Gist Arena

Diamond banks has released an official statement, after an irate mob set their branch in Apapa, Lagos on fire, this happened after a mobile police officer attached to the bank shot a tanker driver dead, who was said to have parked in front of the bank Read below… “PRESS STATEMENT: DIAMOND BANK CONFIRMS APAPA FIRE INCIDENT. The Management of Diamond Bank Plc on Wednesday confirmed that there was a fire incident as a result of Mob action at its Creek Road, Axpapa branch in Lagos State. In a press release made available to correspondents, Head, Corporate Communications, Chioma Afe, said the bank was set ablaze by an angry mob after a policeman allegedly shot dead a trailer driver outside the bank premises. “We had a fire incident at our branch office on Creek Road, Apapa which severely damaged branch infrastructure as a result of mob action. While the situation is under control, we are working with the Nigeria Police Force and other law enforc...

President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-graft war has suffered a massive setback with the suspension of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) from the Egmont Group, TheCable can report. And if Nigeria fails to comply with the group’s demands for a legal framework granting autonomy to the NFIU by January 2018, the country will be expelled from the global body which provides the backbone for monitoring international money laundering activities. In the event of an expulsion, Nigeria will no longer be able to benefit from financial intelligence shared by the other 153 member countries, including the US and the UK, while the country’s ability to recover stolen funds abroad will also be hampered. The federal government is currently seeking to recover funds laundered globally by politically exposed persons and their associates. Another major dire consequence will be the blacklisting of Nigeria in international finance, and this could affect the issuance of Mastercard ...

Today, the 8th Senate passed the Whistleblower Protection Bill. The Bill, which seeks to encourage and facilitate the disclosures of improper conduct by public officers and public bodies was presented by the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, chaired by Senator David Umaru, the member representing Niger East in the 8th National Assembly.  Otherwise known as “An Act to Protect Persons Making Disclosures for the Public Interest and Others from Reprisals, to Provide for the Matters Disclosed to be Properly Investigated and Dealt with and for other Purposes Related Therewith”, the Bill also seeks to ensure that persons who make disclosures and persons who may suffer reprisals in relation to such disclosures are protected under the law.  The Bill also specifies who is qualified to make disclosure of improper conduct; the procedure for making disclosures; and the protection due to ‘whistleblowers.’ Under the newly passed Bill, a p...

It's a new Legislative day in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Senate President Bukola Saraki took the official prayer and led the chamber into today's proceedings. Senator Monsurat Sunmonu moved for the approval of Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday, 18th July, 2017. Senator Joshua Lidani seconded. EXECUTIVE SESSION Senate moved into an Executive Session at 10.50am. Senate resumed from its Executive Session at 11.36am. Senate President Bukola Saraki reported Progress, that at the executive session Senate deliberated on issues bordering on the workings of the Senate and the National Assembly in general. ANNOUNCEMENT Senate President Bukola Saraki made announcements and welcomed staff and students who were present in the gallery to observe Plenary. PETITIONS Senators Tayo Alasoadura, Ovie Omo-Agege, David Umaru, Benjamin Uwajumogu raised petitions from their constituencies. Senate President Bukola Saraki referr...

Controversial man of God, Apostle Johnson Suleiman, has called on Nigerians to pray for President Buhari's quick recovery. While delivering a sermon in his Edo-state based church recently, the clergyman said it was irresponsible for anyone to wish their ailing leader dead. "It is an irresponsible thing for people to be wishing a president death. Nobody who has a good heart, would be wishing a leader death. You don't wish your leader death. Nigerians should be careful. Only God has the power of life and death. Stop wishingthe President death. If your husband is sick do you wish him death? Do you know that man is somebody's husband? If your father is sick do you wish him death? That is somebody's father...and you are wishing him death. I know this thing I am saying now some Christians wouldn't like it. Stop wishing him death. Pray for his health. Life belongs to God. Don't wish any leader death. Only an irresponsible country wishes their ...

An associate of the former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has replied a national leader of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, for endorsing Governor Abdullai Ganduje for second term. According to the former governor’s erstwhile commissioner for state affairs, Aminu Gwarzo, “Governor Ganduje has already lost the 2019 election.” Mr. Kwankwaso, wh has been at loggerheads with his successor, is currently the senator representing Kano Central Senatorial District. Mr. Gwarzo said on Tuesday that the people of Kano made up their minds about a year ago to reject the incumbent governor in the 2019 polls. In a terse statement, the former commissioner: “We don’t want to join issues with Asiwaju but what I will say is that Asiwaju came straight from the airport to government house and he did not know what is happening in the rural areas or in the entire state before passing his unpopular judgment. “We know Asiwaju to be an honest p...

Facebook user, Ifeoma Stephnora who shared the story online wrote "This is still unbelievable God have mercy How can you finish the whole family including your husband just because of land They said she killed 4people from her family, because she is the 3rd wife of the man and she really wants her children to inherit the whole land and she also made twins crippled because she want her children to inherit the whole land owned by her husband What will we call this? My prayers is that, let the revelations began to flow to the whole part of Nsude because is not only in ugwuoto that we have evil people  God save your people in Jesus name Amen". 

Telecoms company Etisalat has transformed to 9mobile and today unveiled their new logo

Legendary Nigerian musician, 2face Idibia on Tuesday paid a visit to the troops of 3 battalions of the Nigerian army combating the Boko Haram in Maiduguri, Borno State. The singer also met with over 94000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to put smiles on their faces. See more photos below

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has instituted a suit before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), over the commissions’ planned recall of Senator Dino Melaye, the senator representing Kogi West senatorial district in the National Assembly. The ruling APC party said the electoral umpire has denied Melaye fair hearing. APC said the moves by INEC is illegal, unlawful, wrongful, unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect whatsoever for being contrary and in contravention of the rules of natural justice and constitutionally guaranteed right to fair hearing under section 36 of the 1999 constitution (as amended). Other plaintiffs in the case are Alhaji Haddy Ametuo, Shaibu Osune, S.T. Adejo, Yahaya Ismail, Isah Daniel, Chief Gbenga Asagun, Ahovi Ibrahim, Ghali Usman, Isa Abubakar, I.Molemodile, Abubakar Adamu and Daniel Sekpe, chairman and principal officers of APC in Kogi State. The plaintiff...

The Lagos State APC primary election in Odi-Olowo was on Tuesday marred by violence.  Details of the incident are still sketchy. According to online reports and photos, the Ward L Chairman, Demola Hakeem Saka and the ward executives were brutally attacked and beaten up. 

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has said it's highly unacceptable for Nigerians to be spending about $5 billion to fuel their generators annually. Mr. Dogara stated this on Tuesday in Abuja at the public hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Power on three Bills pending before the lower chamber. According to him, the house would support the Executive to find a permanent solution to the power problem in the country. He explained that the lawmakers were reviewing some of Nigeria’s energy laws to provide an appropriate legal framework that would facilitate the exploitation of renewable energy to the benefit of the economy. Dogara also stated that power is arguably the single most important driver of the national economy. “Indeed, it is difficult, if not impossible, to imagine modern life without power. Our industries and factories need electricity to operate, and also our offices, homes, and busines...

Court papers obtained from the United States of America have exposed how Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, the former immediate past Minister of Petroleum Resources, received high-end properties in the United States and the United Kingdom in exchange for facilitating illicit business opportunities in Nigeria’s oil and gas sectors for two business partners, Messrs. Jide Omokore and Akanni Aluko. The papers, obtained by SaharaReporters, are related to a civil forfeiture notice filed against the trio and two conspirators by the U.S. Department of Justice, with prosecutors showing that Messrs. Omokore and Aluko bought four residential properties in and around London worth  £11.45 million for the use of Mrs. Alison-Madueke, her mother and other members of her family. Some of the properties, the US court papers showed, were renovated at eye-watering costs, fitted with luxury items, including art works, to provide a lush lifestyle for Mrs. Alison-Madueke. The court processes, fi...