AWKA — KIDNAPPERS of the 78-year-old father of embattled governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Anambra State, Professor Chukuma Soludo, today, demanded N500 million ransom for the release of the septuagenarian.

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA—The former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu may soon be arraigned over his alleged failure to declare his personal assets while in office, as the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) which is prosecuting him, yesterday, said it would issue a bench warrant for his arrest, [...]

AS the opposition’s plot against President Umaru Yar’Adua’s perceived second term aspiration thickens in Abuja, yesterday, a former Head of State, General Mohammadu Buhari (rtd) described his administration as a failure.

AN Abuja High Court sitting in Maitama, yesterday, ordered the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, to pay N150m to Bulet International Limited, as damages, for illegally demolishing its headquarters in Maitama, two years ago.

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA—The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole has called for equity between Nigeria and South Africa in the area of socio-economic relations.

Making the call during a visit to the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, in Cape Town as part of the 10th anniversary celebration of South Africa-Nigeria [...]

By Emmanuel Aziken

ABUJA—The President of the Senate, Senator David Mark yesterday accepted apologies from President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan over the treatment meted out to his delegation by that country when it turned away his flight from landing midair.

Senator Mark also yesterday accepted apologies rendered by the United Nations and African Union over [...]

By Emma Arubi

WARRI—MEMBERS of the National Association of Seadogs (NAS), also known as Sudanese Q-Zone, Warri, Delta State, yesterday staged a peaceful march along major roads in the oil city calling on the Federal Government to sever diplomatic ties with the Sudanese government.

The group also appealed to the Federal Government to arrest [...]

By Taye Obateru

Jos — Local Government workers in Plateau State have given the state government a seven-day ultimatum to rescind the decision to sack over 8,000 of their members or face industrial action.

The workers gave the ultimatum through the state chapter of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) which [...]

By Inalegwu Shuaibu

ABUJA—The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) has recommended the creation of State Police and the establishment of the electoral offences commission in the proposed amendment of the 1999 constitution.

The submission of the NBA as presented to the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution yesterday also contained proposal for the [...]

LAGOS — SACKED Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Bank PHB Plc, Mr. Francis Atuche and an Executive Director of the bank, Mr. Charles Ojo, also sacked former Managing Director of Spring Bank Plc, were yesterday arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, on a 26-count charge bordering on reckless granting of credit facilities without adequate collateral; granting facilities above their approval limits; concealment and fraud totaling N79 billion.

By Samuel Oyadongha

Yenagoa—Four persons involved in crude oil theft have been arrested by the Joint Task Force in the creek of Bayelsa State.

Recovered from the suspects were 25,000 litres of stolen crude oil, three giant wooden boats, three Yamaha outboard engines and hose pipes.

The suspects, who hailed from Delta and Bayelsa states, [...]