Just at it was at the 2010 African Nations Cup in Angola when the Black Stars of Ghana prosecuted the Nations cup campaign without its midfield maestro, Michael Essien, after he sustained a knee injury in training, it is now certain that the West African football powerhouse would concentrate on tactics and game plan at next month’s mundial without the ‘strongman Essien’ considered to be one of the best defensive midfielders in the world.

Captains of industry on the platform of the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, NECA, yesterday complained that the inability of government to provide regular electricity has crippled the real sector of the economy.

*Give Saturday deadline

By Eric Ugbor

ABA — ABDUCTORS of the former Action Congress, AC, councillor, who represented Akwette ward in Ukwa East Council  of Abia State, Omen Olujie, younger brother to the Secretary of  Abia State Independent Electoral Commission, ABSIEC, have demanded a N20 million ransom before tomorrow or he will be killed.

A [...]

By  Peter Duru

MAKURDI —  Special Adviser to the Benue State Governor on Public Policy, Mr. Conrad Wergba has debunked allegations that he masterminded an assassination plot against Mr. Morris Tsav, the publisher of a local weekly in Benue State.

Wergba maintained that the allegation was a calculated attempt by the local publisher to soil [...]

The Action Congress, AC, has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to urgently and comprehensively reform the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as part of an expected electoral reform ahead of the 2011 general elections.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos, yesterday laid to rest, the issue of admissibility of computer-generated statements of account as an evidence in criminal trial. It overruled a decision of a Federal High Court, Lagos that same is not admissible because it is not recognised by the Evidence Act.

Delta Air has said recent take over of Virgin Nigeria Airways by the NGroup would not affect the code share agreement between both airlines.

FEDERAL Government, yesterday, announced a new price regime for gas to power, even as it also indicated that the much-awaited and controversial Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, would finally become law by early August.
The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, who made this known to newsmen during a Ministerial briefing on Domestic Gas, said this was part of government’s strategic effort to boost the supply of power nationwide through increased power generation.

By Anayo Okoli

Umuahia — GOVERNOR Theodore Orji of Abia State, yesterday, signed into law the 2010 Appropriation Bill of N65.7 billion, and  promised that it will be prudently managed.

The budget was increased from N60.5 to N65.7 by the House of Assembly.

At the ceremony, Governor Orji warned those charged with the execution of [...]