kremlin said, Anadolu Agency reported. The leaders emphasized strengthening Russian-Senegalese ties in trade, investment, and joint projects, particularly in energy, transportation and agriculture, the presidential office said in a statement. "The situation in the Sahara-Sahel and West Africa region was reviewed, focusing on instability caused by terrorist groups," the readout said. Putin also invited Faye to visit Russia. The call coincided with news that Faye’s ruling party won a large majority in parliament in this week’s elections, according to provisional results announced Thursday.

 Court Jails 15 Internet Fraudsters in Benin City   Justice A.N. Erhabor of Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City between November 18 and 20 convicted and sentenced 15 internet fraudsters to various jail terms The convicts are Egbai Jude, Diamond Aliza, Ugochukwu Chijindu, Oboh Isaac, Olabode Bright, Ngbakor Godstime Oghechi, Agbi Paul, Amadin Samuel and Imade Nelson Ikponwonmwosa. Others are Osasenge Eguavoen Daniel, Emeka Ebube, Friday Edosa Elijah, Alfred Stanley Godbless, Ifeanyi Amadi Omote and John Ogheneyole. They were prosecuted on one-count separate charges bordering on obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime and possession of fraudulent documents by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Commission. The charge against Egbai reads: "That you Jude Egbai (m) on or about the 30th of October, 2024 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did have in your possession documents which you knew or ought to have known contained false pretence, there...

 Lagos Assembly Speaker Assures Swift Passage of N3 Trillion 2025 Budget The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Mudashiru Obasa, has assured that there will be no delay in the passage of the 2025 budget, which is estimated at N3.005 trillion. Obasa made this statement following the presentation of the budget by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to the assembly on Thursday in Ikeja. The budget, titled ‘Budget of Sustainability’, includes a total revenue projection of N2.60 trillion and a deficit financing of N408.92 billion. Obasa emphasized that the House will begin working on the budget promptly to ensure its quick passage, prioritizing the welfare of the state’s residents. He appealed to the governor and the people of Lagos to allow the Assembly adequate time for a thorough review of the budget, given its significant impact on the lives of the citizens. “We will not delay the passage of the budget, but we will ensure that the interests of Lagosians are safeguarded, socia...

 Premier League clubs approve changes to APT rules Premier League clubs have voted to approve changes to rules governing commercial deals. At a meeting in London on Friday, clubs took under 30 minutes to approve the changes to Associated Party Transaction regulations (APTs). Clubs voted 16 in favour and four against. Those voting against included Manchester City and Aston Villa, who had both written to clubs before the meeting seeking support. For changes to be approved, a minimum of 14 Premier League clubs needed to vote in favour. Friday's vote came after an independent panel found aspects of the Premier League's rules to be unlawful earlier this year, following a lawsuit instigated by Manchester City. The Premier League said the rule changes relate to "integrating the assessment of shareholder loans" and "include the removal of some of the amendments made to APT rules earlier this year". "The purpose of the APT rules is to ensure clubs are not able t...

 Enugu to Host 2026 National Sports Festival Enugu State has been selected to host the 23rd edition of the National Sports Festival (NSF) in 2026, according to the National Sports Commission (NSC). This announcement was made by NSC Director-General, Bukola Olopade, in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja. The decision follows a competitive bidding process, with Enugu emerging as the chosen location. Olopade expressed confidence that the state would deliver a world-class event. The NSF, a biennial multi-sport event, gathers athletes from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to celebrate sportsmanship and national unity. Before Enugu's turn, the 22nd edition of the festival will take place in Ogun State in January 2025, where over 15,000 athletes are expected to compete. Olopade, who previously chaired the Local Organising Committee for the Ogun 2025 NSF, reaffirmed the NSC’s commitment to supporting the state in delivering a top-tier event. The 23rd edition in Enug...

  Tension Escalates in Isinkan Community Over Alleged Land Grabbing Incident Tension has risen in Isinkan, the headquarters of Akure West LCDA in Ondo State, after suspected land grabbers, allegedly armed with weapons, disrupted an ongoing housing project. Reports suggest that around ten individuals arrived at the construction site in a convoy, chased off workers, and damaged equipment. Sources claim the intruders were acting under the instructions of the Deji of Akureland, Oba Aladelusi Aladetoyinbo. However, Mr. Akin Akinwumi, Secretary to the families who own the land, strongly rejected these allegations. He explained that the property has been in their family for over 500 years and was granted by the Iralepo of Isinkan. The land was surveyed, sold to PWAN Homes Ltd., and developed, and Akinwumi expressed surprise at the reported interference, questioning the Deji’s involvement in the legitimate transaction. The Iralepo of Isinkan, Oba Oluwagbemiga Olofin-Adimula, condemned the ...

 Rivers Court Blocks Wike-backed APC from Holding Congress A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has issued an ex parte order preventing the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, from conducting any elective congresses in Rivers State without including the claimants. The order specifically applies to congresses for local government and state executive committees or any similar events, pending the outcome of the main legal case. The court, led by Justice G.V. Obomanu, also issued an interim injunction stopping the APC from holding congresses scheduled for November 23 and 30, 2024, or any other future dates. The injunction further prohibits the recognition of any winner from the ward congresses held on November 16, 2024, until the motion is heard. The suit was filed by Okwu Joebrown-Ndike, Peace Oganu, and Samuel Uchegbule, APC members seeking various positions in the congresses. They claimed that despite paying for nomination forms, they ...

 Hemp Smokers Blamed for Fire that Destroyed Classrooms at Niger School On the evening of Thursday, November 21, 2024, a block of classrooms at Limawa Day Secondary School in Minna, Niger State, was destroyed by fire. The blaze is suspected to have been caused by a group of hemp smokers. Firefighters from the Niger State Federal Fire Service quickly arrived at the scene and managed to control the flames. Eyewitnesses reported that a group of young boys frequently gathered on the school grounds to smoke hemp. Ibrahim Mohammed, an eyewitness, explained that the fire was likely sparked by a burning cigarette butt discarded by the group. “These boys regularly come here to smoke weed, and with the harmattan season, things catch fire easily. Yesterday, they left a burning butt in one of the classrooms, which eventually ignited the fire,” Mohammed said. He added, “Just the other day, some colleagues and I were here for a program and saw these boys smoking. We left in a group to avoid any ...

 Murder Charge: Evans' Re-Arraignment Delayed Due to Lawyer's Absence The re-arraignment of convicted billionaire kidnapper Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, aka Evans, was delayed on Thursday at the Lagos State High Court due to the absence of his lawyer. When the case was called before Justice Adenike Coker, she inquired about Evans' legal representation, to which Evans responded that he was unsure whether his lawyer would appear. Evans and his co-defendant, Joseph Emeka, were scheduled to be re-arraigned on amended charges, including murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, and attempted murder. Nelson Onyejaka, the lawyer for the second defendant, informed the court that he had been unable to reach Evans' lawyer despite multiple attempts, including phone calls earlier that morning. He further clarified that the lawyer was not based in Lagos. State Prosecutor Yusuf Sule noted that the re-arraignment had been repeatedly delayed by the absence of Evans' l...

 Oil Theft: DHQ Rejects Tompolo’s Allegations Against Navy The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed as “laughable” the allegations made by Government Ekpemuopolo, also known as Tompolo, accusing the Nigerian Navy of sabotaging efforts to combat crude oil theft. In a response to Tompolo’s claims, Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, stated that the DHQ would not engage in a back-and-forth with Tompolo, emphasizing that the Navy’s successful operations in curbing oil theft in the Niger Delta are evident in the increase in crude oil production. Buba stressed that the Navy’s efforts were visible for all to see, and the focus should be on cooperation rather than conflict. Tompolo had accused Navy personnel of hindering the work of Tantita Security Services, the group he leads, in the fight against oil theft. He called for national unity to address the issue and protect the country’s economy. Buba also addressed the killing of three soldiers in Abia State ...

 Bode George Urges Wike to Resolve Dispute with Fubara, Stresses No One is Above PDP Elder statesman Bode George has urged the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to end his ongoing conflict with Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Speaking to the press on Thursday, George criticized party members and leaders for failing to intervene and hold Wike accountable. He emphasized that no one is bigger than the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and warned against allowing any individual to dominate the party. George questioned the cause of the friction in Rivers State, asking, "What exactly has Governor Fubara done wrong? Why are party members indifferent to what’s happening in the state?" He reminded the party that Wike had played a key role in Fubara’s rise to the governorship, a fact Wike himself has acknowledged. George condemned those supporting Wike’s attempts to destabilize the state, accusing him of trying to control Rivers from Abuja. George also crit...

 Moghalu to Tinubu’s Government: Hope is Not a Strategy Amid Economic Hardship Amid ongoing economic struggles and rising poverty in Nigeria, Kingsley Moghalu, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has emphasized that hope alone is not a solution. While expressing his optimism for Nigeria's future, Moghalu stressed the need for a more effective governance approach. He called for improving the state's capacity to govern effectively and urged Nigerians to confront the root causes of the nation's issues honestly. In a post on X, Moghalu stated: “Despite the current challenges, I remain hopeful about Nigeria. But hope alone is not enough. We need to strengthen state capacity for effective governance. We must fix our problems or risk being overwhelmed by them. There is no alternative to a renegotiated union. “We must confront our issues honestly. Why ignore them when the solutions are within reach? Continuing this approach will eventually harm everyone, ev...

 Kanji and Jebba Power Plants Suffer N30bn Losses Due to Grid Failures The Kanji and Jebba power plants have incurred losses totaling approximately N30.5bn from grid failures between 2022 and 2024. These external losses were caused by the frequent collapses of the national grid. The latest incident occurred last Thursday, marking the 11th grid collapse in 2024, which disrupted both business operations and daily life. Consumers, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), and other stakeholders have expressed concern over the negative impact of these disruptions on the economy. The Federal Government has attributed the recurring grid collapses to the destruction of critical infrastructure, such as transmission towers and transformers, as well as outdated equipment at transmission substations. It has cited factors including aging infrastructure, insufficient maintenance and investment, and possible sabotage by unarmed groups as significant contributors to the ongoing problem. Power ge...

 A group of California teens "go vigilante" to bring down a predator. The Riverside County Sheriff Department were called on Friday to a park in Temecula, California.  Once on the scene, they made contact with approximately 20 teens who were using their phones to record an incident that was unfolding. Once authorities were able to get to the bottom of what was happening, they learned 46-year-old William Vanderbush (pictured below)  had sent nude photos to one of the teens in the group. He had also made plans to meet up at the park with the minor to engage in  "very intimate acts". It appears the group of teens had manufactured the online encounter in order to lure Mr. Vanderbush out and expose him as a child predator.  William Vanderbush was taken into custody and charged with sending harmful material to a minor, contacting a minor for sexual purposes and arranging to meet a minor for sexual purposes. Authorities were happy to get an offender off of the street b...

 2  Illinois men arrested after causing a train to derail.  An engineer from Union Pacific noticed 2 men near a derailing device at the crossing in the 100 block of Sanitation Road near Bartonville, Illinois. Moments later the train went off the track, burying its wheels in gravel. No one was injured, however a crane was needed to right the train and they estimate damages at around $80,000. Burtonsville police were able to quickly locate 20-year-old Jimmy Johnson and 18-year-old Caleb Finley walking near the derailment site. After questioning, the two admitted to intentionally moving the derailing device, so they could watch the train derailing. The two were arrested and charged with criminal damage to property, criminal trespass and reckless conduct. (And to think my mom and dad had me terrified to leave a penny (so it could be flattened) on the railroad tracks I grew up next to. I felt guilty for even thinking about it. Lol.)