PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

 So Linus Williams (Blord) has been released from Kuje prison after fulfilling his bail conditions, finally, freedom after a few weeks in custody. However, here’s the current position of his case:  He is still expected to show up and stand his trial.  If he fails to appear in court even for one day, his bail can be revoked and a bench warrant may be issued against him, meaning a return to Kuje. If the prosecution cannot prove the charges against him, he will be discharged and acquitted. If the prosecution proves the charges, he may be sentenced and sent back to Kuje. I think he should seek a peaceful resolution to the case. Congrats to him on his freedom for now.

 Nigerian Media Personality Roby Ekpo Breaks Down in Tears Over Wife’s Alleged Remarriage in US Popular Nigerian media personality, Roby Ekpo, was overcome with emotion as he recounted the painful breakdown of his marriage during a podcast appearance, revealing how he allegedly discovered that his wife had remarried in the United States after years of separation and financial support from him. In an emotional episode of the Honest Bunch Podcast, which is yet to be released, Ekpo fought back tears while narrating the events that led to the collapse of his decade-long marriage. The broadcaster said he only became aware of the full extent of the marital crisis after stumbling upon private messages in which his wife, Mayowa, allegedly expressed deep dissatisfaction with their relationship. Quoting parts of the message, Ekpo read:   “I don’t even care if he loves me or not because what can love do for me besides stress me? He isn’t taking care of me as a man should. He isn’t s...

 President Tinubu Approves New Police Academy Campus in Ogun State, Releases N15 Billion Take-Off Grant President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of a new campus of the Nigeria Police Academy in Erinja, Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State. In a statement issued on Monday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the President also approved a special take-off grant of N15 billion for the new campus. The approval is in line with the provisions of the Nigeria Police Academy (Establishment) Act, 2021, which allows for the expansion of the main academy in Wudil, Kano State, into multiple campuses across the country. The N15 billion intervention fund will be drawn from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TetFund) 2026 allocation. It is earmarked for the development of priority infrastructure, academic facilities, student accommodation, and core training assets. The siting of the new campus in Erinja followed the recommendati...

 Algeria sentences ex-minister to five years in jail for corruption Algeria's former industry minister, Ali Aoun, was sentenced on Monday to five years in prison after being convicted of corruption, local media reported. Prosecutors had sought a 12-year sentence, according to the reports. Algerian media said the case centred on the irregular sales of ferrous and non-ferrous metal waste in violation of public asset management rules. Aoun was minister for industry between 2022 and 2024.

 Chad to send 1,500 troops to Haiti, 400 already deployed Chad plans to send 1,500 personnel to Haiti, its presidential office said in a letter to lawmakers distributed on Monday, as part of its contribution to a UN-backed security force that aims to be 5,500-strong by this summer, Reuters reported. Some 400 Chadian personnel are already in Haiti, the letter said, after a group deployed on April 1 alongside a new leader of the force, which was restructured late last year. Chad plans to send two battalions of 750 personnel each for a period of 12 months from April, the letter added. Around 1,000 troops had previously deployed, mostly police from Kenya but also smaller numbers of personnel from a handful of countries in Central America and the Caribbean. Number of displaced persons increases Although the volunteer-based force reached just 40% of its initial planned size of 2,500, last October this goal was expanded to 5,500. Some troops have begun withdrawing. Officials from Mongolia...

 LASTMA PROMPTLY RESPONDS TO FATAL CRASH AT OKOKOMAIKO … Rescues Seven Victims At Ogudu Accident The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) swiftly responded to a tragic road incident that resulted in the death of a roadside hawker at Okokomaiko, alongside a separate collision at Ogudu inward Toll Gate where seven injured passengers were successfully rescued. The fatal incident at Okokomaiko involved a Lexus Jeep with registration number SMK 674 HY. The crash led to the untimely death of an adult male hawker. LASTMA officials responded swiftly to the distress call, securing the accident scene and evacuating the remains of the deceased from the carriageway. Subsequently, Officers of the Nigeria Police Force from Ketu Division conveyed the body to the Badagry Mortuary for further necessary procedures. In a separate development, LASTMA personnel also intervened promptly in a collision at Ogudu inward Toll Gate involving a Mazda commercial bus (MUS 231 YA) and a Lexus Jeep (...

SANWO-OLU IN LONDON SEEKS FOREIGN INVESTMENTS, PARTNERSHIPS   •Governor charges Commonwealth states to bring capital, technology, expertise to Lagos The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday charged the Commonwealth’s 56 member states to invest in Africa, particularly Lagos, by bringing their capital, technology and other expertise, promising that they will find not just market and opportunity but partner and relationship.   He said the Commonwealth's greatest advantage is not simply its shared language, shared laws or shared history but its people, noting that nowhere is that advantage more vivid, dynamic or consequential than in Africa.   Speaking as a Keynote Speaker at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Trade and Investment Summit held at Mansion House, London, on Monday, Governor Sanwo-Olu said Lagos is ready for partnerships and relationships with global investors.   The theme of the opening session is “The Commonwealth's Advantage". ...

 POLICE REFORMS: IGP DISU RESTRUCTURES MONITORING UNIT, APPOINTS DCP ALIYU ABUBAKAR AS HEAD OF THE UNIT The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM, has approved the comprehensive restructuring of the Police Monitoring Unit as part of ongoing institutional reforms aimed at enhancing operational effectiveness, strengthening internal oversight, and reinforcing discipline across the Nigeria Police Force. The restructuring is necessitated by the need to refocus the Unit on its core mandate, address identified operational inefficiencies, and reposition it as a credible and effective internal accountability mechanism within the Force. As part of the reorganisation, the Unit has been streamlined and strengthened to enhance proactive monitoring, intelligence-driven inspections, and real-time oversight of police personnel and operations across Commands, Formations, and Departments. The restructured framework also harmonises key investigative and monitoring functio...

 OTUKPO KIDNAPPING: POLICE RESCUE ALL ABDUCTED BENUE LINKS PASSENGERS, INCLUDING STUDENTS, ARREST SUSPECTS The Nigeria Police Force has achieved a major operational breakthrough with the rescue of all victims abducted in the Otukpo kidnapping incident involving passengers of a Benue Links bus on 15 April 2026. Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the Benue State Police Command launched coordinated clearance operations across the Amla Forest corridor and adjoining areas. These efforts led to the safe recovery of the remaining 13 victims, including eight students en route to Otukpo for their UTME examinations. In total, all 18 passengers have now been accounted for. Each rescued individual has undergone medical evaluation, is in stable condition, and will be reunited with their families after debriefing. In the course of the operation, seven suspects were arrested, three of whom have been positively identified as members of the kidnapping syndicate. Investigations are ongoi...

 ADC Stakeholder, Engr. Shadrack Katung Majison, Calls For Calm Over Zangon Kataf/Jaba Reps Seat Dispute  A stakeholder of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Engr. Shadrack Katung Majison, has called for caution and restraint among party faithful and political stakeholders in Zango State Constituency over ongoing agitation for the House of Representatives seat to return to Zango Kataf Local Government Area. In a statement issued from Madauchi, Zonkwa Ward, Majison acknowledged the longstanding gentleman’s agreement to rotate the House of Representatives seat between Zango Kataf and Jaba LGAs. However, he clarified that there has never been any formal arrangement to micro-zone the position to specific wards or blocs within Zango Kataf. He noted that recent political developments should be viewed within a broader context, citing the election of Senator Sunday Marshall Katung as an example of a regional contest involving all eight local governments in the zone.  Accordin...

TROOPS DISRUPT TERRORISTS’ SUPPLY ROUTE, INTERCEPT COURIERS WITH AMMUNITION IN KOGI STATE Troops of 12 Brigade Nigerian Army, over a span of three months have intensified a series of operations and intelligence driven efforts aimed at cracking down on terrorists and dismantling their logistics supply networks within the operational environment. In one of such operations, troops deployed along  Road Jamata–Owara in Lokoja Local Government Area on 29 March 2026, intercepted a suspected terrorist logistics courier riding a motorcycle. Troops further carried out an intensive search on the motorcycle which revealed it had been specially modified with a concealed compartment for the covert conveyance of ammunition, in addition to other items. Preliminary findings further established links between the suspect and known terrorist elements, leading to follow-on operations. Following the arrest of high-profile terrorist ammunition courier, Mathew Elisha (alias Nasara), who had been on securi...

 Judge rejects Amy Winehouse's father’s lawsuit over sale of singer’s personal items  A London judge has ruled against Mitch Winehouse in a legal dispute over the sale of personal belongings once owned by his late daughter, singer Amy Winehouse. Mitch Winehouse, who serves as the administrator of the singer’s estate, brought the case against Naomi Parry and Catriona Gourlay, alleging they improperly profited from the sale of her memorabilia. He claimed the pair had no right to sell the items and did so without his knowledge, arguing they should not have benefited from the auctions. Amy Winehouse died in 2011 at the age of 27 from alcohol poisoning at her home in London, bringing an end to a career that made her one of the most recognizable voices of her generation. The dispute centered on roughly 150 personal items, including clothing, accessories, and stage pieces such as dresses, shoes, scarves, earrings, and handbags. Parry, who worked as Winehouse’s stylist, and Gourlay sa...

 Obama’s Higher Ground production company ends Netflix exclusivity, shifts to independent model Barack and Michelle Obama’s production company, Higher Ground, is moving toward an independent operating model after eight years of collaboration with Netflix. Barack Obama announced the shift during a Saturday event in Philadelphia that brought together figures from media, sports, and entertainment as part of celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the United States. Both Barack and Michelle Obama appeared on separate panels where they discussed the company’s work and future plans. The former president said the company is grateful for its long-running partnership with Netflix but is now transitioning toward a structure that will allow it to work with a wider range of studios and platforms. Higher Ground originally signed a production deal with Netflix in 2018, later extending that relationship in 2024 through a multiyear first-look arrangement covering film and television projects...

Tyler Reddick grabs fifth win of NASCAR season as 23XI Racing surges with dominant early-year run  Tyler Reddick continued a blistering start to the NASCAR Cup Series season on Sunday, earning his fifth victory of the year with a dramatic last-lap pass of reigning champion Kyle Larson at Kansas Speedway. The win marked Reddick’s fifth triumph in just nine races, a start to a season matched only a handful of times in NASCAR’s premier series and not seen since Dale Earnhardt opened the 1987 campaign with a similar surge. That year, Earnhardt went on to add six more wins and capture a championship, raising expectations for what Reddick’s current pace could mean if it continues. Reddick, who drives for the 23XI Racing team co-owned by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan, acknowledged the strong start but emphasized the season is still young. He noted that competition is expected to tighten as the year progresses, but credited his team for consistently maximizing race days and capitalizing ...

 Geneva man charged with murder after missing man found dead in motel room, deputies say     A Geneva man has been charged with second-degree murder after a missing 37-year-old man was found dead inside a motel room, authorities said. Police arrested 29-year-old Julius Ware IV on Sunday, with the charge announced Monday. Officials said Ware had been released on parole from state prison just 10 days before the arrest. He is accused of intentionally killing Emmanuel Richelieu of Farmington. Richelieu was reported missing after his brother called 911 on Friday evening, saying he had not heard from him in two days. Investigators tracked Richelieu’s cellphone to a motel on Hamilton Street in Geneva. Although the phone was located at the property, Richelieu was not with it. Authorities said a search using a bloodhound led them to Room 118 inside the motel, where they ultimately discovered Richelieu’s body on Saturday. Deputies said the room had been rented by Ware. Officia...

 Starmer admits error over Peter Mandelson UK ambassador appointment amid failed security vetting, and Jeffrey Epstein ties, calls to resign grow     British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has admitted he made an error of judgment in appointing Peter Mandelson as the United Kingdom’s ambassador to Washington, saying he would not have approved the move if he had been aware that Mandelson had failed security vetting. Starmer made the comments in the House of Commons on Monday, as he faced intense questioning from lawmakers over how the appointment went ahead despite the unresolved security concerns. Starmer said he was not informed that Mandelson had not passed an intensive vetting process and placed responsibility on Foreign Office officials, arguing that the information “could and should have been shared” before Mandelson took up the post. He insisted the appointment followed proper procedures, but said he was “furious” that he had not been made aware of the security as...

 Korir shatters Boston Marathon course record, Lokedi repeats as champion John Korir shattered the Boston Marathon course record on Monday, defending his title with a blistering 2:01:52 performance in conditions aided by a light tailwind. The mark is the fifth-fastest marathon time in history and erased the previous Boston course record by 70 seconds, as he pulled away on the Newton Hills before sealing the win on Boylston Street. Fellow Kenyan Sharon Lokedi also successfully defended her crown, winning the women’s race in 2:18:51 after taking control in the Newton section and steadily extending her lead to the finish. The elite fields delivered historic depth across both races, with multiple athletes finishing under the previous course record in the men’s competition, including Alphonce Felix Simbu and Benson Kipruto. Zouhair Talbi placed fifth in 2:03:45, recording the fastest marathon time ever by an American-born competitor in the men’s race, while Jess McClain also set an Amer...

 D4vd charged with murder in death of teen Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose remains were found in singer’s vehicle, authorities say Recording artist D4vd has been formally charged with murder in connection with the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, a teenager whose decomposed remains were discovered last September inside a vehicle registered to the singer, authorities said. D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, was arrested last week by Los Angeles police and is being held without bail. Prosecutors said the decision to bring charges followed coordination among law enforcement agencies reviewing the case. The case stems from the disappearance of Hernandez, who was reported missing from her home at age 13 nearly two years before her remains were found. Investigators later identified her body in a Tesla tied to Burke, discovered after the vehicle was towed from near a Hollywood Hills residence where he had been staying. Officials said employees at the tow yard opened the car af...

 Turkey court sentences 8 people over deadly Antalya cable car accident that killed 1 and stranded 174 tourists     A court in southern Turkey has sentenced eight people to prison terms in connection with a 2024 cable car accident in Antalya that left one person dead and seven others injured. Four defendants were convicted of causing death and injury through negligence, and each received a sentence of seven and a half years in prison. The remaining four were sentenced to between three years and four months and five years for the same offense. The accident occurred on April 12, 2024, when a cable car gondola struck a pole, broke open, and sent passengers falling onto rocks below. The incident triggered a system shutdown, leaving 174 tourists stranded in midair for up to 23 hours before rescue teams brought them down safely. The cable car connects Konyaalti Beach with a restaurant and viewing platform atop the 618-meter Tunektepe peak, a popular tourist destination in ...

 Hungary’s election winner Péter Magyar unveils first Cabinet picks after landslide defeat of Viktor Orbán’s party     Hungarian election winner Péter Magyar has unveiled the first lineup of his incoming government’s Cabinet, naming nominees for key posts including foreign affairs, finance, and economy following the initial meeting of his party’s parliamentary group. Magyar and his center-right Tisza Party secured a sweeping victory over Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in the April 12 election, winning a two-thirds parliamentary majority that positions them to roll back many of Orbán’s policies from his 16 years in power. The result gives Tisza 141 seats in the 199-member legislature, the largest majority in Hungary’s post-communist history, while Orbán’s Fidesz party dropped to 52 seats from 135. Magyar has pledged to rebuild democratic institutions, strengthen the rule of law, and pursue accountability for what he describes as entrenched corruption under the outgoing govern...

 Iran warns it may tighten Strait of Hormuz control as US-Iran talks approach amid blackout and rising tensions Iranian citizens under an ongoing internet blackout reportedly received a government message warning that the country intends to increase “supervision and control” over maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz ahead of anticipated U.S.-Iran negotiations. The message, attributed to a senior national security official, said Iran would maintain firm negotiating positions and defend what it described as national interests and sovereignty. It also referenced recent conflict-related casualties in strong ideological terms, highlighting the heightened rhetoric surrounding the diplomatic standoff. The Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil shipping chokepoint connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, has become a central flashpoint as tensions between the United States and Iran continue to escalate. Any disruption in the waterway could have significan...

Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman reunite as witch sisters in first Practical Magic 2 trailer Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman are back as the Owens sisters in the first trailer for “Practical Magic 2,” released Monday, with the longtime co-stars reprising their roles from the 1998 cult classic. The sequel follows Sally and Gillian Owens as they continue navigating their family’s inherited magical legacy, now also guiding the next generation as their children begin to learn about their powers. The story revisits the sisters’ struggle with a longstanding curse that has haunted their family for generations, threatening the romantic lives of the women in their lineage and bringing deadly consequences to the men they fall in love with. In the teaser, Bullock’s character acknowledges the family’s troubled history with a darkly humorous line about how “everyone we love dies,” while Kidman’s character adds a joke about the curse’s unfortunate effect on modern dating. The original film’s witch ...

  Tragedy Strikes As Promising Councillor Hon. Chukwuma Okpalauzuegbu Is Laid To Rest On Intended wedding Day  By Charity Ejiofor  A day that was meant to mark a joyful union has instead become one of deep sorrow for family, friends, and the Aguata community, following the sudden passing of Hon. Chukwuma Christopher Okpalauzuegbu, the councillor representating Amesi Ward. Hon. Okpalauzuegbu fondly known as Chuma, had been preparing to celebrate his wedding ceremony, an event filled with hope, promise and carefully laid plans. Loved ones, and sponsors, ready to stand beside him as he embark on a new chapter of life. In an unexpected and heart breaking turn of events, those dreams were cut short. Instead of celebration, family members gathered in mourning as his remains were received at Aguata Local Government Area congress of councillors.  The loss had left a profound void, with tributes pouring in to honor a man remembered for his dedication, warmth, and service to h...

 Investment Fraud: Witnesses Tell Court How they were Scammed in Afriq Arbitrage System The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, April 16, 2026, presented Prosecution Witnesses 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, FCT Abuja in the ongoing trial of Jesam Michael Ubi and Afriq Arbitrage System, AAS for their alleged involvement in investment fraud. The witnesses who are victims of Ubi, the first defendant’s arbitrage trading platform, Afriq Arbitrage System, AAS,  testified on the loss of their investment capital and promised return on investment. Led in their testimony by the prosecution counsel,  Ekele Iheanacho SAN, PW12, Okoye Eugene, a welder, told the court that he invested in an investment platform called COTPS which crashed. He disclosed that the first defendant through the investment’s social media group, encouraged him to continue investing even as it became apparent to him that he had been scammed....

 Court Admits Nine Exhibits Against Malami and Family A  Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja and presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik  on Monday,  April 20, 2026 admitted nine exhibits against  a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN,  alongside his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami. The exhibits were presented before the court by the  Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in its ongoing trial of the former Minister and some family members.  The EFCC is prosecuting the defendants on an amended 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities to the tune of N8,713,923,759.49 (Eight Billion, Seven Hundred and Thirteen Million, Nine Hundred and Twenty-Three Thousand, Seven Hundred and Fifty-Nine Naira, Forty-Nine Kobo), contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prev...

The Labour Party (LP) has clarified that it has not adopted any candidate or aspirant ahead of the 2027 general elections in Nigeria. In an interview, the party's National Vice Chairman, Ceekay Igara, stated that the party currently has no official candidate or aspirant at this stage.Igara emphasized that only the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Labour Party possesses the authority to adopt or endorse any candidate. He warned that any individual claiming the party has already adopted a candidate, including reports suggesting an endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for a second term, is speaking in their personal capacity and not on behalf of the party. The statement comes amid speculation about political alignments and possible cross-party endorsements as Nigeria approaches the next electoral cycle. The Labour Party stressed that no such decision has been made, and any future adoption process will follow due party procedures through the NEC.