GistNaija.com : 2012-07-01

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Jonathan Orders Security Agencies to Find Senator Dantong's Killers

President Jonathan

The president says everything possible will be done to apprehend the lawmaker's killers

President Goodluck Jonathan has given a marching order to security agencies in the country to fish out the killers of Senator Gyang Dantong without delay.

Mr. Dantong, the senator who, until his death, represented Plateau North Senatorial district, died in yet unclear circumstances on Sunday.

An early morning attack on nine villages in Barikin Ladi Local government of Plateau state has left over 20 people dead. Gunmen, reportedly hauling explosives and shooting indiscriminately, raided the villages and left the killings in their wake.

The spokesperson of the Special Task Force (STF) in the state, Salisu Mustapha, who confirmed the incident to a reliable source in a telephone interview Saturday said members of the STF have gone to the area and effected some arrests. He however, declined to mention the number of persons arrested.

See more photos of the destruction below:

France’s World Cup and Euro winning captain Didier Deschamps was named coach of the national side on Sunday, the French Football Federation (FFF) announced on its website.

The 43-year-old – who captained France to the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 trophies – replaces fellow World Cup and Euro winning team-mate Laurent Blanc, who turned down a new two year contract last weekend.

Blanc had guided the French to the Euro 2012 quarter-finals – the minimum requirement of the FFF – but dressing room discord and two outbursts by Samir Nasri had not helped Blanc’s cause.

Deschamps immediately became the favourite and lent credence to the fact by quitting Marseille last Monday.

Late Bose

The Ekiti State Police Command has detained Mr. Nnaefenwa Lucky, in connection with the beheading of his wife, Bose.

Our correspondent gathered that the headless remains of Bose, 40, who was suspected to have been killed for ritual purposes, were discovered in the bush by her husband who had asked her to bring food to him.

It was gathered that the deceased, who had four children, had prepared the food as instructed by her husband and was on the way to the farm to give it to him when she was attacked and decapitated by yet to be identified persons.

FCT residents have expressed fear over the impending demolition of illegal structures to be embarked upon by the development control department in various area councils in the territory.

The department’s officials had last week sensitized residents on the demolition of exercise to be carried out very soon.

The locations where this demolition will take place are Idu, Karmo-Dape, Tasha, Gwagwa, Suburi, Zauda, Jahi, Gishiri, Mabushi, Mpape, Kuchigoro, Chika, Aleita, Piwoyi, Lugbe, Pyakassa, Tudun-wada, Deidei and Guzape.

My reliable source has just learnt that Senator Dantong Gyang Dalyop and Gyang Fulani, the majority leader of the Plateau State Assembly, were among several people murdered today during a mass funeral in the Barakin-Ladi local government area of Plateau. A member of the House of Representatives, Simon Davou Mwadkwon, was also seriously injured in the attack.

Senator Dantong Gyang Dalyop was a PDP member and chaired the Senate committee on health.

A business woman, Bunmi Akintoye, 33 has been arrested by the Special Fraud Unit of the Police over alleged N10 million scam.

The Police in a statement signed by the unit's spokesperson, Pius Afachung, said that the suspect was undergoing multiple investigations in Lagos over sundry allegations by different people.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quotes the statement as alleging that Akintoye had in June 2011 obtained 96 pieces of Hewlett Packard laptops worth N10 million without payment.

Roger Federer(L) Vs Andy Murray(R)

Rain has halted the Wimbledon men’s final on Sunday with Roger Federer and Andy Murray having split the first two sets.

Murray won the first set 6-4 with Federer levelling at 7-5 in the second.

It was 1-1 in the third set when play stopped at 1613 local time (1513GMT).

BREAKING NEWS: Plateau PDP Senator Killed in attack

Senator Gyang Dalyop Datong

Senator Gyang Dalyop Datong (Plateau North, PDP) has been shot dead by gunmen while attending a burial ceremony today.

A statement from the Plateau state commissioner of Information, Abraham Yiljap confirmed the shooting.
Please check back for details soon..

Bride Gives Birth Just Minutes After Wedding

A bride gave birth only minutes after tying the knot at a townhall wedding in western France, making it more of a “big day” than anticipated, the local mayor told AFP Sunday.

“It did rather shake us up,” admitted Jean-Robert Gachet, mayor of Jallais, after hearing that mother and baby were doing well.

Saturday’s ceremony at 11:00 am was nearly called off after the heavily pregnant bride had several false alarms, although her due date was July 14.

In this week's edition of Vanguard Allure, Folashade Okoya appears on the coverpage. Wanna know whos this beautiful Folashade Okoya is? Why not pick a copy of this Vanguard Allure from your Vendor. You will just love it!

Olympics BasketBall: Russia beat Nigeria, Nigeria Must Beat Dominican Republic to Qualify.

Basketball: Nigeria Vs Russia

A relentless Nigeria basketball team lost to Russia on Saturday gifting the European a spot at the Olympic Games for the third time. The Russians prevail 85-77 over D'Tigres in the Semi-Finals of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

This means that D' Tigers must beat Dominican Republic to qualify.

Just got some news that Seydou Keita has left Barcelona. Though he still has 2 years in his Barcelona deal BUT a clause in the deal says he can leave if he fails to feature in at least 50 per cent of the club's official matches last season.

He is expected to sign on Sunday(today) a two-and-a-half-year deal with newly-promoted Chinese club Dalian Aerbin, who were linked with Didier Drogba and Amauri earlier in the year.

Keita thanks for a wonderful season at Barca. GistNaija wishes you the best.

Bieber & Gomez: Are They About To Break Up

Is there trouble in the once a love relationship between Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez?

PEOPLE reported that Gomez, 19, “was crying about Justin and was upset” during Ashley Tisdale’s birthday bash last week.

But multiple photos from the fete show the “Love You Like a Love Song” singer all smiles, appearing to be in upbeat spirits. She was even photographed being twirled around by a man identified as Bieber’s close pal Alfredo Flores.

TMZ reported last Monday that the young lovebirds broke up last week, but have since got back together.

Pop superstar Rihanna sued her former accountants yesterday accusing them of losing tens of millions of dollars on the singer’s tours.

The lawsuit - filed under her real name Robyn Fenty in Manhattan Federal Court - accuses Berdon LLP of New York and two of the company’s accountants of breach of contract and negligence among other claims.

The suit says Rihanna, 24, hired Berdon as her financial manager in 2005 when she was 16 and her music career was just getting off the ground in her native Barbados.

Serena Williams was crowned Wimbledon champion for the fifth time on Saturday as the American subdued a brave fightback from Polish third seed Agnieszka Radwanska to win 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 in a dramatic final.

Serena, who pockets a cheque for £1.15 milllion (approximately N30 million), is the first woman over 30 to win Wimbledon since Martina Navratilova in 1990 and she needed all the experience gathered over her illustrious career to survive a remarkable revival from Radwanska.

Some 2, 000 members of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Lagos, led by Mr Abdulkareem Rafiu, a former security aide to Gov. Babatunde Fashola, on Saturday defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Rafiu told PDP big wigs and party faithful who were at the state party secretariat in Ikeja, where the defectors were formally accepted, that the ACN had not lived up to expectation.

“I believe the PDP is the party that would bring back the dream Lagos,” Rafiu, popularly called “Otto’’ , said.

Police evacuates women, children to safe grounds, many residence displaced.

Not less than twenty two persons were reportedly killed in an attack before dawn early Saturday in Gashish District, Barkin Ladi Local government area of Plateau State where nine villages were invaded by unknown gunmen.

The casualties included mostly women, children and the aged. The gunmen were said to have divided themselves into five groups with each group taking on one village.

Eye witness said the gunmen were dressed in bullet-proof vest and army camouflage color. A mobile policeman who is a member of the Special Task Force (STF) was said to have lost his life in the attack.

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,

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