News Desk Thursday, June 14, 2007

Banks rescue lawmakers with N23.45bn housing loan, Senators, Reps members to get N50m each

ABUJA— A CONSORTIUM of banks is packaging a total of N23.4 billion as loans to the 469 members of the National Assembly to enable them tackle the accommodation problem facing them since their June 5 inauguration. MORE>>

Five villages donate land to Nnamdi Azikiwe Varsity

Awka—Five villages in Agulu community of Anambra State have donated about 5.6 acres of land to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University to build its Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. The project will be sponsored by Dr. Ifeanyi Okoye, of JUHEL Pharmaceutical Compnay based in Enugu. MORE>>

N21.6m Scam: Okiro stops commissioner's posting

ABUJA — FOLLOWING the N21. 6 million scam now rocking the Police, the Commissioner of Police in Charge of Budget, Mr John Obaniyi, who is at the centre of the alleged scam, has forfeited his new posting as Commissioner of Police in charge of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). The posting was cancelled by the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro. MORE>>

28 cops die in auto crash; 9 militants killed in gun fight with soldiers

YENAGOA— TWENTY-eight mobile policemen on a special duty trip from Taraba to Rivers State, yesterday, lost their lives in a motor accident at Aliade, Benue State, while nine suspected militants were shot dead also yesterday by men of the Joint Military Task Force for the Niger Delta in Bayelsa State. MORE>>

EFCC insists on trial of ex-governors

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Monday, insisted that it would prosecute former governors who looted state funds. The commission said it might not accept the ex-governors’ request for plea bargaining. Plea bargaining is a negotiation in which an accused person agrees to plead “guilty” or “no contest” in return for the reduction of the charges or dismissal of some of the charges against him or her. MORE>>

Police, PHCN, Customs top corruption list - Research

The Nigeria Police Force, the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, the Nigeria Customs Service and the Ministry of Education (particularly higher institutions and examination bodies) are the most corrupt institutions in Nigeria. MORE>>

10 houses traced to Ehindero

No fewer than 10 houses have been traced to immediate past Inspector General of Police Mr Sunday Ehindero, all reportedly built during his two years as top cop. MORE>>

Absence of judge stalls Asari-Dokubo's trial

FOLLOWING the absence of the presiding Judge, the trial of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteers Force (NDPVF) leader, Alhaji Mujaheed Asari-Dokubo for alleged treason before a Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday was put off till today. MORE>>

Federal legislators to get N3.7b loan for cars

THE Federal Government is considering granting a loan of N3.74 billion for the 469 members of the National Assembly to buy cars of their choices. Each senator is to get N8,105,600 while those of the House of Representatives will get N7,940,848 apiece. MORE>>

Robbers bisiege Awgu-Oji River Road

Daredevil robbers who attack both private and commercial vehicles in broad daylight are now terrorising commuters along Awgu-Oji River road in Enugu State, on a daily basis. MORE>>

Achike Udenwa's Theory of Reserves

"If robust treasury means cash, I don’t think it is necessary that government will leave cash in the treasury. The Federal Government may be judged by its external reserve but a state like Imo does not need to leave a robust treasury." MORE>>

Customs 'traps' wheel-chairs at Onne Port

A 40-FEET container of wheel-chairs donated by an American philanthropist, Don Schoendorfer to the physically-challenged in Nigeria has been trapped at Onne Port in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The consignment, the first in the set of wheel-chairs meant to be distributed in the country, has been in the port since August 2006 allegedly because of the controller of Area II of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), John Atte. MORE>>

EFCC quizzes Ibori, Igbinedion, Imo commissioner too

ECONOMIC and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday quizzed immediate past governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion and his Delta State counterpart, Chief James Ibori on alleged sleaze. Also interrogated were former Commissioner for Information and Culture in Imo State, Sir George Egu, permanent secretary of the information ministry, Innocent Nwangwu and the retired director general of Imo Broadcasting Corporation (IBC), Mr Chigbokwu. MORE>>

ANPP accepts to work with Yar'Adua

After several weeks of overtures from President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) has finally agreed to team up with him to form a government of national unity. However, the campaign organisation of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the ANPP presidential candidate in the April polls, has faulted the acceptance of the offer by the National Chairman of the party, Chief Edwin Ume-Ezoke, who was Buhari's running mate in the election. MORE>>

Nigeria's Appeal Court Judges in N800 million bribery Scandal

The last hope of the common man, the Judiciary may be the last symbol of state that is betraying the trust of Nigerian people. Appellate judges sitting in Abuja as arbiters on the prolonged intra People Democratic Party PDP governorship tussle in the case of former Speaker of the River State House of Assembly, Rotimi Amaechi, and newly elected Governor of Rivers State, Celestine Omeihia are now being accused of collecting about N800 Million ($8 Million) as gratification to influence their decision. MORE>>