Gist Arena

F or ten minutes on Wednesday morning, top government functionaries watched a confrontation between Winifred Oyo-Ita, head of the service of the federation, and Abba Kyari, chief of staff to the president, inside the council chambers, Aso Rock, TheCable can report. The reason is a no-brainer — a letter written by Oyo-Ita indicting President Muhammadu Buhari in the reinstatement of Abdulrasheed Maina somehow found its way to the media. In the memo addressed to Kyari, Oyo-Ita maintained that the president knew about the reinstatement and that she warned him there would be a public backlash. But who leaked the memo to the media? Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and Kyari were seen questioning Oyo-Ita at 10.55am — just before the swearing-in of Boss Mustapha as the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF) and the launch of the 2018 armed forces emblem. Oyo-Ita, usually calm, was seen angrily gesticulating in the heated argument with Kyari. She returned

T he Appeal Court has fixed November 13 to entertain a motion filed by former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, against his subpoena for appearance as a defence witness in the trial of former Peoples Democratic Party spokesperson, Olisah Metuh. Mr. Dasuki’s lawyer, Ahmed Raji, informed the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court about the appeal on October 30 and asked the court to suspend its order regarding the subpoena pending the determination of the appeal. Mr. Raji approached the higher court after the Federal High Court refused his application to suspend the subpoena. The court had issued the subpoena following an order of the Appeal Court. Mr. Raji received the formal information about the date set by the Appeal Court during Wednesday’s proceedings at the lower court. His decision to inform the court in session about the date was objected by the presiding judge, Okon Abang, but the lawyer later pronounced the date as November 13. Earlier

P resident Muhammadu Buhari has sworn into office the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha. Mr. Mustapha was sworn in by Mr. Buhari shortly before the commencement of the meeting of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, inside the council chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The swearing in ceremony was coordinated by a presidential aide, Tijjani Yusuf. The occasion was attended by the Governor of Adamawa State, Mohammed Jibrilla. The president also unveiled the Armed Forces remembrance day emblem.

F ormer National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki has appeared in the trial of former PDP spokesman, Olisa Metuh before a Federal High Court in Abuja. However, Dasuki's counsel, Ahmed Raji (SAN) has opposed his testifying today due to loss of memory following his two years of incarceration. He said the evidence to be given, is only a small aspect of his tenure as NSA, adding that he does not have "access to relevant files, records and documents required to refresh his memory of any decisions or actions he took or authorised in the course of his duties." Raji asked Justice Okon Abang to "tarry a while" in proceeding in the matter pending the determination of the appeal before the Court of Appeal in Abuja. Metuh's counsel, Emeka Etiaba (SAN) agreed with Raji that the former NSA need additional time to access his documents to be able to testify in all the courts he is facing charges. Daily Trust reported on Tuesday that EFCC Couns

F reeze has reacted to Ubi Franklin's statement on Linda Ikeji TV's The Report Card show that his opinion on tithing was rubbish. Ubi Franklin, who was a guest on the show, shared his opinion on Tithing and dismissed Freeze's criticism against enriching pastors through it. According to him; "I pay my tithe. I'm not even interested in that rubbish Freeze is saying. I believe part of my success and how I'm growing is because how I'm able to not hold on to what I'm supposed to give to God."  Freze responded, calling out Ubi for being disrespectful to him over his opinion. Dear @ubifranklintriplemg, I have never insulted your person, so you stating that I am "saying rubbish" is quite unfair. - You said tithing was in the Bible and you obey it. Please what part of the Bible if I may ask? Is it Deuteronomy 14:22-26 that says we should eat our tithe in the place the LORD has chosen? Or is it Malachi 3:8-10 that was deb

T he Imo State Police Command on Tuesday said they arrested six suspects in connection with armed robbery, attempted murder and human trafficking. The suspects are: Obinna Eze ‘m’ 31 years Oluchi Chibike ‘f’ 32years Vitalis Lumanze ‘m’ 40years Nkiru Nwanedu ‘f’ 45years Chinyere Nwudu ‘f’ 43years Jacinta Amadi ‘f’ 45years Parading the suspects alongside others at the police Headquarters in Owerri, the State Commissioner of police, CP Chris Ezike disclosed how Oluchi Chibike and her 'intended husband' paid N160,000 to two of the suspects to kill her cousin Abigail Ukah, 34, so that they would sell her two children. They gave the victim several matchete cuts all over her body and dumped her inside the bush believing that she has died. The next day, Oluchi and Obinna took her cousin's two children, Francis Nwachukwu, 5 and Chinaza Nwachukwu, 2, to Enugu State and sold them to one Mrs Nkiru Nwanedu of Egwedi Njaba LGA at the cost of One Millio

F ormer Vice-President of Nigeria, Dr. Alex Ekwueme is reportedly in a coma after he collapsed at home. The Elder Statesman who celebrated his 85th birthday on the 10th of October is said to have collapsed at about 2am last Saturday, at his residence in Independence Layout, Enugu. LIB also learned that the former Vice President is currently in the Intensive Care Unit of Memfys Hospital for Neurosurgery in Trans-Ekulu, Enugu State. Confirming the sad news, a relative, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told the Punch: “He was trying to get something from the table when he suddenly collapsed and immediately someone raised the alarm, we proceeded to revive him while cautious enough not to attract neighbours,”  “When it became obvious that he had lapsed into coma, we rushed him to a hospital (unnamed) in GRA (Government Reserved Area), but we were referred to Memphys Hospital by medical consultants who had critically examined his condition.” “When there

F ormer Vice-President of Nigeria, Dr. Alex Ekwueme is reportedly in a coma after he collapsed at home. The Elder Statesman who celebrated his 85th birthday on the 10th of October is said to have collapsed at about 2am last Saturday, at his residence in Independence Layout, Enugu. LIB also learned that the former Vice President is currently in the Intensive Care Unit of Memfys Hospital for Neurosurgery in Trans-Ekulu, Enugu State. Confirming the sad news, a relative, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told the Punch: “He was trying to get something from the table when he suddenly collapsed and immediately someone raised the alarm, we proceeded to revive him while cautious enough not to attract neighbours,”  “When it became obvious that he had lapsed into coma, we rushed him to a hospital (unnamed) in GRA (Government Reserved Area), but we were referred to Memphys Hospital by medical consultants who had critically examined his condition.” “When there

A former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, has arrived a Federal High Court to testify as a defence witness in the ongoing trial of former spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh. Mr. Dasuki’s appearance followed an order of the Federal High Court for a subpoena to be issued on him, through the directorate of the State Security Service, SSS. Mr. Dasuki has been in the custody of the SSS for over a year despite court orders for his release. He is being prosecuted separately for alleged mismanagement of funds while in office. The Federal High Court’s directive for the SSS to present him in court was also in obedience to a September 29 directive of the Appeal Court.

T he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has resumed the probe into the $43.4million cash recovered at Osborne Towers in Ikoyi, Lagos which led to the sacking of National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Director-General Ayo Oke by President Muhammadu Buhari.? The Presidency said it is in order for anti-graft agencies to probe the former NIA boss and the sacked Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir Lawal. There were indications last night that the EFCC had received the report of the Presidential Investigative Committee headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.? More suspects from the NIA and outside it are to be invited for interrogation by the anti-graft agency, it was learnt. The EFCC deferred action on the interrogation of some suspects because it wanted the Osinbajo panel to conclude its assignment.? An EFCC source who spoke in confidence last night, said: “On Tuesday, we resumed the ongoing probe of the $43.4million, 27,000 pounds and N23