Gist Arena

T he Nigeria Police Force has again asked the Senator representing Kogi, Senator Dino Melaye, to give up himself to the Police Command in Kogi State, ahead of his arraignment. Senator Melaye is to be arraigned on a case of conspiracy and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms already filed before a Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State. The Police had on March 24, 2018, issued an invitation and a court summonhad been issued to Senator Melaye, both of which he did not honour. He said the Senator is wanted on grounds of criminal offences of conspiracy and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms. According to the PRO, Melaye’s summon follows the arrest of two men in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, on January 19, after they confessed to having committed various crimes such as kidnappings and armed robbery. They also disclosed that the Senator had handed them a bag containing firearms. The PRO while parading Kabiru Seidu and five other suspec

T he meeting President Muhammadu Buhari held with governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday ended in deadlock. None of the governors addressed state house correspondents when they left the council chamber of the presidential villa at the end of the meeting. Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Simon Lalong (Plateau) and Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna), explained to reporters that a unanimous agreement was reached at the meeting not to talk to the media. On his way out, one of the governors said “Some people think they are tall but they can never control us. Never!” TheCable had earlier reported that the meeting was about the tenure of the party’s national working committee (NWC) led by John Oyegun. During the last national executive committee (NEC) meeting of the party, Buhari said he was against the extension of the NWC period in office by a year. As a means to prevent a fresh crisis, some stakeholders had reportedly proposed a caretaker committee to be led

R EARREST OF TWO PRINCIPAL SUSPECTS (KABIRU SEIDU A.K.A OSAMA, NUHU SALISU A.K.A SMALL) WHOSE CONFESSION INDICTED SENATOR DINO MELAYE AND MOHAMMED AUDU AND FOUR OTHER SUSPECTS THAT ESCAPED FROM LAWFUL CUSTODY AT THE POLICE ‘A’ DIVISION, LOKOJA, KOGI STATE ON 28th MARCH, 2018. On the 28th March, 2018, the Kogi State Command announced the escape from lawful custody of six (6) suspects including the two (2) Principal Suspects (KABIRU SEIDU A.K.A OSAMA, NUHU SALISU A.K.A SMALL) whose confession indicted Senator Dino Melaye and Mohammed Audu in a case of Conspiracy and Unlawful possession of Prohibited Firearm already filed at the Federal High Court, Lokoja which came up in court on the date the suspects escaped from lawful custody (28th March, 2018). The case was adjourned to 10th of May, 2018 for the Police to produce all the suspects in court. 2. Consequently, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris, NPM, mni, ordered the IGP’s Intelligence Response Team and

F ormer Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala will be made to explain how about $250million of the $500million recovered from the family of the late Head of State, Gen.Sani Abacha, was withdrawn. According to reports, the cash was released to the Office of National Security Adviser( ONSA) without appropriation. About $36,155,000 (N13,015,800 billion) out of the $250million was also withdrawn in cash “without any purpose” on March 2nd, 9th, 16th and 18th of 2015. The Acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, has approved Mrs Okonjo-Iweala’s invitation and a letter of invitation has been sent to her. According to a fact-sheet obtained circulating online, detectives probing the whereabouts of the $500million have recommended that the ex-minister be interrogated. A top source said: “Following preliminary findings, a strong recommendation was made to the Acting EFCC chairman for an interactive session with Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

S pecial Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, says despite all the criticisms, President Buhari will never join issues with former president Olusegun Obasanjo who was his superior in the Army. Adesina said this while reacting to the fresh attacks Obasanjo launched against the Buhari administration yesterday April 2nd.  Obasanjo while speaking when he received members of the New Nigeria Group at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun state, said the Buhari administration has failed and that Nigerians should not re-elect President Buhari in 2019. Speaking on Channels TV this morning, Adesina said Obasanjo's comment is nothing different from the letter he released in letter and that everyone is entitled to his or her opinions. “The thing I will like us to establish is that President Muhammadu Buhari will never join issues with former president Olusegun Obasanjo. Former president Obasanjo was his superior in the milita

T he Boss Newspapers has maintained that it stands by its initial report that Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has joined the 2019 presidential race. The Boss Newspapers, published by media mogul and former presidential candidate, Chief Dele Momodu reported exclusively on Saturday that Saraki has joined the presidential race. The report which has not been denied by the Senate President took a new twist on Monday as his Special Adviser on Media, Yusuph Olaniyonu reportedly told Daily Independent that the report was false. According to Olaniyonu, the fact that no print media reported the news of his principal joining the 2019 presidential race simply confirms that it was not true – a development which led to some online news platforms reporting that Saraki has denied that he is not running for president in 2019. Momodu however responded to one of such reports on Monday, tweeting; “SP Saraki has not denied anything through his spokesman. When did the s

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Festus Keyamo, has tackled former President Olusegun Obasanjo for saying President Muhammadu Buhari’s government is a failure. Keyamo who is a social crusader and critic took to his Twitter account and remembered the former president of his excuses while in office. He said Obasanjo also played the blame game during his first tenure in office, adding that he blamed the rot the military left behind as the reason for his awful performance and pleaded with Nigerians to be patient with him. See tweets below: Let’s remember that during d first 4 years of Obasanjo (1999-2003) he kept blaming d ‘rot’ the military left behind as d reason for his abysmal performance & begged Nigerians to be patient with him. To d extent that he reportedly knelt down 4 Atiku then to get his 2nd-term ticket — Festus Keyamo, SAN (@fkeyamo) April 3, 2018 Since 1960, a few pple have always determined who would govern all of us. They’re the ones now writ

R eports have it that President Muhammadu Buhari will leave for London next week Monday to commence his annual leave. According to a presidential source, Buhari’s intention to leave on Monday was to enable him have enough rest ahead of the 25th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, (CHOGM) 2018, to be held at the Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace, and Windsor Castle. The meeting is billed for 16 – April 20.

S enator Ben Bruce took to his twitter handle and announced that he is giving away free tickets to the first 100 people that will fill the form, 20 minutes after he tweeted, the form became invalid, indicated that 100 people had already filled and submitted the form. Below is the tweet from the senator I will giving out 100 Black Panther Tickets to watch @sbmallabuja and you can also get a chance to win a Kia Rio. Click and fill the link. First 100 entries qualify. https://t.co/6ObCIy507G — Ben Murray-Bruce (@benmurraybruce) April 3, 2018