Gist Arena

The naira on Friday continued to lose steam against the dollar at the parallel market, in spite of the new forex regime, but it gained against the British pound.  The Nigerian currency lost N4 to exchange at N351, from N347 it traded on Wednesday, representing a depreciation of 1.14 per cent. The naira firmed against the pound sterling but weakened against the euro as it traded at N458 and N380, from N470 and N375 it exchanged on Wednesday. At the interbank window, the naira spot rate closed at N282.03 to the dollar. Traders at the parallel market said the scarcity of the greenback had forced the naira to depreciate further. Evans Osabuohien, senior economist at Covenant University, Ota, Ogun state, said the flexible exchange rate policy might not influence the market in the short term since the demand for dollar is still high. The don, who frowned at totally allowing the forces of demand and supply to determine the exchange rate, said a ma...

Barely a day after popular Hausa musician, Ado Daukaka was released by his abductors, he was arrested by Adamawa police, Premium Times reports. The police said Daukaka was invited to give details concerning his abduction but family sources said the singer was arrested following a complaint made by the lawmaker representing Yola North in the state House of Assembly, Suleiman Alkali, who claimed that the musician ridiculed him in a song which condemned the level of corruption and inefficiency in the state. Daukaka was later granted bail on the condition that he reports back on Monday. The chairman of the Adamawa Concern Citizen a pressure group, Hussaini Bello, who condemned the arrest, said: "The way and manner things are happening will not augur well for the state. They just want to intimidate those that are criticising the charade playing out in the state. We had earlier condemned the abduction of this famous singer, not to talk of the unjust arrest as we ...

Several foreigners are said to be among a number of hostages taken by gunmen who attacked a restaurant in the diplomatic quarter of the Bangladesh's capital, Dhaka today. Eight or nine attackers were said to have stormed the Holey Artisan Bakery, located in the city's diplomatic quarter.  One kitchen staffer said that the gunmen were armed with firearms and bombs, entering the bakery at around 9:20pm local time and taking customers and staff hostage at gunpoint.  Bangladesh's police chief has confirmed that several foreigners are among the hostages. One policeman is reported to have been killed and others wounded by gunfire as officers surrounded the restaurant, located in the Gulshan area of the capital, and a massive firefight erupted. Police spokesman said: "Our first priority is to save the lives of the people trapped inside." The police chief has said that they plan to start a rescue operation shortly. Banglades...

The Department of State Services (DSS) says it has arrested some suspected Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) militants. The DSS said this in a statement on Friday. The ‘Avengers’ are the militant group responsible for recent attacks on oil installations in the Niger Delta. According to the secret police, one Selky Torughedi, a suspected member of NDA and associate of Tompolo, was arrested for planning to assassinate a serving military officer in Kaduna state. It said another suspected member of the NDA was arrested while planning to carry out attacks on oil installations. “In a bid to stem the activities of vandals in the Niger Delta, this service effected the arrest of Selky Kile Torughedi, on 17th June, 2016, in Calabar, Cross River state,”the DSS said in the statement issued by Tony Opuiyo, its agent “Torughedi is an ex-militant and suspected member of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), and was arrested for planning to assassinate one MB Yahaya, a serving m...

Embattled Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu alleged today that the Board of Internal Revenue (B.I.R) has confirmed the authenticity of the tax clearance he submitted to his party - PDP during the governorship primary in December 2014.  Addressing a crowd of Abians who paid him a solidarity visit at the Abia State government house, the Governor maintained that his tax clearance was authentic and disclosed that the Appeal court will on Monday, 4th July hear the case he appealed against the ruling of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which ordered for his removal in office.  Ikepeazu also enjoined Abians to disregard the rumour that the Federal Government is sponsoring his opponent, saying that it cannot possibly be true.

Looks like there's already trouble in paradise for the couple who welcomed their first child together on May 3rd. Insiders claim they have been spending their nights apart...  Insiders tell  Star Magazine , "The fact that Eddie’s been spending his nights at another one of his homes in L.A. doesn’t bode well. After all, he has a history of loving and leaving his baby mamas (Paige is his fifth!).”

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) are interrogating a South Africa based evangelist over 165kgs of narcotics drugs seized at Apapa Seaport, Lagos. The 92kgs of methamphetamine and 73kgs of ephedrine were detected inside two containers of foodstuff meant for export to South Africa. The arrest and seizure is a product on intense undercover operation by the NDLEA. The estimated street value of the drugs is 1.4 billion naira. Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.) said that the seizure has significant influence on the campaign against narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. In his words, "this is a product of careful planning and meticulous tracking of narcotic drugs movement. The consignments were closely monitored by our undercover agents and intercepted at Apapa Seaport, Lagos following the detection of narcotics by NDLEA sniffer dogs during screening operation. This will definitely have a positive i...

Three persons working for Agip were killed on Wednesday by unknown gunmen in the creek of Nembe around Obama flow station operated by Eni Oil, also known as Nigeria Agip Oil Company. According to local and security sources, the oil workers were ambushed and killed along the creeks while carrying out repair work on Agip pipelines that had been destroyed weeks back. "They were ambushed in their boat by the sea pirates who operate in the area. The area is a known notorious place where gunmen operate freely,” one source said. The victims were two Agip staff and one driver. Confirming the attacks, Desmond Agwu, Sector Commander of the Nigeria Civil Defence and Security Corp in Bayelsa State, said that the victims’ bodies have not been recovered. "We are still searching for their bodies. I can say they are missing for now,” Mr. Agwu said.

Hon. Onyejiocha is pictured left with Ikpeazu and right with Ogah. As shared on Abia's State official Facebook page; "I remember this woman; Hon. Nkiruka Onyejiocha. The day the Supreme Court ruled in Favour of Governor Okezie she was at the Abuja lodge "celebrating" with him. Someone called me aside and said "JOK you guys should be careful of that woman because of...." Now she is celebrating with the Governor's opponent. No comment. I hope she now knows that the presidency have withdrawn the DSS attached to her new man. They are also investigating how he got the security in the first place. We are still keeping vigil. No retreat, no surrender."

The Federal Government today signed a contract agreement with the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) on the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Railway project. The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi who signed on behalf of the Federal Government, said the contract is an addendum to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Railway project which was initially awarded by the former President Goodluck Jonathan’s Administration to CCECC at a contract sum of $11.917 billion disclosing that at the inception of President Buhari Administration, the Federal Government renegotiated the contract with the Management of CCECC and agreed at a contract sum of $11.117 billion thereby saving a whooping sum of $800million. Amaechi reiterated that the Federal Government has completed the signing of the same contract with a different contract sum in order to legalize the new deal. “What we have done today is signing same contract but different contract sum to make it legal...

According to a report on Premium Times, the absence of the Abia State Chief Judge, Justice Theresa Uzoukwu, has stalled the expected swearing-in of Uche Ogah as the new governor of the state, today in Umuahia, the Abia state capital. The inauguration could not take place because it was learnt that the state chief judge, who was supposed to have performed the function, was nowhere to be found. Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had earlier on Thursday, issued Uche Ogah aCertificate of Return, thus withdrawing the one that was earlier issued to Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu and paved the way for the swearing-in of Ogah. INEC said its action was in compliance with an Abuja Federal High Court judgment ordering Okezie Ikpeazu to immediately vacate office. Meanwhile, Gov. Ikpeazu has obtained an ex parte injunction issued by Justice Chibuzor Ahuchaogu of the Abia State High Court in Osisioma, restraining the chief judge from swearin...

A fan shocked a football stadium in Marseille last night as he sprinted into the football field aiming for Cristiano Ronaldo during the Euro 2016 quarter final game against Poland. Moments later around a dozen security guards rush after the fan, tackling him down to the ground and handcuffing him.  From the look on Ronaldo's face you could see how shocked he was as he tried his best to evade the over zealous Portugal fan. Watch the video below...

A popular cleric has asked Nigerians to continue to ask for the best from the present administration of Muhammadu Buhari.  Speaking during a visit to the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) national headquarters in Abuja, yesterday, the General Superintendent, Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi urged Nigerians not to lose hope in President Muhamadu Buhari’s administration. Pastor Kumuyi said he is optimistic that President Buhari-led federal government is on the right track to reposition the nation’s economy. He said,  “Although the country might be passing through the ‘best of times’, there are strong reasons not to lose hope in the country.Nigerians should not lose hope in President Muhamadu Buhari, because God is on the throne, he will turn things around for Nigeria. There is always light after the tunnel.’’ ‘’There is something about where you are and where you are going. The direction you are facing matters a lot. Whereve...

Wayne Rooney and his England teammates were sent packing from Euro 2016 tournament after losing 2-1 to Iceland in the second round. Despite most English players keeping an understandably low profile since the humiliating exit, England and Man U captain Wayne Rooney flew to Ibiza, Spain with his wife Coleen to relax on a yatch that costs about £120,000 a week to hire. The footballer earns £300,000 per week at Man U. More photos below.

The presidency has apologized to the Senate over the comments made by the Special Assistant to President Buhari on Prosecution, Okoi Obono-Obla, at the senate public hearing on the alleged forgery of senate order which held at the National Assembly yesterday June 30th. Obono-Obla had told members of the senate committee on Legal Matters, Judiciary & Human Rights that the senate lacked constitutional powers to summon the Attorney General of the Federation and Chief Justice of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, over the alleged forgery of senate orders. Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly, Ita Enang, today spoke with Senate correspondents where he tendered an apology to the senate over Obono-Obla's remarks. Enang during the interview, disclosed that he would be testifying as a former chairman of the Senate Rules and Business Committee in the seventh Senate when the alleged case of forgery of senate order comes up

Rihanna has once again fueled dating rumours after she was pictured last night entering the hotel room of off and on boyfriend Drake after their performance in Manchester last night as part of her ANTI- World tour. The duo were spotted returning to the same hotel following a visit to the Chiltern Firehouse, a day after he reportedly told a Manchester crowd at Old Trafford stadium:  'Shout out to the most beautiful, talented woman I've ever seen. She goes by the name of Rihanna ... I'm getting my heart broken.' More photos abelow.

An unnamed bride has been heavily criticized on social media after flaunting a large part of her breast in a body-exposing wedding gown.  These photos of a Nigerian lady with her boobs plunging out of her wedding dress caused a stir on Instagram when they were shared to show off the lady's beautiful dress, skin and hair.  Some Nigerians who just couldn't see the beauty of the pictures switched to expressing their criticisms of her indecent dressing which could have embarrassed the man of God overseeing the marriage vows. The rate of indecent dressing has skyrocketed in Nigeria following the growth of the entertainment sector as people tend to copy the controversial outfit of celebrities in recent times. Source: Tori.ng

Lagos based Nigerian celebrity disk jockey, Obi Ajuonuma popularly known as DJ Obi, has today, July 1st, beat the current world record for 200 hours/8 days for the longest DJ set in history! The son of late Dr. Levi Chibuike Ajuonuma, former Group General Manager, Public Affairs Division of NNPC, started out on Wednesday, June 22nd, 2016 at 11:30pm in Lagos and broke the record around 7:00am, this morning, July 1st, 2016. He now intends to set his own record of 240 hours which would see him finish on Saturday, July 2 2016 at 11:30pm. The 200-hour-Guinness world record for the longest marathon club DJ-ing was set by Polish DJ, Norberto Loco. "Nigeria Stand Up!! Its a wonderful feeling - We are the greatest people on earth! We did this together. once again; Big shoutout to everyone, The party continues till Saturday, World Record done but 240 hours is the new record we wanna set. #DONTCRACKUNDERPRESSURE #DJOBIONDECK #DJOBISZN #DJOBIWORLDRECORD #G...