Gist Arena

Embattled ‎former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin, says he is not going back on his fight with Speaker Yakubu Dogara. Read his latest statement below... Many concerned Nigerians have reached me in the past few days, expressing their fear over the fate of the allegations I raised against the very corrupt Speaker Yakubu Dogara, three (3) other Principal Officers and nine (9) other members. I understand the concern of many Nigerians who feel strongly that by now Speaker Dogara and the 12 others should have reconvened the House, resigned and faced arrest in the wake of the grievous allegations leveled against them, which they have responded to none. I wish to reassure Nigerians that I STAND by my allegations and there is no going back. We shall put in our all and expose DOGARA-GATE SCANDAL to the very end and ensure that justice is served on Speaker Dogara and his group of corrupt Principal Officers and members. ...

Six suspected burglars have been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command in the Ikoyi area of the state. Our correspondent learnt that the suspects were sharing their loot when they were arrested by police operatives. PUNCH Metro gathered that the men, identified as Friday Eze, Stanley Ejiofor, Femi Miracle, Raphael Ijoha, Emmanuel Omojuwa and Daniel Thomas, were arrested by men of the Ikoyi Police Division on Tuesday, August 9. The police said the gang, which was notorious for breaking into houses and stealing valuables, had other members who escaped arrest. Our correspondent learnt that around 10pm, the gang members allegedly burgled some houses on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, and drove away in a car to a junction in the area to share the loot. A source said operatives, who were on patrol, observed the suspects sharing the stolen items in the car and arrested them. He said, “They are notorious in the Ikoyi area for burglary. They don’t rob t...

In a video making the rounds on twitter, a Ghanaian pastor named Obinim, flogged two adults during a church service for allegedly engaging in premarital sex. Watch here . Well here's the thing. The 'Pastor' also has his own dirty secrets. He allegedly slept with a Junior Pastor's wife and got way with it. Twitters users are now dragging him for the hypocrisy of his actions. See more tweets below

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday delivered a stringent rebuke of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court for his ruling annulling the election of Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, accusing the judge of “raping democracy”. Gov. Ikpeazu was “sacked” on June 27. Justice Abang said he had falsified his tax certificates, and must lose his seat to Samson Ogah, also a member of the Peoples Democratic Party. Mr. Ogah received the certificate of return from the Independent National Commission, but was not sworn in. At the Court of Appeal on Thursday, a five-member panel led by Justice Morenike Ogunwumiju said Mr. Abang “raped democracy” when he ordered INEC to issue a certificate of return to Mr. Ogah without evidence of forgery against Mr. Ikpeazu. According to the court, the judgement was erroneously based on the inadequacy of tax receipt which Mr. Ikpeazu cannot be blamed for. “After reading through the judgement several times, I was amazed at h...

Our attention has been drawn to the report in several media, both electronic and print alleging that His Excellency Chief Achike Udenwa was arrested and detained by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission(EFCC) on the grounds that he failed to keep to his bail condition by failing to report to the Commission when required to do so.  We may not have responded to this but for the numerous enquiries from the media and other members of the public. Also the above reason is very grave and portrays His Excellency as unreliable and may have other sinister motive for not reporting when needed to do so and puts his guarantor in jeopardy. By a letter dated 13th May 2016 , His Excellency applied and obtained permission to travel abroad for medical treatment. Consequent upon this, the Commission released his International Passport which the Commission has been keeping.  The Commission scheduled his next visit to be13th August 2016. This date was agreed by bo...

Pastor E A Adeboye who came under fire recently following his comments about the kind of women men should marry, during the recently concluded RCCG 64th annual convention, has said that he meant every word he said. Adeboye, who evidently was reacting to reactions that trailed his warnings to the youths of the church at RCCG 64th annual convention also said that his words are for everyone.  Adeboye wrote on his face book page on Wednesday ”Everything I said about marriage I meant it. That is for everybody. Just like living holy and making sure you make heaven.” Adeboye, worried about various reports of arranged marriages among brethren at 64th annual convention of the church which took place between 1st — 7th of August warned that "no RCCG pastor should be seen to be involved in arranging marriages among brethren in the church." Pastor Adeboye who had earlier counselled the youths of the church on marriage, further warned sayin...

Speaking in an interview with State House correspondents at the end of a closed-door meeting, former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, on Thursday, said he discussed issues of national interest and international affairs with President Muhammadu Buhari during a short chat they had at the Presidential Villa, Abuja which was held inside the President’s office. “I came to discuss issues of national interest and international affairs with the President. Both of them are interwoven. I have discussed with the person I came to see and I don’t think I need to discuss it in the news media,”  Abubakar said. While reacting to a claim that he had been silent on national issues lately, the former Head of State said he had been busy talking to those that needed to be talked to, adding that the National Peace Committee for the 2015 General Elections which he chairs was still working behind the scene. The former military ruler urged all Nigerians to support t...

Again popular Abuja prophet, Bro. Joshua Iginla has won the heart of Zambians after his prediction of the just concluded presidential election came to pass. Checks revealed that the fiery prophet in January 2016 prophesied that the incumbent president Edgar Lungu would retain his seat as president. It was gathered that it generated a lot of controversies especially when popular prophets across the world especially one from South Africa has chosen the opposition party as winner when the election would hold. Reports revealed that during Iginla’s three days crusade in Zambia On the 5th – 7th of May, 2016 He also declared openly to them that he saw two lions battling each other in the election but the older lion which is Lungu will emerge winner after a stiff competition. In a Prophecy on December 31, 2015, He said  ‘The economy will improve but not as expected. The election in Zambia will be will be like two lions fighting. The president sh...

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday charged before a Federal High Court in Lagos Mr. Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, former President Goodluck Jonathan’s Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs, Amajuoyi Azubike Briggs, a lawyer, and three others over an alleged fraud of $31.4 milion. Others charged before the court, presided over by Justice Abdul Aziz Anka, are Demola Bolodeoku and five limited liability companies. The companies are Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Limited, Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Limited, Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited and Globus Integrated Services Limited. In a 17-count criminal charge (No. FHC/337C/2016), the EFCC alleged that the accused persons, between November 13, 2013, and May 28 2015, conspired, through various banks, to conceal the total sum of $31.4 million, which they knew formed part of the proceeds of an unl...

After much interrogation, the Nigerian Army has reportedly freed Ahmed Umar Bolori, one of the three people declared wanted following the recent video of the Chibok girls shared by Boko Haram last Sunday. Bolori was declared wanted alongside journalist Ahmad Salkida and female lawyer Aisha Wakil. According to Bolori's family member who spoke to Vanguard, he was freed yesterday August 17th. “Bolori was taken from Maiduguri and interrogated in Abuja by the military but has just been released having been found innocent of the alleged offence” the family source said After he heard the news that he was declared wanted, Bolori went to the Maiduguri command but was asked to come back on Monday. He was received and then transferred to Abuja for further interrogation.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has won the first appeal delivered by the Court of Appeal in Abuja with respect to the judgments of the Federal High Court in Abuja June 27 removing him from office. Ikpeazu’s appeal was with respect to the ruling delivered by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja on July 8 in which the judge insisted that he had jurisdiction to hear a motion for stay of execution of his earlier judgments delivered on June 27 even after the appeals against the judgments had been entered. The Justice Helen Ogunwumiju-led five-man bench unanimously agreed in their judgment that Justice Abang erroneously assumed jurisdiction to hear the motion and adjourned it till a later date. Justice Philomena Ekpe, who read the lead judgment, held that what Justice Abang ought to have done in line with the time-honored doctrine of “stari decisis” was to have transferred the motion to the Court of Appeal for determination. She a...

President Buhari and former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar, had a closed door meeting at the State House in Abuja today. Abdusalami arrived the villa in his Black Mercedes car with plate number Niger 250 around 12.30 p.m. More photos below...

Minister of Communication, Bayo Shittu, yesterday disclosed that the Federal government is proposing to introduce a bill called the Communication Service Tax CST bill which seeks to levy 9% on telecommunication subscribers for users of various communication services such as voice call, SMS, MMS, Data usage from telecommunication service providers, internet service providers and Pay TV Stations. Speaking at a function organized by the Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry, LCCI yesterday, Shittu said the introduction of the new taxes without harmonising existing ones would put pressure on the country’s tax system thereby making it unattractive to investors. According to him, the outcome of deliberations on the bill would form the basis of his advice to the President. "This may also be counter-productive in the long run for our targets on broadband penetration. Our ICT Roadmap gives fresh impetus for implementing existing policies and revi...

The Lagos state government has announced plans to remove the 4th Roundabout (Elegushi); 5th Roundabout (Jakande) and the 8th Roundabout (VGC) as part of measures to decongest traffic in that area of the state. Addressing a joint ministerial press briefing at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, said the affected roundabouts would be replaced by the use of traffic lights, expansion of the roads and provision of dedicated turning lanes as well as additional lay-bys. He also announced that the state government will be deploying 13,000 Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Cameras, additional 6,000 street lights and security sensors for surveillance and crime prevention across the State from the month of October.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has reacted to reports that the Federal government had begun investigations into the alleged links of former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife Patience to the Niger Delta Avengers. In a telephone interview with  Daily Trust , Lai Mohammed said he was not aware of the investigations but that the allegations against the former president have refused to go away "These allegations have refused to go away and those making the allegations are not backing out. So I will not be surprised if the security agencies show interest in it but I am not aware” he said

President Buhari yesterday said he stopped collecting his allowances as a former head of state immediately after he assumed office as President on May 29th 2015. In a statement released by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Shehu Garba on twitter, President Buhari also stated that he never collected cars, calendars and diaries from the Nigerian Army that were being distributed to former Heads of State. Read the statement below ... "The President has never received pension from the army or car as had gone to former Commanders-in-Chief. After his overthrow, they didn't remember him even in the annual distribution of diaries or calendars. If anyone is laying his/her hand on any such payment, they should face criminal investigation. President Buhari stopped collecting allowances paid to former Heads of State the moment he took office as elected President last year. This is verifiable from the the SGF's office. Since his overthrow as Military...

In a shocking report making rounds online, a Nigerian man accused of being part of a robbery gang that terrorized citizens in Monrovia, the Liberian capital, was caught after an alleged botched robbery on Monday August 15th, and was severely brutalized by an angry mob who descended on him. Below is how a Liberian identified as Arrington Ballah, who shared the photos, reported the story; "This guy is alleged to be a member of a robbery group that has a black four-door pickup moving around Monrovia. Unfortunately, on Monday, August 15, 2016 they had an unsuccessful mission that led him to how you see him in this photo.  "Before I arrived on the scene, it was said that one of the guys managed to escape into the 72nd Community swamp (directly opposite the new health ministry in Congo Town with with the fire arm they use for operation. He was never found. However, the angry crowd managed to get this guy (believed to be a Nigerian Natio...

Kaffy Kafayat Oluwatoyin Shafau, who is popularly known by her stage name  Kaffy , is a Nigerian dancer, choreographer, dance instructor and fitness coach. The mother-of-two who is considered to be one of the best female dancers in Nigeria, has a large following of adoring fans on social media. Kaffy is also the founder and owner of Imagneto Dance Company. Recently, the 36-year-old woman caused an uproar on Instagram after she posted a half-n*ked photo of herself. Below is what she posted:    She captioned the photo thus: However, fans did not find the dancer's post funny at all with many feeling it was inappropriate. Many of them did not waste time in telling her how they felt about it. Below are some of their comments: