Gist Arena

W elcome to a new Legislative Day in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Senate President Bukola Saraki took the official Prayer and led the Chambers into today’s proceedings at 10.59am. Senator Jide Omoworare moved for the approval of votes and proceedings of Wednesday, 22nd November, 2017, Senator Obinna Ogba seconded. ANNOUNCEMENT Senate President, Bukola Saraki announced the members of the Ad-hoc Committee on the rising insecurity in the Country to include: Senators Abdullahi Yahaya, Bukar Aba, Joshua Lidani, Abu Kyari, Barnabas Gemade, Olusola Adeyeye, Sam Egwu, Rose Oko, Magnus Abe, Adamu Abdullahi, Biodun Olujimi, Enyinnaya Abaribe and Senate Leader as the Chairman of the Committee. Senate President, Bukola Saraki announced the members of the Ad-hoc Committee on the attempted arrest of the former Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and Department of State Services (DSS) by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to i...

A 13-year-old Nkechi Oseh, who was locked indoors by her Madam, Ms Betty Ifeoma, a staff of NNPC Lagos state office at their residence at No. 30 Adeniran Ajao Estate Anthony, Lagos while traveling out of the country and left with only two (2) packets of cabin biscuit, has been rescued by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police Ag CP Imohimi Edgal. Nkechi, an orphan who domestic attack turned scars were spotted on her body, said whenever her boss travels and locks her in, she resorts to drinking water from the toilet whenever she is thirsty. According to her, she has been locked up at four different times since her uncle brought her from Igboju in Delta state. “I have been locked up for two weeks, one-week, three-weeks when she traveled to London and since she traveled on Saturday I have been crying before God helped me today” Nkechi who is currently under the care of the child protection unit of the Ministry of Youth and Social Development Lagos State, empty packet o...

T he former chairman of the Presidential Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, has been receiving his salaries despite being sacked for years, his lawyer said Thursday. Speaking at the House of Representatives public hearing into Mr. Maina’s recent controversial recall, the lawyer, Mohammed Katu, said Mr. Maina’s salary had not been stopped as he was still working. When asked by lawmakers if Mr. Maina was still getting paid, he said, “Yes. Maina continued to work even after his dismissal. “As at last month, about 23 files were sent to him, in his capacity as acting director…even while he was absent.” He further explained that Maina had to disappear because “there was a serious threat to his life.” Source: Premium Times

Z imbabwe’s former president Robert Mugabe was granted immunity from prosecution, sources close to the negotiations said on Thursday. According to the source, Mugabe was assured that his safety would be protected in his home country as part of a deal that led to his resignation. Mugabe ruled Zimbabwe for close to four decades but stepped down on Tuesday after the army seized power and the ruling party turned against him. Emmerson Mnangagwa, the former vice president, is set to be sworn in as president on Friday. Zimbabwe was once one of Africa’s most promising economies but suffered decades of decline as Mugabe pursued policies that included the violent seizure of white-owned commercial farms and money-printing that led to hyperinflation. Most of its 16 million people remain poor and face currency shortages and sky-high unemployment, something Mnangagwa promised to address. “We want to grow our economy, we want peace in our country, we want jobs, jobs, jo...

E meka Ojukwu jnr, son of late Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu on Wednesday revealed why he dumped the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) He explained that his decision was driven by his believe that the South East must occupy its rightful place in the national governance and the political decision making process of the country. Ojukwu jnr said this when he was formally received into the APC by the party’s leadership led by the Party’s National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun at the National Secretariat in Abuja. Ojukwu jnr had earlier made his declaration in Awka at a rally for Tony Nwoye, the APC candidate for the November 18 Anambra governorship election. Speaking on what motivated him, he said: “I decided to lead by example. I have been talking about this for a while and I decided it was time to take the step forward. “It is a challenge. There are some people that will not be happy about that, but you have to be bold, take ...