GistNaija.com : 2012-06-24

Friday, July 6, 2012

Iyabo Obasanjo’s Firm Benefits in Secret Oil Block Deals

A company owned by a daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo is among the beneficiaries of the Federal Government’s recent secret allocations of prize oil blocks, Daily Trust investigations show.
Findings reveal that All Grace Energy, in which Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello has majority stake, got the oil block Ubima Creek field OML 17 in a discretional process without competitive bidding.

Some oil companies and industry experts said the secret allocations are against international best practices.

Daily Trust learnt that the secret allocations were done over the past one year, even though government had said the process of awarding oil licences were to be executed publicly through competitive bidding.

Ace actor and politician, Richard Mofe Damijo popularly known as RMD is a year older today, Friday, July 6, 2012. The veteran actor is one of the most successful Nollywood actors in the make-believe profession in Nigeria.

Now actively a Commissioner in Delta State in the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, his love for acting has still not faded. The Warri, Delta State born actor is known for top TV soaps like Checkmates, Ripples and many others.

In January 2012, RMD survived a ghastly auto accident. He is happily married with children.
GistNaija wish you Happy B-day!!

Third Mainland Bridge Repairs Begin

The diversion of traffic to allow for repairs on the Third Mainland Bridge will start on Sunday, the Minister of State for Works, Bashir Yuguda has just said in Lagos. details soon..

Supreme Court Upholds Chuba Okadigbo's Wife Senatorial Election Results

Margery Chuba Okadigbo

The Supreme Court has today Friday July 6, 2012 upheld the Senatorial election of Margery Chuba Okadigbo as the elected Senator of the Anambra –North Federal Constituency.

It will be recalled that the Senatorial seat of Anambra-North has been vacant for almost a year now following various legal actions over the seat.

The Arabian Peninsula branch of Al-Qaeda are based more in Yemen and Saudi Arabia
Court papers say the men received funds from the terrorist organisation to recruit members.

Two Nigeria men have been accused of having links with al-Qaeda and recruiting members to train in Yemen, the BBC is reporting this morning.

Olaniyi Lawal, 31, and Luqman Babatunde, 30, both pleaded not guilty at a court in the capital Abuja, the report says.

FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke has announced that goal-line technology has been given approval by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), football’s law-making body.

Following nine months of testing in England, Germany, Hungary and Italy, IFAB decided to introduce the controversial measures at a special meeting in Zurich yesterday.
Goal-line technology was approved unanimously by the body, and will be used for the first time at the 2012 Club World Cup in Japan in December.

Flying Eagles To Face Benin In AYC Warm-up

Nigeria U20 team will take on Benin Republic counterparts in an AYC warm-up match on July 14 in either Ibadan or Lagos, officials said.

President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Aminu Maigari, said the friendly will serve as a tune-up game for the African champions ahead of their African Youth Championship qualifier away in Tanzania on July 28. The test match will be played either in Ibadan or Lagos.

Usain Bolt has withdrawn from his final race before London 2012 due to a “slight” injury problem. Bolt, 25, was scheduled to run the 200m at the Diamond League meet in Monaco on 20 July. The three-time Olympic gold medallist withdrew so he can undergo treatment.

Usain Bolt won three gold medals at the Beijing 2008 Olympics. His coach, Glen Mills, said he wanted to “give him sufficient time for treatment and time to train and prepare for the Olympic Games.” Despite the withdrawal, Bolt said he would be in London to defend his three Olympic titles, which also include the 100m and the 4 x 100m relay gold he won in Beijing four years ago.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will face Liberia in the qualifiers for the 2013 Nations Cup holding in South Africa next year. It’s a two legged tie with the first game coming up in Monrovia on September 7-9, with the second legs scheduled for the weekend of October 12-14.

The Super Eagles made it to this stage as they defeated Rwanda 2-0 on aggregates. The Super Eagles failed to qualify for the last Nations Cup earlier this year as they were knocked out by Guinea.

The draw of the round is the Ivory Coast and Senegal game which arguably is the match of the

Arsenal Cancels Visit To Nigeria

The match between Arsenal and the Super Eagles has been cancelled as the London club will no longer visit Nigeria this year.

English Premier League giants, Arsenal FC, have cancelled the proposed friendly match with the Super Eagles of Nigeria, scheduled for August 5, and “reluctantly” postponed their planned trip to Nigeria for their pre-season preparation.

Arsenal said it was taking the decision because of the complexities linked to the planned game against the Super Eagles. The London club’s marketing director, Angus Kinnear, said on its official website that the decision was unfortunate.

A Lady Dies After Having A Fight With Her Lover

A 35-year old man, Femi Bejide has been arraigned before an Ebutte Metta Magistrate’s court, Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria, over the death his lover, Blessing Friday, 36.

A Source gathered that Blessing died in Femi’s house at 23, Adegboyega Street, Shasha, Lagos, after they allegedly fought all night.

Neigbours suspected Femi to be behind her death because they claimed the two of them had quarrelled and fought in the night till early morning before she was found dead.

Miracle? N.3m Church Money Turns To Mere Paper. Church Members Gripped With Fear

Fear and confusion gripped residents of Hwolshe in Jos, when N300, 000 church collection suddenly turned to a bundle of papers as it was about to be deposited in the bank.

The money, which belonged to St. Mary’s Parish, Hwolshe in Jos South Local Government was handed to Miss Ifeoma Eze, the Church Secretary to be deposited in the bank before the mystery occurred.

Nigeria caused the biggest upset of the tournament by disposing of Lithuania 86-80 in a game filled with big shots.

Derrick Obasohan was one of the heroes as Nigeria surprised Lithuania, but he also got a surprise of his own.

“I didn’t know we had this many fans here in Venezuela,” he said, after shooting 20 points in a dazzling perimeter display.

A mother in Lagos on Wednesday caused the death of her only daughter while trying to force-feed her.

Chinwe, a housewife and bread vendor at Tedi Town in Ojo local government area of the state, was said to be feeding her year-old daughter, Ada, a meal of pap at home.

As is common with mothers in Africa whose children refuse to eat, Chinwe was said to have cupped a handful of pap over her daughter’s mouth with her right hand while she closed off her nostrils with the other.

NUC Suspends Licences Of Seven Private Universities

The National Universities Commission has suspended the operational licences of seven private universities for violating its guidelines in physical facilities and academic programmes.

The affected universities are Achievers, Caritas, Joseph Ayo Babalola, Lead City, Madonna, Obong and Tansian.

BREAKING NEWS: Aircraft Crash-lands At Benin Airport, No Casualties Recorded

Just heard about this now. That a plane crash land in Benin.
Please check back for details soon.

UNIZIK Vice Chancellor In Multi-Billion Naira Corruption Scandal

The Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University is in trouble for mismanaging funds meant for the institution.

The Vice Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Boniface Egboka, is being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for the mismanagement of billions of naira meant for the institution, the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, Nigeria is reporting.

Hearing on Renaming UNILAG for September 21

A Lagos Federal High Court Wednesday says its interim order barring the Federal government from change the name of the University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University still remains.
Presiding Judge, Justice Steven Adah said his June 25 verdict on the name change will remain until the hearing and determination of the suits.
He adjourned mention on the matter to September 21 this year.

He disclosed this during the hearing of two suits challenging the name change broadcast by President Goodluck Jonathan recently.

Ras Kimono

Despite the torrential rains in Lagos last Friday, hundreds of fun seekers trooped out to celebrate the monthly Legend Nite at the Niteshift Coliseum with Reggae music exponent, Ras Kimono, as the lead act for the night.

The venue was indeed charged as the music legend showed he still has the thrilling magic for his teeming fans when he took the animated audience back in time with the energetic performance of hit tracks like Under Pressure and Rumba Stylee among others. He was supported by the iconic Coliseum’s Shifters Band and slew of comedians who enlivened the windy night.

President Goodluck Jonathan is said to be preparing a litigation against an invitation sent to him by the House of Representatives to brief it on his anti-terrorism strategies. This was disclosed yesterday by the House Committee Chairman on Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Hon. Ofor Chukwuegbo.
According to Hon. Chukwuegbo, "the president is considering taking the House to court because of our invitation. His aides have advised him to do so."

Sambo Dasuki, NSA

The newly appointed NSA says that a plan to dialogue with Boko Haram is underway

The recently appointed National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, says plans are in gear to meet with the top brass of the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, with a view to putting an end to the violence perpetrated by the terrorist group.

Mr. Dasuki said on Wednesday in Jos that he has the contacts of key Boko Haram leaders for possible dialogue with the group.

Mariam Aloma-Mukhtar

Mariam Aloma-Mukhtar, who was called to the bar in 1967, becomes the first female to head the Nigerian judiciary.

The President, Goodluck Jonathan, has sent Mariam Aloma Mukhtar’s name to the Senate for confirmation as the next Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN). The President also sent the names of Justices Kumai Akaah and Atanley Allagoa to the Senate for confirmation as justices of the apex court.

Gunmen kill Borno’s Housing Corporation GM

THE General Manager of the Borno state Housing Corporation, Engr. Isa Madu Ngaram was gun down by unknown gunmen in front of his office on Wednesday morning in Maiduguri metropolis.

Our correspondent gathered that the incident occurred at about 11.00am Wednesday. The gunmen trailed the General Manager to his office situated in the state’ Low Cost Housing Estate, where they shot him dead while attempting to enter his private car parked behind his office.

Asaba -The Delta State Police Command has recovered a seven-month-old baby, three days after the child was stolen from his parents.

The missing child was found at Agbor in Ika South Local Government Area of the state.
The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Charles Muka, who briefed newsmen on Tuesday in Asaba, said the police had arrested five suspects in connection with the incident.

Rotimi Babatunde

Rotimi Babatunde has been announced winner of the 2012 Caine Prize for African Writing, for his short story 'Bombay's Republic'.

The panel of judges, chaired by Bernardine Evaristo, announced this at a dinner held on Monday at the Bodleian Library in Oxford.

Evaristo said, "Bombay's Republic vividly describes the story of a Nigerian soldier fighting in the Burma campaign of World War Two. It is ambitious,

A Market In Ghana

Nigerian businessmen operating in Ghana yesterday cried out to the Nigerian government to come to their rescue as Ghanaian authorities have commenced closing their shops for allegedly operating illegally.

The Nigerian traders said their shops were closed because they were said not to comply with the government policy which requires them to have an initial capital of $300,000 and employ 10 Ghanaians before they can start any business in Ghana regardless of the size of the business.

Michael Ezekwere

Though Michael Ezekwere has just completed his national youth service, accomplishing his dreams in life will depend on Nigerians’ benevolence as he battles a kidney-related disease.

One needs not earn a degree in Medicine to know that Michael Ezekwere is sick. His difficulty in speaking, occasional tug at his sides and fatigued look are enough signs. He is actually battling with a kidney-related disease.

Ezekwere, a 26-year-old graduate of Political Science and Public Administration from the University of Benin, just completed his one year mandatory national youth service in Edo State.

A pregnant woman, nine-month-old baby, and some children were rescued when a building collapsed at 29, Freeman Street, Ebute Meta, Lagos on Monday.

A resident of the area, Mr. Rasaq Anifowoshe, wondered why the residents chose to risk their lives when it was obvious that the building was weak.

“I don’t understand why people are careless about their lives. Thank God nobody was killed. A pregnant woman, a baby not up to a year- maybe about eight or nine months and some children were rescued. Those who sustained injuries were taken to hospital,” he said.

Mr. Femi Otedola, chairman of Zenon Petroleum and Gas, yesterday appeared before the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges to defend his bribery allegations against the former chairman of the ad-hoc committee investigating the management of fuel subsidy funds but refused to make any presentation.

The closed-door meeting, which lasted about an hour and 30 minutes, was however fruitless as Otedola refused to testify before the committee unless its proceedings were done in the full glare of the public.

A smiling Otedola, clad in his traditional all white attire, backed by his team of lawyers led by his legal adviser, Jide Koku, SAN, emerged from the venue of the hearing to a barrage of questions

THE House of Representatives, yesterday, directed the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, to cancel all postings of corps members to states in the North East which are faced with security challenges.

This was sequel to the controversy that emanated from the posting of Batch B corps members, last Monday which resulted in a protest by the corpers at the headquarters of the NYSC in Abuja. The affected corps members insisted that the authorities should redeploy them to safer areas in the country.

Pictures: Abuja Bomb Blast

Just more pictures at the scene of yesterday's Abuja bomb blast...

Scene of Bomb Blast At Wuse 11

Nwando Achebe-Ogundimu

Nwando Achebe-Ogundimu, historian and daughter of Prof. Chinua Achebe, has won the Barbara “Penny” Kanner Prize and the Gita Chaudhuri Prize of the Western Association of Women Historians for her book, The Female King of Colonial Nigeria: Ahebi Ugbabe.

The Barbara “Penny” Kanner Award is an annual award given to honour a book, book chapter, article, or electronic media that has been verifiably published or posted in the two years prior to the award year and which illustrates the use of a specific set of primary sources (diaries, letters, interviews).

GOVERNOR Sullivan Chime

GOVERNOR Sullivan Chime of Enugu State, yesterday, signed into law, a bill banning operations of motorcycles otherwise known as Okada in Enugu metropolis.

While signing the law in the presence of the House Speaker, Mr Eugene Odo, House Leader, Udo Okoye and other principal officers of government, Chime noted that the law aims to checkmate the activities of men of the underworld and ultimately protect lives and property of the people. The law prescribes one year imprisonment without any option of fine for violators.

AN Oshodi Customary Court in Lagos State has dissolved the 17 years old marriage between Afusat Ogunrinde and Ibraheem Ogunrinde, noting that the couple can no longer stay together as the marriage has broken down completely after the husband’s alleged threat to his life.

Delivering the judgment, the Acting President of the Court, Mrs. R.I. Adetola, said that evidence before the court showed that Ogunrinde was a cruel husband and a threat to his family and ordered that Afusat should have the custody of the three children as requested by the children and their mother.

TWO persons have been confirmed dead following a robbery attack on a popular pharmaceutical shop located along Lagos Street of Umuahia metropolis, in the Abia State capital.

The robbers were said to have attacked the shop, usually filled with customers, at about 8-9 pm. Although details of the attack were still sketchy, the state Police command confirmed the death of two persons.

Engr.Andrew Yakubu

The National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has said unequivocally that the Corporation does not operate a secret account but a statutory domiciliary account with the Central Bank of Nigeria thus laying to rest reports by some national dailies that the NNPC operates a secret and illegal foreign account.

The Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Engr.Andrew Yakubu stated this on Tuesday while fielding questions from the Joint Senate Committee investigating the oil subsidy regime in Abuja.

The immediate past Miss Nigeria, Ireland, Emmanuella Olufunmilola Salako, has expressed determination to break into Nollywood someday, adding that the acting prowess of the delectable Genevieve Nnaji and Omotola Jolade Ekeinde inspires her a lot.

The ex-beauty Queen, who disclosed this during a chat with NollywoodReel, reiterated that she currently runs a dance academy and a radio show which talks about music in Africa, back in Dublin.

“I have always loved dancing. I watched the late Michael Jackson dance and I thought of starting a dance academy. It’s something I really enjoy.

Young Krazzle

Jamaul Taylor aka 'Young Krazzle' is a 26-year-old hip-hop artiste from Madison Heights, Virginia, in the United States of America, who has been in the American entertainment industry for over five years. In this exclusive chat with ANTHONY ADA ABRAHAM, by correspondence, the young artiste lets us into his world and his journey so far in the entertainment industry. Excerpts:

Tell us about yourself and how you started as an artiste?

I was in middle school with my cousin and he asked if I wanted to rap. He explained to me what rapping was; so I have been rapping since then. I'm 26 years old and I aim at attracting different crowds to make music that people can relate to.

A reliable source has learned that a car bomb has exploded near the Banex Plaza in Abuja, Nigeria. The car exploded in front of Park 'N Shop at Shefiff Plaza, close to Banex Plaza in Wuse 2. FCT police commissioner is there at the moment, as the police put up barricades around the area. No one is allowed to take pictures at the moment.

Unconfirmed reports state that one person has been inured. However, according to the latest statement from Police Spokesman Frank Mba, no causualties, injuries, or property damage has been recorded.

Below is an official statement from Nigeria Police Forces in Abuja:

Maiduguri: Armed Men Slaughter Nine People

Nine persons were last night slaughtered like rams in Ungwan Bolori in Maiduguri, Borno State, a reliable source has been told.

A top security source in Maiduguri confirmed the tragic story to on the telephone. The spokesperson of the Joint Task Force in the State, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, has also confirmed the incident.

The security source said that the nine people were trapped in the night by an unknown group of persons who invaded their residence and slaughtered them one after the other, leaving them in a pool of their blood.

Stanley Nzediegwu,

Fast-rising actor, Stanley Nzediegwu, has said that he needs more challenging roles in the make-believe industry.

Stanley, who has acted in a couple of A-list flicks such as MNet’s Tinsel, Private Sector, Phamous Five, Bella’s Place, Hoodrush, Quarantine Zone and Heavy Duty hinted that being stereotyped is one of the major challenges he is facing.

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