Dozens more bodies were recovered after violent clashes between security forces and Islamists in northern Nigeria, bringing the death toll to around 70, a count at a hospital morgue showed yesterday.

More former governors and top government functionaries serving and retired will face trial next year as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, concludes plans to file charges after it had carried out conclusive investigations on them.

Dutch Shell and its Nigerian unit will face compensation demands in a Dutch court for alleged damage caused by oil spills in Nigeria after the court ruled yesterday it was competent to handle the cases.

The approval being sought by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, from the National Assembly to establish an Asset Management Company, AMC, that would take over the bad loans associated with margin facilities obtained by stockbroking firms, estimated at over N3 trillion, may suffer a set back as stockbrokers under the aegis of Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria, ASHON, are opposing some of the contents because it favours only the banks and not the entire financial system.

Maduekwe told Senators he knew ambassadors who cornered national resources for their selfish interest. They damage Nigeria’s image by making its diplomats destitute and he did nothing about it. Are there no financial guidelines for our missions? Could this rigmarole restore the dignity of our starving diplomats? Was welfare of our diplomats really an issue in the budget defence?

Former First Lady and the founder of the Better Life for Rural Women, late Mrs Maryam Babangida, has been described as a patriot and friend of the less privileged.

Alhaji Sir, when exactly did you first lose contact with your son? When you were busy as Chairman , CEO of United Bank of Africa?Or when you were Chairman of the Northern Cement Compay, or when you were Chairman Agip oil? Or board member, NEPA, NACB, NCC,or Minister of Economic Development? Last week, the press reported you retired as First Bank Chairman, at the age of 70. We are going to make sure you are just 70.

It was not only ASUU that went on strike in the out-going year. The other unions — the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Related Institutions (NASU) — also battled the Federal Government, pressing for the signing of one agreement or the other which they allegedly reached with government.

NO fewer than one thousand persons suffering from various ailments were treated free in Abavo, Delta State, at the flag off of the free rural health programme organised by Delta Doctors in Diaspora (DDD).

TO unravel the mystery and puzzle called Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the 23-year-old Nigerian who tried to blow up a US plane, the father, Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, was yesterday quizzed by American security operatives, the Central Intelligence Agency, CIA and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, agents in Abuja.