Politically Exposed Person (PEP) Weekly Digest – Volume 148

148th PEP Weekly Digest:

Introducing the 148th edition of The PEP Weekly Digest, where we present to you the most recent updates and news on the global political stage.

Recent and upcoming elections influence the worldwide political landscape in eight nations, slated between Mar 22, 2026 and Apr 19, 2026. These elections hold significant importance, as they will determine the direction and governance of each respective country’s future.

Yusuf Tuggar Resigns as Foreign Affairs Minister Ahead of 2027 Bauchi Governorship Bid

One noteworthy event has occurred in Nigeria: the minister of foreign affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has resigned from his position.

Mr Tuggar’s resignation was confirmed in a Facebook post by his spokesperson, AlKasim Abdulkadir.
PREMIUM TIMES had reported that Mr Tuggar would resign as he prepares to seek the APC ticket to be the governor of Bauchi State.

President Bola Tinubu had asked ministers and other political appointees seeking to contest in 2027 to resign from their current positions by 31 March.

Mr Tuggar’s resignation came a day before the deadline.

Mr Tuggar, who confirmed his resignation, said his resignation letter was formally submitted to the president earlier that day through the Office of the Secretary of Government in Abuja.

Donald Trump Removes Pam Bondi as Attorney General, Names Todd Blanche as Replacement

Shifting our focus to the United States, US President Donald Trump has removed Attorney General Pam Bondi—a longtime ally and fierce defender of his administration – from her post as America’s top law enforcement officer.

Trump praised her in a post on Truth Social and said she would be “transitioning” to a role in the private sector.

Bondi’s time leading the justice department was often overshadowed by its handling of the release of files relating to Jeffrey Epstein and its investigation into the convicted sex offender.

She is the second Trump administration official in recent weeks to be cut from her post, after Kristi Noem was ousted as homeland security chief in March. Bondi will be replaced by her former deputy, Todd Blanche.

Blanche denied US media reports that Bondi’s handling of the Epstein files had been a factor in Trump’s thinking.

Vjosa Osmani Ends Mandate, Hands Power to Albulena Haxhiu Amid Political Deadlock

In Kosovo, the president of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, ends her mandate today, April 4, 2026.

In the absence of an election of a new president, Osmani hands over the task to the Speaker of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, Albulena Haxhiu.

The handover ceremony will be held at the President’s Office at 16:00 PM.
“At 16:00, the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, will hand over her duties to the Speaker of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, Albulena Haxhiu. The ceremonial act of handing over and accepting duties will be held in the President’s Cabinet,” the Presidency’s announcement states.

Reserve Bank of India Fines Two Cooperative Banks for Regulatory and KYC Violations

In the realm of regulatory affairs, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed monetary penalties on two cooperative banks for regulatory lapses, reinforcing its focus on compliance and governance in the sector.

A penalty of Rs 1.50 lakh was imposed on the Davanagere District Central Co-operative Bank Limited for violating provisions of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and failing to comply with Know Your Customer (KYC) norms.

The irregularities, identified during an inspection by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development as of March 31, 2025, included holding shares in other co-operatives, issuing multiple customer IDs instead of a Unique Customer Identification Code, and delays in uploading KYC data to the Central KYC Records Registry (CKYCR).

In a separate action, RBI fined Nagar Sahakari Bank Limited Rs 3 lakh for violations related to director-linked lending, improper NPA classification, breach of exposure limits, and KYC non-compliance.

RBI clarified that the penalties are based on compliance deficiencies and do not impact customer transactions, while further action may follow if required.

Delhi Court Sentences Rajendra Bharti, Ex-Bank Employee to 3 Years for Forgery and Cheating Case

Shifting our attention to India, a Delhi court sentenced Madhya Pradesh Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti and a former bank employee to three years’ imprisonment each in a cheating case involving the forging of bank records to obtain illegal interest payments between 1998 and 2011.

Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh, while underlining that “restitution would serve justice better than physical incarceration”, also imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh each on Bharti and former cashier Raghuvir Sharan Prajapati.

The duo was convicted under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery of a valuable security), 468 (forgery for cheating) and 471 (using a forged document as genuine).

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