Gist Arena

India is partially lifting a ban on online pornography after public outrage over this past weekend's clampdown on 857 websites, Indian news outlets reported Tuesday. The government will continue to block sites that promote child pornography, India Today and The Times of India reported. "A new notification will be issued shortly. The ban will be partially withdrawn. Sites that do not promote child porn will be unbanned," Information and Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told India Today TV. India had ordered Internet service providers to block the 857 websites starting Friday, deeming their content "immoral and indecent." The move came after the nation's supreme court ruled last month that banning pornographic websites is not its job, but the elected government. The ban drew sharp criticism across the nation, including from Bollywood celebrities. Experts warned the move could merely result in a boom for the adult porn ind...

Plans by former First Lady and wife of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience Jonathan, to hijack the All Progressive Congress in Bayelsa State to foist a candidate of her choice in the forthcoming governorship election in Bayelsa State has been uncovered. A group simply known as the ‘Forum For Political Freedom in Bayelsa State’ (FOPOF) accused the former First Lady of using illegally acquired wealth to heavily fund and create a power bloc in the APC in Bayelsa State, using members of the defunct Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) whom she equally used to undermine the leadership of the PDP in the State in the period leading up to the last presidential election which the husband lost. According to the Director General of FOPOF, Elder Adenzi Kakarite, the majority of those defecting from the PDP to the APC are not only her close associates, but vocal members of the defunct TAN in Bayelsa State, whom she wants to use to impose a candidate of her choice to ru...

According to eye witnesses in Ogbor Hill in Aba, Abia state, a baby was delivered yesterday at a Hospital in Ogbor Hill without face.  Below is a photo of the faceless baby:

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has banned the payment of cash into domiciliary accounts in the country. In a circular released on Wednesday and signed by Olakanmi Gbadamosi, the director of trade and exchange, the central bank said its action followed recent statements by individual banks suspending the payment of foreign currencies into domiciliary accounts. Gbadamosi wrote: “The Central Bank of Nigeria has considered the recent statements by Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) concerning the large volume of foreign currencies in their vaults and the decision to stop accepting foreign currency cash deposits into customers’ domiciliary accounts as a welcome development. “Therefore, in its continued efforts to stop illicit financial flows in the Nigerian banking system which aligns with the anti-money Laundering stance of the Federal Government, the CBN hereby prohibits from the date of this circular the acceptance of foreign currency cash deposits by DMBs. “ For foreign currency cash ...

Press statement from the Nigerian Senator below... Senator Hope Uzodimma has absolved himself from indebtedness to the First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited, insisting that he has neither borrowed from the bank nor been notified of any indebtedness by FCMB. Reacting to the list of alleged delinquent debtors released by First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited on Wednesday, Uzodimma challenged the bank to provide details of his so-called indebtedness to it. He said companies which he served on their boards and had earlier obtained loans under strict business transactions, had liquidated all such loans and this could be verified by the Credit Bureau Search Portal of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). “For the bank to publish my name as a debtor, is callous and an attempt to disparage me. I feel pained that people who have worked to the levels of command and leadership are made targets of press war, mischief and ridicule. I have no banking relationship with FCMB. I haves ...

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak confirmed that the wreckage found on Reunion Island last week belongs to the Malaysia Airlines plane that went missing with 239 passengers and crew on board in March, 2014. "The international team of experts have conclusively confirmed that the aircraft debris found on Reunion Island is indeed from MH370," he said in a televised statement Below is the Prime Minister’s statement in full: On 8 March 2014, flight MH370 from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing disappeared. The days, weeks and months that followed have been a period of torment for the families of those on board. The plane’s disappearance was without precedent. At every stage, we followed the tiny amount of evidence that existed. But, despite the efforts of 26 nations and the largest search in aviation history, from the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean, the plane could not be located. Neither could investigations by the world’s leading aviation experts answer why MH370 ...

Ekiti governor seen dancing with his people at Ikere Ekiti today where he attended the ground breaking ceremony of ultra modern Elegberun Market. Another photo below

Its double blessing for the new NNPC boss because few days after his pronouncement as the new NNPC chief, his daughter Nkem welcomed a bouncing baby boy. See the very cute baby below

This was when current governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike  use to see former governor Rotimi Amaechi as his 'boss'..but things have fallen apart. But a boss will always be a boss

Read the rest below and tell us what you think...

Read the press statement below... Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has taken a swipe at the Federal Government anti-corruption stance, describing it as mere noise-making, witch-hunt and diversionary tactic to hoodwink the public into overlooking the seeming failure of the government to deliver on its electoral promises. The governor said; “If President Buhari knows exactly where the stolen funds are kept and who looted the funds, he does not need all these public announcements. Rather, he should make public names of the looters and bring back the purported stolen funds, location of which he has identified. It is when he is able to bring back the money that he should make announcements of recovered funds.” Governor Fayose who spoke through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said; “You don't announce a process to the public. Rather, you announce the results because that is what is of interest to the people. It is l...

Honorable Desmond Elliot and other members of the Lagos state House of Assembly are currently in the US for a US conference for legislators holding in Washington DC. Continue to see more photos ..

Barely 24 hours after a new group Managing director was appointed for NNPC, the Executive Directors of the oil corporation have been sacked effective immediately while their replacements have been appointed by the Federal government . The GEDs fired are Mr. Ian Udoh leading Refining and Petrochemicals, Mr. Adebayo Ibirogba leading the Engineering and Technical team, Dr. David Ige leading Gas and Power, Dr. Attahir Yusuf leading Business Development; Dr. Dan Efebo leading Corporate Services, Mr. Bernard Otti in charge of Finance and Accounts, Ms. Aisha Abdurrahman leading Commerce and Investments, and Mr. Joseph Dawha leading Exploration and Production. The new replacements and their offices are Refining and Engineering Dr. M.K Baru; Exploration and Production, Denis Nnamdi; Commercial and Investment, Bankole Komolafe and Finance which now has Isiaka AbdulRazak as Group Executive Director.

Governor Ambode this morning swore in 19 permanent secretaries at a ceremony which held at the Conference Room of the Lagos House Ikeja. Ambode urged the permanent secretaries to ensure that the interest of the residents of the state comes first. The new permanent secretaries are Mr. Bamgboye Abiodun; Mrs. Dapo-Thomas Boladele Aderemi; Mrs. Ariyo Elizabeth Olabisi; Mrs. Adekanye Adebunmi Elizabeth; Mr. Bode Agoro; Dr. (Mrs.) Ayandele Olufolayimika Abiose; Dr. (Mrs.) Sodeinde Nuriat Ibironke; Mr. Odeyemi Mohammed Adesina; Mrs. Odulana Arinola Olufunmilayo, Mrs. Onisarotu Adesina Jemil; Engr. Bade-Adebowale Ajibade Caster; Mrs. Amosu Sewande Ayodele; Mr. Kadiri Abayomi Adebisi; Mrs. Anifowoshe Amidat Abiola; Mr. Adeyemi Folarin Anthony; Dr. (Mrs.) Oduwole Olanike Elizabeth; Mr. Mustapha Abdul Ahmed Olorunfemi; Mrs. Odunlami Funlola Adesola and Mr. Odupitan James Olusola.

An angry Internally Displaced woman at the National Youth Service Camp in Damare, Adamawa state, today openly accused NEMA officials of stealing & selling relief materials meant for Internally Displaced Persons in the state. The coordinator for NEMA, Sa’ad Bello was briefing deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu who was in the state to assess the conditions of the IDP camps when the woman interrupted their discussion and accused the agency of theft. “It is a lie. We are not well taken care of. We only eat twice daily and it is always rice. They sell the material brought to us. They also buy cows with money meant for our upkeep, please we want to go home,” she said. The obviously angry NEMA coordinator rebuked the woman and described her as being mad.

Press statement from Presidency In keeping with his avowed commitment to working for the development and well-being of all Nigerians, President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday in Abuja approved several actions to fast-track the long delayed implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Report on the environmental restoration of Ogoniland.  The actions approved by  President Buhari, based on recommendations to him by the Executive Director of UNEP, the UNEP Special Representative for Ogoniland, Permanent Secretaries of the Federal Ministries of Environment and Petroleum Resources, and other stakeholders, include the amendment of the Official Gazette establishing the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP) to reflect a new governance framework comprising a Governing Council, a Board of Trustees and Project Management. The President further approved that the HYPREP Governing Council should be composed as follows: Ministry of Petroleum Res...

Read the EFCC press statement below.. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Monday 3rd August 2015, arraigned one Bawa Momodu before Justice I.E Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on a 16-count charge bordering on forgery, uttering and stealing to the tune of N27million. The petitioner, Sterling bank Plc, alleged that Momodu, a former staff of the bank, stole about N27m from the account of one of its customers. The accused allegedly forged the signature of the said account holder, and fraudulently withdrew the monies from the bank. Investigations further revealed that the said amount was transferred to the Sterling Bank account of one Emilia Ugwandu, who is now at large, in a bid to hide the source of the stolen funds. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him One of the counts reads, “that you Bawa Momodu, male, on or before the 17th day of December, 2012 in Port Harcourt, within the jurisdicti...

These Boko Haram members were arrested by members of the Civilian JTF in Borno village three days after they attacked some villages. They were apprehended at Malari village at Konduga Local Government area of Borno state and were presented to the state Governor, Kashim Shettima today August 5th  

Nigerian troops found and removed IED and mines planted by Boko Haram members along Gwoza-Yemteke road in Borno state. More photos below.

On Sunday August 2nd, an unknown lady was found killed and dumped at a refuse dump around St. Peters' area, Olomore, Abeokuta .  There's now an incredible update on the story. According to a  source, yesterday about 50 members of the Nigeria Association of Prostitutes trooped out to the Ogun NUJ Press centre, Abeokuta claiming that the murdered lady was one of their members. They alleged that a ritualist male customer must have dumped the lady after killing her and removing some parts of her body. They are now demanding that the police help find their colleague's killer and are asking for protection for other members from government. They also said one of their members is also missing!