ENYA'S GIST BLOG

A Hindu nationalist politician has offered a $1.5 million bounty for the heads of a movie star and her director amid backlash over a Bollywood film that allegedly misrepresented a Hindu legend. Suraj Pal Amu, leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party, offered the reward for the beheadings of popular actress Deepika Padukone and filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who worked on the movie “Padmavati” together. The hotly-anticipated film has sparked controversy for depicting a forbidden romance between a Hindu queen and a Muslim ruler. It which was due to hit cinemas on 1 December, but its release has now been postponed. Based on a 16th century Sufi epic poem, the film tells the story of a Hindu queen who chooses to kill herself rather than be captured by a Muslim sultan. Over the centuries, the tale has come to be seen as history, even though there is little historical evidence to support it. But a romantic dream sequence between the film’s protagonists – the queen (...

Former Super Eagles forward, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, who played mostly in England and made his name with Portsmouth and Everton FC, has retired from professional football on his 35th birthday. Aiyegbeni, who also played for Middlesbrough and Blackburn Rovers, made 250 Premier League appearances and scored 96 goals in a career spanning 20 years. He however also featured three times for English fourth-tier side, Coventry City this year before being released. “I will like to officially announce my retirement from professional football today,” Aiyegbeni said on Wednesday. The powerful striker scored 21 goals in 57 appearances for Nigeria and took part in four Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as well as the 2010 World Cup. “The Yak… is third-best all-time scorer of the senior national team. Thank you for the memories,” the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) tweeted in a reaction.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) on Wednesday decided it will adjudicate the dispute over the embargo that several Arab countries have imposed on Qatar. “The Geneva-based WTO case will focus on Qatar’s complaint against the United Arab Emirates’ trade restrictions,’’ a trade official said. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with Qatar in June, accusing Doha of supporting and funding terrorists; a claim Qatar denies. The quartet has not only demanded that Qatar cut its links with terrorists, but that it also downgrade ties with Iran, the main regional rival of Saudi Arabia. The UAE had tried to block a judicial process at the WTO, arguing that its steps against Qatar were legal under WTO rules because they are based on national security considerations.

The Tripoli Illegal Immigration Department says a total of 124 illegal immigrants from Ivory Coast were deported on Thursday from the Libyan capital, Tripoli. “The child Mamani returned to her home in Ivory Coast today, accompanied by 123 other illegal immigrants from Ivory Coast,” Hosni Abu-Ayana, head of the media office of told Xinhua. “The migrants returned within the humanitarian voluntary program by the International Organization for Migration in cooperation with the Libyan authorities,” Abu-Ayana added. The International Organisation for Migration and the Libyan authorities launched a humanitarian repatriation program to repatriate migrants detained in Libyan shelters in their countries of origin. Libya is a major departure point for illegal migrants wanting to cross the Mediterranean towards European shores, due to the insecurity and chaos in the North African nation.

The Nigerian government has restated its earlier claim that the administration will soon attain its goal of self-sufficiency in rice production for the country, come 2018. The Information Minister, Lai Mohammed, said this in a press conference in Abuja while briefing journalists on the administration’s growing achievements to revamp the economy. According to Mr. Mohammed, Nigeria is inching closer to self-sufficiency in rice production, due to the successes recorded in the local production of rice. Mr. Muhammed cited a report by a Thai rice export association to support his claim. “In fact, the Thailand Rice Exporters Association has recently revealed that within a spate of just two years – from September 2015 to September 2017 – Nigeria’s rice importation dropped from 644,131 Metric Tonnes to just about 21,000MT. “There is more good news to report: As a result of this administration’s success in local production, some investors from Thailand have shown interest in...

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, may call off its 10-day old strike next week, an official has said. An official of the union, Kola Abiola, who is also the ASUP chairman of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic chapter in Abeokuta, said  that the decision will be taken in Bauchi when ASUP leaders meet next week to deliberate on their negotiation with the federal government. “The Minister of Education has met with our leadership and there has been fruitful discussions,” Mr. Abiola said. “There is a process ongoing for the Memorandum of Understanding to be signed.” According to Mr Abiola, the union had an emergency National Executive Council, NEC, meeting in Abuja on Monday on how to resolve the crisis. “I think by the time we call ourselves together again after meeting with the government, when we meet at Bauchi next week, we will evaluate what is on ground and a decision will be taken”.   The national president of ASUP, Usman ...

The police have filed murder charges against a  woman who allegedly murdered her husband at their residence in Abuja weekend. Maryam Sanda allegedly stabbed her husband, Bilyaminu Bello-Haliru, multiple times, police said. The victim, Mr. Bello-Haliru, was the son of a former minister and national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Haliru Bello. A charge sheet prepared by the police and filed at the FCT High Court accused Mrs. Sanda of culpable homicide. The police said the killing was premeditated and are seeking death penalty against the accused in the two-count charge. Ms. Sanda stabbed her husband with broken bottles at about 3:50 a.m. with absolute intent to kill him, court filings said. She was charged under Sections 221, 240 and 247 of the Penal Code. The police said the murder was committed in Zone 2, Wuse, Abuja and not Maitama, Abuja as had been widely reported. The police have secured a two-week remand warrant to keep the suspect in custody as...

A host of public institutions have been publicly shamed for repeatedly failing to comply with the provisions of Freedom of Information Act. The Media Rights Agenda published the 2017 list of ‘FoI Hall of Shame’ which also included some federal court judges. More than 20 institutions and persons exhibited “an inexplicable disregard for the rights of citizens to seek and obtain information from public institutions while also demonstrating a near absolute contempt for the law,” the MRA said in a statement by its programme officer, Idowu Adewale. In many instances, the MRA found, the culprits didn’t even acknowledge receipt of FoI enquiries, much less give a desired response. The law mandates public institutions to grant access and reply to request for public records, except those on national security, within a time limit of seven days. Any insufficient denial of such request by an institution or public official attracts a fine of N500,000 payable on conviction by a court...

The long awaited celebrity wedding between Nigerian singer/songwriter, Oluwabankole Wellington, popularly known as Banky W, and actress Adesua Etomi has finally seen the light of day. The star-studded traditional wedding in Lagos on Sunday was witnessed by close friends, associates and celebrities including, Bovi, Basket Mouth, Kemi Adetiba, Tunde Demuren, Chigul, Lynxx, Juliet Ibrahim, M.I Abaga,Dotun Kayode, Toolz, Tolu Oniru, Linda Ejiofor, Sola Sobowale, among others. The nuptial tie comes shortly after Banky W successfully had a third surgery for skin cancer. Their engagement which was initially perceived as a publicity stunt was officially announced by Banky W in February. Both celebrities featured as newlyweds in a Nollywood blockbuster titled “The Wedding Party” and displayed an undeniable chemistry just like Brad Pit and Angelina Jolie did in “Mr.&Mrs. Smith”.

 The Supreme Court in Kenya has upheld the re-election of President Uhuru Kenyatta. Mr. Kenyatta is now to be sworn in for his second term on November 28. While giving its ruling, the chief justice said, “The court has unanimously determined that the petitions are not merited.” The petitions were filed by opposition candidate Raila Odinga and his party. Mr. Odinga boycotted the election calling for electoral reforms before they are held.

Zimbabwe’s information minister said on Tuesday he did not know whether ministers would attend a cabinet meeting called by President Robert Mugabe at his State House offices, the first since a military takeover on November 15. “I do not know whether anyone will attend,” SK Moyo told Reuters hours before parliament was due to sit to start proceedings to impeach the 93-year-old leader. Cabinet meetings normally start at 7.30 GMT. Mugabe faces the start of impeachment proceedings on Tuesday that could see him ousted within the week, against the backdrop of a military takeover dubbed “Operation Restore Legacy”. The ruling ZANU-PF party plans to bring the impeachment motion in parliament after a Monday noon deadline expired for the besieged 93-year-old leader to resign and bring the curtain down on nearly four decades in power. Impeachment would be an ignominious end to the career of the “Grand Old Man” of African politics, once lauded as an anti-colonial hero and the ...

The 2018 edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon looks set to beat the attendance record of the 2016 and 2017 editions. A spokesperson for the organisers, Kayoe Thomas, said over 50,000 runners have so far signified their intention to compete in the race slated for February 10, 2018, and have collected the race forms. In 2016, over 50,000 runners participated while 73,000 competed in the 2017 edition. Organisers are anticipating between 100,000 to 120,000 runners for the 2018 edition. There are many new attractions making thousands throng the Teslim Balogun Stadium Marathon Office and Access Bank branches nationwide to collect forms for this edition. The marathon route has been certified by athletics and road races governing body IAAF/AIMS. The route was certified by Norris Williamson, a grade A measurer, who measured the marathon route for the Atlanta, Athens and Beijing Olympic games and several other marathons and road races. The Access Bank Lagos City Mar...

The simmering inter agency war between the anti-graft agency, EFCC, on the one hand and the State Security Service, SSS, and the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, burst into the open early Tuesday morning when a combined team of EFCC officials and police officers attempted to arrest the former heads of the two agencies. The EFCC officials tried to arrest the former head of the NIA, Ayo Oke, and former head of the SSS, Ita Ekpeyong, from their homes on Mamman Nasir Street in the Asokoro district of Abuja but were resisted by armed security agents of the two agencies. This has led to a continued stand off between armed security officers from all the four agencies as at the time of this report causing a traffic mayhem in the area and an uncertain security outcome from the situation.

Opening Remark: Atani Youths Anniversary 2017 by the Atani Youth President in the person of TONY EDUU The Eval Lezel Kpako, HRH Eval Nelson Agbomi, National President APDM Knite Anthony Armon, All members of APDM National Executive, ADA President Lagos, Mr Fidelis Taylor, APDM Lagos President Mr David Enya Eni, All members of APDM Lagos Executive, All Presidents of Various Clans here present, The Coordinator of Atani Youths Association Lagos Mr Henry Ekoro, All members of Atani Youths Association Exco here in Lagos, All Atani Yo uths here Present, All our Fellow Youths from other Clans, All invited Guest and Artist, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen. It is a thing of Joy and Great honour for me to stand before you to welcome you to the second ANNIVERSARY of ATANI YOUTHS ASSOCIATION Lagos. Atani Youths Association is a team of great minds who saw the need to make life meaningful for our young people and have come together to make that happen. We do not despise ...

Atani Youths Anniversary 2017. DATE:Nov 19th is the Date VENUE: Alkadian Hotel is Venue Guest Artist Confirmed Guest speakr Confirmed T-shirt Available all size Music Confirmed Dancers Confirmed Comedian Confirmed Empowerment Confirmd I will be there Live. I want us to be there together. Pass this to all Atani/Ada youths. To get the Branded T-shirt, contact Morgan 07067771566, Franca 07065529281 We did it together last year, let's do it together this year in a bigger and better way.

Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe has been detained in an unfolding military takeover in the southern African country. Soldiers took control of Zimbabwe’s ZBC state broadcaster in the early hours of Wednesday, and said the 93-year-old leader was “safe and sound”. Mr. Mugabe has led the southern African country since independence in 1980. But the soldiers denied that they’ve seized power, saying their action was only aimed at reining in ” criminal” elements around Mr. Mugabe, the oldest leader in the world. Several officials have been held by the military, including ministers of the ruling ZANU-PF. Those said to have been held include Albert Ngulube -Deputy Director Central Intelligence Organisation and Kudzai Chipanga – President of ZanuPF National Youth League. Zimbabwe’s privately-owned NewsDay reports that three leading figures in the Generation 40 (G40) faction of Zanu-PF who had been reportedly fomenting chaos in the ruling party were picked up in the early...

Pope Francis was on Wednesday offered a Lamborghini Huracan, but the Vatican said there was no future as a pope mobile for the Italian super-car. The Huracan, which has a top speed of more than 300 km per hour and has a starting price in Italy of 185,000 euros (219,000 dollars), will instead be auctioned for charity, a statement said. Proceeds will go to a Catholic charity seeking to return Christian exiles to Iraq, to another one helping victims of the sex trade in Italy and to two Italian charities that operate in Africa. Francis was given a specially prepared Huracan model, and the unusual gift was presented to the pope at the Vatican by the top management of Lamborghini, which is part of Germany’s Volkswagen Group.

The Super Eagles will be attempting to give a glimpse of what they can offer going to the World Cup when they take on the Argentine national team in a high profile friendly on Tuesday in Krasnodar, Russia. The Super Eagles have persistently had it rough against the two-time world champions, managing just one win in all meetings since 1994. The Coach Genort Rohr-tutored side are keen to halt the dominance of the Argentines and they are ready to match them pound for pound. In their respective last outings, the Super Eagles were forced to a 1-1 by Algeria while Argentina squeezed out a lone goal win over world cup hosts, Russia, over the weekend. Argentina have always beaten Nigeria, except for that friendly in Abuja. But on Tuesday in Krasnodar, Russia, the Super Eagles under Gernot Rohr beat two-time World champions, Argentina, short of Lionel Me.

The Senate on Wednesday condemned the withdrawal of the security aides attached to the Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in the state. The senators asked the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to direct the reinstatement of the aides without further delay. Moving a motion under order 41, Emmanual Bwacha, Taraba-PDP, faulted the explanation offered by the police chief for the withdrawal of the security aides. “I woke up to my shock to listen to an explanation offered by the inspector General of police in respect of the withdrawal of security aides of the Governor of Anambra state,” Mr. Bwacha said. “Mr. President, this matter is bi-partisan. The explanation offered went to the extent to mean that because there is a need for a level playground for all the aspirants in the Anambra governorship election, so, the governor who is a sitting governor should lose his security aides. Mr. President, I was in a state of ...

The Super Eagles will get down to business on Tuesday in Rabat, Morocco, ahead of their final 2018 World Cup qualifying match against Algeria. Though Nigeria already have the World Cup ticket in their pocket, officials of the team are treating the Algeria game as important as they want the Super Eagles to end the campaign in style. The spokesperson for the Eagles, Toyin Ibitoye, confirmed that the Eagles will have their maiden training session on Tuesday ahead of Friday’s game against the Algerians. The Eagles camp is already bubbling as a greater number from those invited for the Algeria game as well as the friendly against two-time world champions, Argentina, are already on ground and itching to get down to business. On Monday, Super Eagles head coach, Gernot Rohr, welcomed 11 more players to Morocco after the earlier arrivals of Ahmed Musa, Wilfred Ndidi, Mikel Agu and goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa. Already, the coach has handed late call-ups to Girona striker...

President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi of Egypt, said Tuesday that he would remain in power for no longer than another four-year term in accordance with the Egyptian constitution. “We will not interfere with [the constitution] … I am with preserving two four-year terms,” Al-Sisi said in an interview with CNBC TV channel. According to the Egyptian president, the next presidential vote will be held in Egypt in March or April 2018. At the same time, Al-Sisi has not indicated whether he plans to run in the presidential election. In May 2014, Al-Sisi, then the Egyptian deputy prime minister and defence minister, was elected president of Egypt, following the overthrow of former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood by the Egyptian army. The Egyptian constitution enables Al-Sisi to stand for re-election.

Mixed reactions on Tuesday trailed the 2018 budget proposal of N8.6 trillion, shortly after it was presented by President Muhammadu Buhari before a Joint Session of the National Assembly in Abuja. Some lawmakers expressed satisfaction with the budget which has a nominal increase of 16 per cent above the 2017 budget estimate and tagged “Budget of Consolidation’’. Kabiru Marafa (APC-Zamfara) said it was a budget of hope and a realistic one, looking at its parameters. He said “there are various indications that the budget proposal is realistic. “Also, the promise made by President Muhammadu Buhari during the presentation that the aspirations Niger Delta people would be looked into, would improve crude oil production. “Even with the sectoral allocation, I believe it is a budget for the common man.” Mr. Marafa assured that the National Assembly would play its role by ensuring that all standing committees worked assiduously to realise an implementable budget. He added t...

The Nigerian education sector has again been allocated much lower than the 26 percent of national budget recommended by the United Nations. The global organisation recommended the budgetary benchmark to enable nations adequately cater for rising education demands. But in the proposal presented to the National Assembly on Tuesday, President Muhammadu Buhari allocated only 7.04% of the 8.6 trillion 2018 budget to the education. The total sum allocated to the sector is N605.8 billion, with N435.1 billion for recurrent expenditure, N61.73 billion for capital expenditure and N109.06 billion for the Universal Basic Education Commission. The allocation is lower than the 7.4 percent the government gave the education sector in the of N7.4 trillion 2017 budget. The breakdown of the N550 billion allocated in 2017 was N398 billion for recurrent expenditure, N56 billion for capital expenditure and N95 billion to UBEC. Although the N605 billion allocated to the sector this year ...

Eleven people where Tuesday night shot dead by gunmen along Rim, Riyom Local Government Area of northern Plateau State. The Police Public Relations Office of the Plateau State Police Command, Terna Tyopev, confirmed the incident on  Wednesday morning. “Eleven people who were returning from a weekly village market of Makera were shot dead at about 7:30 p.m., four others are injured.” He said police are on the trail of the attackers. “No arrest yet, but investigation are ongoing, and we shall definitely get to the roots of this,” the spokesperson said. Riyom is the Plateau local government that links the state to Abuja, Kaduna and Nasarawa states. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack and there were no immediate suspicions of the identity of the attackers. There were, however, rumours that Tuesday’s attackers were dressed in military uniform. Plateau recently witnessed renewed violence between herdsmen and locals causing the death of dozens of people. ...

President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping (shee jihn-peeng) are having tea at the start of the U.S. president's visit to China. The Forbidden City, an ancient imperial complex in the heart of Beijing, is normally teeming with tourists but was empty Wednesday for Trump's visit. The two sides are starting two days of meetings that will be centered on trade and the North Korea's nuclear weapons program. Both men were joined by their wives. President Donald Trump is making his first official visit to China amid regional tensions on trade and North Korea. Trump landed in Beijing on Wednesday following events in South Korea. He is scheduled to meet multiple times with China's President Xi Jinping (shee jihn-peeng) during the two-day visit. Xi was treating Trump to a lavish welcoming ceremony and tour of the Forbidden City, home to China's ancient imperial palaces. The visit comes hours after Trump addressed South Korea's National ...