A declaration that the failure of the Defendants to establish any adequate monitoring of the human impacts of oil-related pollution – despite the fact that the oil industry in the Niger Delta is operating in a relatively densely populated area characterized by high levels of poverty and vulnerability, is unlawful as it violates the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Sources close to the negotiations had said in April that the two sides were nearing a $75 million agreement, including the payment by Pfizer of $10 million legal fees, $30 million to Kano State and $35 million to victims and families.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Education, Dr. Joy Emodi, who made the plea during a courtesy call on Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State at Government House, Minna yesterday said even though the agitation of the union was justifiable, the way they were going about it was not justifiable.

Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF), who is also the Governor of Niger State, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, yesterday reviewed socio-cultural developments in the North and lamented that the area “had opportunities to have done better for our people for the better part of Nigeria’s independence but we appeared to have squandered those opportunities.”

President Umaru Yar’Adua has assured that the religious crisis in Bauchi State would be contained in such a way that it would not spread to all parts of the country.

OGUN State Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has impounded a luxury bus loaded with imported textile materials, a lorry loaded with wood being taken out of the country and several other vehicles, even has it collected over N9billion in three months as revenue.

ccording to a statement by the leader of the group, Mr. Rommy Mom, the government must wake up to its responsibilities of ensuring the safety of lives and property of the people of the state describing his death as one too many in the state in recent time.

WIFE of the Senate President, Dr. Rosemarie Mark yesterday lamented the loss of her luggage, some money and a lap-top in Amsterdam, Netherlands, describing her experience in the hands of a gang within the international airport as painful.

The untold hardship, according to the bulletin includes outright retrench-ment or retirement of civil servants, tearing of their documents as well as outright denial of screening of eligible civil servants by the consulting firm.

According to him, “in the interest of fairness and peace, such an important university should be sited in one of the states in the oil producing area if govern-ment does not have the intention to upgrade the existing PTI institute in Delta State.

THE remaining five members of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in the Oyo State House of Assembly have vowed never to defect to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Mr. Oronsaye while challenging the civil servants to rededicate themselves to their schedules and assignment said “though there are challenges, this should not be an excuse to be swayed by corruption or be indolent and unpatriotic but rather, we should be resolute in addressing the challenges and remain undaunted”.