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>>