News Desk Tuesday, June 19, 2007

10% VAT, FUEL PRICE HIKE; Nationwide Strike Begins

ABUJA — WITH the stage set for the commencement, tonight, of the nationwide strike called by Labour and the civil society groups, the House of Representatives has declared as illegal the increase of the Value Added Tax (VAT) from five per cent to 10 per cent by the Federal Government.
The increase in VAT is one of the measures which the unions want reversed. The others are the recent increase in fuel prices and the sale of the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries. MORE>>

Ministerial List: PDP Reject ex-Govs

ABUJA —THE aspirations of some immediate past governors for ministerial positions in the Yar'Adua administration may have hit the rocks following
the resolution of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) national caucus to drop them from the list. MORE>>

Customs Officials Beat Textile Trader Into Coma

ENUGU—A textile dealer was yesterday beaten to a state of coma by three officials of the Nigeria Customs in Enugu in an attempt to secure the release of his textile materials seized by the service last Friday. MORE>>

I'll Run An All-Inclusive Govt - Obi

ENUGU —GOVERNOR Peter Obi of Anambra State yesterday promised to run an all-inclusive government as he takes over governance of the state but declared that he would not dissolve his former cabinet, which he said was not given the opportunity to steer the ship of the state towards the attainment of the administration’s desire for a new dawn. MORE>>

MURDER TRIAL: [Obiekea] CP Blames Non-Release of Soldiers on Communication
Gap

OWERRI—Imo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Audu Abubakar, says the current misunderstanding over the non-release of the two soldiers accused of murdering Citizen Sylvester Nnaemeka Obiekea, by the Commander of 34 Field Artillery Brigade, Obinze, Brigadier general Amnon Kalayi Kwaskebe, arose out of communication gap. MORE>>

Govt Cuts Petrol Price to N70, Suspends VAT

IN a last-minute effort, the Federal Government yesterday moved to avert a nationwide strike called by Labour leaders and the civil society.

The government, at a meeting with the leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) offered to revert the prices of kerosene and diesel to the old rates. It, also agreed to suspend the recent 100 percent increase in the Value Added Tax (VAT) and to remove N5 from the recent N10 jack up in the price of petroleum. MORE>>

Report Indicts police Budget Boss, Obaniyi, in N21.6m Scam

PRELIMINARY investigations have indicted the former Commissioner of Police in charge of budget, Mr. John Obaniyi, over the controversial N21.6 million that was apparently being moved out of the Force Headquarters in tranches on June 7, this year. A tranche of N900,000 was intercepted while Obaniyi's official driver, Police Constable Elisha Augustine, was leaving the fifth floor store at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, clutching a suspicious bag. MORE>>

No Deal With Yar'Adua, says Buhari

Former head of state and presidential candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in the last April 21 presidential election, General Mohammadu Buhari has turned down an offer for discussion by President Umar Yar’Adua. MORE>>

Militants Hold 11 Soldiers, 16 Others Hostage

NIGER Delta militants have detained 11 soldiers and 16 other people at one of the oil fields operated by Italian oil giant, Agip. Agip said this on Monday, and pointed out that those held were working at its facility that was overrun on Sunday by militants. MORE>>

Tribunal Renews Order for Ajimobi to Inspect Poll Materials

The Election Petitions Tribunal in Oyo State has frowned at the non-compliance of the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) over its order to produce for inspection, electoral materials used for the April 14 governorship election as a result of which it gave another order yesterday, compelling the INEC for the same purpose within 14 days. MORE>>

Police Arrest 17 Suspects in Imo

Imo State Police Command in two months arrested over 17 suspects over various degrees of criminal activities in the state, State Police Commissioner, Alhaji Audu Abubakar has said. Briefing newsmen in his maiden interaction with the press, yesterday, Abubakar said the suspects were arrested over armed robbery, impersonation or fraud-related crimes. MORE>>

Ohakim Flags off Sanitation Program

Governor Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State has flagged off the state’s monthly environmental sanitation aimed at restoring the state to its past glory as the cleanness state east of the Niger. The exercise flagged off at Wethedral Road Owerri by the deputy governor, Dr. Mrs Ada Okwuonu, witnessed huge turn out of residents who participated in cleaning their surroundings and the gutters. MORE>>

A Governor in Chains

Theodore Orji sat with rapt attention. He smiled from time to time. Clearly, he was the man of the moment. Fresh off the hook of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, which accused him of being the conduit through which Abia State had been defrauded in the last eight years, he basked in the euphoria of the day. When Orji Kalu, the then governor of the state whom he served as chief of staff, mounted the rostrum and tried to defuse some misgivings that the new governor would not be his own man, Orji could not but laugh. MORE>>

G8: Lessons for Nigeria

AT its annual summit meetings, the Group of Eight leading industrialised countries works towards taking a common position on issues that help create stable and reliable conditions for its continued dominance of the global economy. G8 nations then employ the UN machinery (within which they wield unassailable influence) to translate any agreed position into a detailed draft document for adoption by the UN General Assembly as an international protocol for all UN-member countries to observe, with any defaulters running the risk of collective sanctions. MORE>>

Fire Disaster Consumes Part of Orosi House...Claims Life of a Lawyer

The fire incident which occurred at Orosi House, along 28 Forces Avenue, Old GRA Port Harcourt last Sunday afternoon has claimed the life a legal luminary in the state. The victim, Barr H.E. Nwabara, was said to have gone to work that faithful afternoon, after attending church service in the morning and in doing so, he and his beloved family members did not know that death could be lurking around the bend.
The security man looking after the palatial six-floor edifice hinted that, when he realised that the building was on fire, he quickly rushed to bang at Nwagbra's office door, knowing that he was there. MORE>>

Oil Firm Above $72, Near 10-Month High on Nigeria

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices ticked lower but held firm near 10-month highs on Tuesday after a general strike threat by Nigerian unions and further violence in the delta helped extend the market's gains to a fourth session. London benchmark Brent crude edged 10 cents lower to $72.08 a barrel by 0214 GMT after touching intra-day peak of $72.25 on Monday, its highest since August 28. MORE>>

News Desk Saturday, June 16, 2007

Yar'Adua Stops EFCC From Arresting Atiku, Nnamani, Tinubu, Others

There were indications on Thursday that the President, Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua, had directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) not to arrest some top functionaries of the last civilian administration as the commission had envisaged. MORE>>

Uba: I am a Victim of Historical Circumstances - Obi Resumes on Monday

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate in Anambra State, Dr. Andy Uba, has said his removal as governor by Thursday’s Supreme Court ruling arose from historical circumstances predating his election. MORE>>

Andy Uba, the 17-Day Governor

AS things stand now, Dr. Andy Uba is going down in the history of Nigeria as the governor to serve the shortest tenure. On the flip side, Mr. Peter Obi will also be in history books as the governor who has benefitted the most from the judiciary, strengthening the nation’s democracy along the way. MORE>>

Enahoro Demands Release of Uwazuruike, Others

The Pro-National Conference Organisation (PRONACO) and the “June 12 Coalition” have demanded for the unconditional release of MASSOB leader, Mr. Ralph Uwazuruike, and other political detainees. MORE>>

Militants Announce Ceasefire

Armed gangs in the Niger Delta have resolved to sheathe their swords and end hostilities against the Nigerian state and those perceived as its collaborators.

The resolution is to reciprocate Thursday’s release of leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, by a Federal High Court in Abuja, which granted him bail on health grounds after a 21-month legal battle for his freedom. MORE>>

I Know Yar'Adua Better Than Obasanjo

FORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar yesterday spoke on some national issues, especially his petition at the polls tribunal and the Supreme Court's resolution of the tenure of Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi. MORE>>

Police Fraud: Detectives Find Naira Bills Inside Refrigerators, TV Sets

Detectives probing the N21 million fraud at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, have reportedly uncovered a huge stock of naira bills stashed inside unused television sets and a refrigerators in the home of a senior police officer linked to the scandal. MORE>>

State Creation Will Top Constitution Review - Mark

The President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, on Friday said the creation of new states would top the review of the 1999 Constitution. Mark, who spoke while receiving a delegation of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), led by Col. Elias Nyan (rtd), at the Senate building in Abuja, said, “I want to assure you and I am saying the minds of our colleagues who are here, that one of the first steps that this Senate will take is constitution amendment. I believe in it; people have held it against me, but I am convinced in my heart of hearts that we need to look at the constitution. Unfortunately, that exercise was hijacked! MORE>>

Strike: Labour/Govt Talks Deadlock

The stage may have been set for a nationwide strike as the meeting between labour and government over the contentious issues of hike in pump price of petroleum products, VAT rate and sale of refineries ended in deadlock last night. MORE>>

ECOWAS to Adopt Boderless Boundaries

The Heads of the Economic Commu-nity of West African States (ECOWAS) yesterday held its 32nd Summit in Abuja with a view to ensuring the adoption of a strategic decision on borderless boundaries among the member states. The member states also resolved to accelerate the levels of cooperation between themselves. MORE>>

10 Indian Hostages Released in Nigeria

NEW DELHI: Ten Indians abducted in Nigeria 16 days ago have been released. All of them, who worked with a franchise of Indonesia-based Indorama firm, are with company officials, Ministry of External Affairs sources here said on Sunday. MORE>>

News Desk Friday, June 15, 2007

Queue behind me, Ngige tells Uba

Abuja—Former Governor of Anambra State , Dr. Chris Ngige yesterday applauded the Supreme Court judgment reinstating Mr. Peter Obi as the Governor of the State and charged the ousted governor, Mr. Andy Uba to queue behind him in the rank of the former governors of the State. MORE>>

Olanipekun, Falana, others react

Prominent Lawyers reacted to the Supreme Court judgement yesterday, describing it as a land mark judgement but would create so many constitutional changes in Nigeria. Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) said, “ My reaction is that the Supreme Court judgement is excellent. What the Supreme Court was saying is that there was no governorship election in Anambra State and that Obi is the substantive governor of the state. MORE>>

Yar'Adua Orders quick reinstatement of Gov. Obi...as Supreme Court kicks out Uba

President Umaru Yar’Adua has directed the solicitor-general of the federation and the inspector-general of police to quickly implement yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling on Mr Peter Obi. MORE>>

Asari Dokubo regains freedom...MOSOP hails bail

Leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF),Alhaji Mujaheed Asari Dokubo, has been granted bail on health grounds by a Federal High Court in Abuja. MORE>>

Police smash armed robbery gang

A gang of armed robbers, led by a man, who identified himself as a sentry at 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Ibadan, was smashed in Lagos yesterday.
A member of the 11-man gang was shot dead as the robbers engaged the police in a shoot-out that lasted for about 30 minutes at the Iyana Ipaja area of Lagos. MORE>>

Fuel Scarcity returns as IPMAN, NARTO begin strike

FUEL scarcity is here again as Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMAN) and National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) begin strike today to protest increase in pump prices of protroleum products. They also called for the sack of those managing public assets in the sector. MORE>>

Long journey to justice in Anambra

IN an interview in November 2006, the Archbishop of Onitsha, Anambra State, Valerian Okeke, made a poignant statement. He said: "God has not finished with Anambra State." The truth in the cleric's declaration came out in bold relief yesterday as the Supreme Court finally put to rest the perceived suppression of the people's will by powerful forces in high places. MORE>>

Yar'Adua invites govs over empty treasuries

FOLLOWING reports that some new governors met empty treasuries, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua has decided to convene a meeting with all state governors. MORE>>

Drop OBJ's reform programms, Yar'Adua told

The chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ilorin, Kwara State branch, Mr. Kehinde Eleja, has urged President Umar Musa Yar’Adua to reverse some of the policies of the former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, especially those believed to have negative effects on the well-being of Nigerians. MORE>>

Yar'Adua orders Ehindero's arrest

President Umaru Yar’Adua has ordered the arrest of former Inspector General of Police (IG), Sunday Ehindero, to answer allegations of corruption levelled against him. A police source disclosed in Abuja on Thursday that the directive followed the submission of the interim report on the investigation of the N21.6 million scam, which lid was blown last week when the aides of Police Budget Commissioner, John Obaniyi, were arrested. MORE>>

Police rank and file threaten showdown over N21.6m scandal

The rank and file in the police have threatened a showdown with the hierarchy of the force if attempt is made to cover up the N21 million scandal now rocking the force. MORE>>

Gunmen kidnap 4 foreign workers in Nigeria, military says

WARRI, Nigeria (AP) - Gunmen kidnapped four foreign workers Friday in Nigeria's lawless southern oil heartland, snatching the expatriates on land and spiriting them away into the swamps in speedboats, officials said. MORE>>

Metropolitan police to return 200,000 pounds (419 money) to Nigeria

THE MET POLICE'S Proceeds of Corruption Unit has succeeded in securing the return of nearly £200,000 pounds back to the Nigeria Government, following a successful confiscation hearing against a convicted money launderer. Joyce Bamidele Oyebanjo [DOB 16.07.66 - 40yrs], a housing tenancy manager, from Teresa Gardens, Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, was sentenced on 04.04.07, to three years imprisonment, at Southwark Crown Court, having been found guilty of money laundering £1.4m of money stolen from Nigerian State funds. MORE>>

Shell eyes $100mln in Nigeria cuts to offset rising costs, declining revenue

LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSB.LN) is looking to axe at least $100 million from its Nigerian operations in the next few years to offset rising costs and prolonged and substantial oil revenue losses caused by forced production curtailments due to security concerns, people familiar with Shell's operations said. MORE>>

Obi - Thrice a winner

Businessman and financial expert, Mr. Peter Obi, and his loyalists would by now be clinking glasses of wine over his victory at the Supreme Court. For this dogged fighter, the choice of the courts to seek redress confirms that good things can still come from the judiciary. MORE>>

...Achebe honoured for his contributions to fiction

...Achebe honoured for his contributions to fiction

LONDON — Nigeria's Chinua Achebe, hailed as the father of modern African writing, was awarded the £60,000 ($126,200) Man Booker International Prize Wednesday.

His award capped a triumphant month for Nigerian authors, as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie last week landed the Orange Prize, one of the literary world's top awards for women writers.

Achebe won out over a host of international literary stars, including Canadians Margaret Atwood (a two-time nominee), Alice Munro and Michael Ondaatje. The Booker's 15-name List of Contenders also included such authors as Don DeLillo, Doris Lessing, Philip Roth and Salman Rushdie. MORE>>

The Way We Live

After 47 years of independence and we still haven't changed? What's going on?

News Desk Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Ex-Gov Nnamani Returns, Now in Abuja

Immediate past governor of Enugu State, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, who travelled abroad before the hand over date on May 29, returned to the country on Monday. He came back from the United States, where he had been on holiday for more than one month. MORE>>

Fawehinmi, Others Demand Release of Dokubo-Asari, Uwazuruike

SEVERAL eminent Nigerians and civil society groups yesterday in Lagos protested the continued detention of the leaders of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, and Chief Ralph Uwazuruike of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB). MORE>>

EFCC Recovers N100bn Assets From Ex-Govs

The on-going interrogation of former state governors by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) may have started yielding dividends. The commission has recovered assets of some of the former state chief executives worth over N100 billion, THISDAY was informed yesterday. MORE>>

Ousmane, Father of Senegalese Cinema, Dies

Sembene Ousmane, the father of Senegalese cinema and one of the pioneers of the art in Africa, died at his home over the weekend after a long illness. He was 84.
"It’s a great loss for Senegal, for Africa and for cinema," said Tidiane Niangan, the director of a government-run cinematography institute. MORE>>

Hostage Takes Release Two Indians in Nigeria

YENAGOA: Hostage takers released 12 foreign hostages including two Indians in Nigeria's restive southern oil heartland, officials said. MORE>>

120 Indianbs Quit Nigerian Oil Firm After Kidnappings

LAGOS: Around 120 Indian nationals working for the Eleme Petrochemical Company in southern Nigeria have left the region or the country following two kidnappings, a company spokesman said on Monday. MORE>>

Yar'Adua, Governors Get New Pay

Indications emerged on Monday that President Umaru Yar’Adua, state governors, political and public officers will enjoy a new pay package. Apart from lawmakers at all levels, the Chief Justice of Nigeria and other judicial officers will also benefit from the new pay. MORE>>

Tinubu Appears Before EFCC

The immediate past governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Monday appeared before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Abuja on allegations of mismanagement of funds and money laundering against him. MORE>>

Abiola's Family in N.3m PHCN Debt

AS pro-democracy activists commemorate the 14th anniversary of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election presumably won by the late Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola today, his family house at 169 Agura Road, Abeokuta, Ogun State has been disconnected from public power supply over N.3 million debt owed the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). MORE>>

Agwu Emerges Abia House Speaker

UMUAHIA—THE fourth Abia State House of Assembly was inaugurated yesterday in Umuahia with the majority leader in the immediate legislature, Chief Agwu U Agwu representing Arochukwu constituency emerging the Speaker. The deputy speaker was the former chairman of Ukwa West local government, Mr. Chinedum Elechi who was elected unopposed. MORE>>

Nigerian Appointed to US Election Body

A Nigerian born US lawyer has risen to the heights of legal practice in New York, where the State Chief Judge named him to New York State Independent Judicial Election Qualification Commissions. MORE>>

South Africa to Employ Nigerian Teachers

Nigerian teachers are part of those earmaked by South African authorities to be given consideration for teaching jobs in the country. MORE>>

Ojukwu, Asemota Describe Yar'Adua as Interim President

Former Biafran leader and presidential candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu and constitutional and human rights lawyer, Solomon Asemota (SAN), at the weekend described Alhaji Umar Yar’Adua’s government as interim. MORE>>

News Desk Monday, June 11, 2007

EFCC, ICPC to Screen Ministerial Nominees

All ministerial nominees may be screened by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) before their names are forwarded to the Senate for confirmation, THISDAY has learnt. MORE>>

Nnamani May Return This Week

The fleeing former Enugu State Governor, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, may return to the country this week to take his seat at the Senate. Sources close to the former Governor said he may come back to also honour the invitation extended to him by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to answer some questions on his stewardship as the chief executive of Enugu State between 1999 and 2007. MORE>>

Supreme Court Explains Decision on Andy Uba

Supreme Court at the weekend, explained why it cautioned that Dr. Andy Uba will vacate office as governor of Anambra State if Dr. Peter Obi wins in his tenure elongation suit. MORE>>

I Have Obasanjo's Killer Secrets, says ex-Senate President, Wabara...

Former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara has declared that at the appropriate time, he would reveal all that he knew about former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, even as he declared that the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu was a stooge under the Obasanjo’s administration. MORE>>

Police Quiz Former Top Official Over Controversial Money

THE Police High Command in Abuja at the weekend quizzed a retired top police boss over his role in the N21 million, which was found with two policemen last Thursday at the Force Headquarters building in Abuja. MORE>>

Return Loot or Face Trial, EFCC Tells ex-Governors

There were indications in Abuja on Sunday that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had given some former governors being probed for alleged corruption the option of refunding their loot or risk being prosecuted. MORE>>

Immigration Sets Border Traps For ex-Govs

LAGOS — THE Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has constituted a task force to stop ex-governors who may want to flee the country on account of the recent summons from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to 15 former state chief executives. MORE>>

World Rights Body Denies Nigeria Membership Renewal

ABUJA—The International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights has refused to renew Nigeria’s membership on account of what it called "irregular" removal of former Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Mr Bukhari Bello, from office. MORE>>

Orji Expresses Shock Over Douglas House Fire

OWERRI—Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, has expressed dismay over the colossal loss of Imo State Governor’s temporary lodge, the “Douglas House”, by a mysterious fire that completely razed the colonial edifice. MORE>>

Uba Replies Petition, Debunks Ngige's Claims of Unlawful Exclusion

Awka—Govervnor Andy Uba of Anambra State has filed his reply to the petition lodged against his election at the April 14, 2007 polls by Action Congress candidate and former Anambra State Governor, Dr. Chris Ngige, arguing that Ngige and his deputy, Chief Phil Agbasi were not unlawfully excluded from the election by INEC as they are claiming. Rather, Uba said that the duo were ab initio invalidly nominated by their party. MORE>>

N.9m Found in TV Set at Police Officers House

THE last may not have been heard about the scandal involving several millions of naira rocking the Nigeria Police, as detectives have recovered over N900,000 cash from a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Olu Monday, attached to the office of the former commissioner of police in charge of the Force Budget, Mr. John Obaniyi. MORE>>

Ehirim Files News & Views, Sunday, June 10, 2007

Ohakim Under Pressure To Dump PPA

Imo State Governor, Ikedi Ohakim, is sitting on a keg of gunpowder, as leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have started mounting pressure on him to fulfil his pre-election promise of joining the PDP together with his deputy. MORE>>

Crack In Police Hierarchy Over N4b Election Fund

There is crack in the police hierarchy caused by doubt over the real amount voted by the Federal Government to the authorities for the April general election. By the development, the N22 million recovered from some aides to a serving Commissioner of Police on Thursday may be a child’s play by the time the real story regarding the actual amount released is made known. MORE>>

Fresh Facts On Why Imo Govt House Was Razed

There are strong indications that the incessant complaints by the new Imo State governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, that his predecessor, Chief Achike Udenwa, left an empty treasury may have led to why Douglas House, the temporary home of Ohakim, was razed by a mysterious fire on Thursday. MORE>>

Meet Our Demands Or Face The Consequences, NLC Tells Yar'Adua

At the twilight of its administration, former President Olusegun Obasanjo took certain decisions which most Nigerians took umbrage at. It sold off the Kaduna and Port Harcourt refineries; hiked Value Added Tax (VAT) by 100 per cent and reneged on his government’s promise to increase workers’ salaries by 15 per cent. MORE>>

'How Imo Built Nigeria's First E-Hospital'

Following the emergence of the first clinical students of Imo State University College of Medicine, the then government of Imo State under Achike Udenwa established the Imo State University Teaching Hospital as an e- tertiary hospital to provide advanced medical health care delivery for the people. MORE>>

Letter To The Governor

DEAR Ikedi. I address this letter to you as the governor in Owerri, until it pleases the courts to decide one way or the other. I am compelled to this line of action, principally from reading your lips. I refer particularly to your early statements in the aftermath of the elections, to the effect that you’d run a government with a systematic welfare programme. MORE>>

What Soyinka Told U.S. Congress

I assume that it is universally agreed that what passed for elections in Nigeria in May 2007 was an abuse of the word ‘democracy’. Assessment of the scale of abuse may differ – for instance, the Jimmy Carter Centre monitoring group reported that there were just two states – Kano and Lagos - that could be credited with having held free and fair elections, while I would perhaps be a little more generous and concede five – Abia, Bauchi and Zamfara - as having also reflected, fairly accurately, the electoral will of the people. MORE>>

Yar'Adua Presidency Not Legitimate - NBA

As legal fireworks commence at the electoral tribunals, national president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has submitted that President Umar Musa Yar’Adua’s occupation of Aso Rock is illegitimate. MORE>>

Bandits Kill Yar'Adua's US Based Supporter

HE chose his candidate from far away United States backed him with organisation, which toiled for victory, and when the candidate emerged victorious, he came to Nigeria to witness the inauguration. But that has proved to be costly for Tunde Olamiju, Secretary of the Yar'Adua Campaign Organisation in diaspora, who was fatally shot last Thursday on his way back to his base in the U.S. MORE>>

Forces Behind Mark's Plot - IBB, Buhari's Camp Fingered - Ex-Governors Budget N5 Billion For Fresh Plot

The fresh plot to impeach the newly elected President of the Senate, Senator David Mark has been linked to the camp of General Ibrahim Babangida and the presidential candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, who are working in tandem with the former governors who are now elected Senators. MORE>>

Ndigbo: Coping With Post Third Term

The fresh plot to impeach the newly elected President of the Senate, Senator David Mark has been linked to the camp of General Ibrahim Babangida and the presidential candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, who are working in tandem with the former governors who are now elected Senators. MORE>>

The Hidden Behind Nigeria's 250 million pounds Fight For Commonwealth Games

THE race to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games enters the last lap this week as the five-man judging panel arrives in Scotland. Their verdicts will be key when the 71 members vote between Glasgow and Nigeria's Abuja. Almost twomillion Scots back our bid on the internet but most Nigerians living on a dollar a day do not share that same enthusiasm. MORE>>

News Desk Friday, June 08, 2007

FG plans N97 per litre fuel price

THE Federal Government plans to hike the current fuel price of N75 per litre to N97 even as the dust raised by the price increase in the dying days of the Obasanjo administration is yet to settle. MORE>>

Fire razes Imo Govt Lodge

OWERRI — THREE children of Governor Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State narrowly escaped death yesterday when a mysterious fire razed the Governor’s Lodge popularly known as “Douglas House” in Owerri. The family packed in only last week following the swearing-in of the new governor. The governor was away on official assignment to Lagos and Otta, Ogun State when the fire broke out. MORE>>

Murder: Court orders Army Commander to release suspected soldiers

OWERRI — An Owerri High Court presided over by Justice Ngozi Bernardine Ukoha, has ordered the Commander of 34 Field Artillery Brigade, Obinze, Brigadier General Amnon Kalayi Kwaskebe, to release the two soldiers accused of killing Citizen Sylvester Nnaemeka Obiekea to the police to face prosecution. Justice Ukoha similarly ordered the police to ensure that the two soldiers are brought to court on June 21,2007, the next adjourned date to face trial. MORE>>

Uwazuruike: SSS bars journalists from court

Abuja — Men of the State Security Services (SSS) yesterday stopped newsmen from covering the trial of Mr Ralph Uwazuruike and 10 other leaders of the outlawed Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).
The MASSOB leaders are being prosecuted before the Federal high court sitting in Abuja by the Federal Government for treason. MORE>>

Police Commissioner, 2 aides arrested with N200m

A mind-boggling scandal blew open at the Force Headquarters, Abuja on Thursday, with the arrest of a Commissioner of Police and his two aides with local and foreign currencies totaling about N200 million. MORE>>

Life outside presidency: Obasanjo stranded in traffic jam

Ten days after he relinquished power to Alhaji Umar Yar'Adua, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday, in Lagos, experienced hard life outside the Presidency as he was stranded in a traffic jam for almost two and half hours. MORE>>

Etteh pledges 30% of public positions for women

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Patricia Etteh, has vowed to ensure that the Federal Government implements the global policy of allocating 30 per cent of the appointive or elective positions to women.

Etteh, in an interview with the Daily Independent in Abuja on Thursday said she would take it as priority, the constitutional amendment to accommodate 30 per cent of women in government. MORE>>

EFCC to extradite Nnamani, Dariye, others

Also billed for extradition over the same charges are the immediate past governor of Plateau State, Chief Joshua Dariye, his Jigawa State counterpart, Alhaji Saminu Turaki, and the former governor of Adamawa State, Mr. Boni Haruna. MORE>>

Nigeria's foreign reserves hit 43.5bn

The figure which is for the month of May, according to the Central Bank of Nigeria, is sufficient to finance 25 months of imports at current levels. External Reserves climbed from $42bn at the end of December to $43.2bn at the end of April. MORE>>

Yar'Adua, at G-8, renews Nigeria's bid for UN seat

PRESIDENT Umaru Musa Yar'Adua yesterday took his place on the world stage at the on-going G-8 summit in Germany, meeting separately with the leaders of China, India and Brazil. A major request of the President from the three world leaders is their support for Nigeria's bid for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council whenever it is expanded. MORE>>

Britons advised to leave Niger Delta after wave of kidnappings

The Foreign Office today advised all British nationals to leave the Niger Delta in Nigeria following a series of kidnappings of foreign oil workers. MORE>>

Adichie Wins Orange Prize

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is distraught - an unusual reaction to winning the Orange prize. It transpires that her handbag was stolen at a book signing in London on Tuesday, the night before the prize-giving, and she has lost her credit cards and a notebook full of novelistic jottings. She barely slept on Tuesday from rage and dismay. "I still can't believe that someone stole it, and am hoping for a miracle," she says. "So it's a good thing I won," she adds, cheering up, "or I'd have wondered why the heck I even came to England." more>>

News Desk Wednesday, June 06, 2007

How Mark beat ex-Gov to emerge Senate President

ABUJA —SENATOR David Bonaventure Mark was elected, yesterday, the President of the sixth Senate after overcoming a strong opposition mounted by former state governors in the Senate. He pledged, on being sworn in afterwards, that the Senate under his leadership would not shirk its responsibility. more>>

EFCC Summons 15 ex-Govs

ABUJA — FIFTEEN of the state governors who left office last week after serving their terms have been invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for questioning on their handling of the finances of the states when they were in power. more>>

Imo Assembly Inaugurated

OWERRI—The Fourth House, Third Assembly of the Imo State House of Assembly (IMHA) was yesterday inaugurated by the Clerk of the House, Dr. Emmanuel Ngozi Ibekwe. more>>

IGP: Gani Decries Exclusion of Igbo

Human rights lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, has decried the exclusion of officers of Igbo extraction as Inspector-General of Police, 47 years after independence as a nation by successive governments, saying it is unfair, unjust and unconstitutional. more>>

Okiro Sets Up 12 Anti-Graft Teams

The acting Inspector General of Police, Sir Mike Mbama Okiro yesterday unfolded his eight-point programme of action to enhance efficient service delivery by the force. Among the programmes is the establishment of 12 anti-corruption teams in the six geographical zones. The teams, he said would be provided with GSM numbers which will be made public to enable them receive complaints from members of the public. more>>

Etteh Emerges First Female Speaker

The emergence of the Osun State-born politician drew immediate reaction from prominent Nigerian women. They described it as a victory for women. Unlike Senators David Mark and George Akume, who had to contend with tension shortly before their colleagues cast their votes to elect the President of the Senate, Etteh had a smooth ride to the exalted office of Speaker. more>>

A Fresh Look at the Niger Delta

Since the Henry Willink Commission submitted its report to government in 1958 on the development of the Niger Delta, there has never been a lack of analysis of the problem of the poor region. Indeed, there has been a surfeit of reports of boards, commissions, task forces, committees etc. Each of these fora has come up with its own survey and interpretation of the Niger Delta Question. more>>