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>>