FirstBank, Nigeria Plc said yesterday that it posted a pre-tax profit of N31.69 billion ($211 million) in the first six months of this year, up from N4.30 billion in the same period last year.

THE Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Olugbenga Daniel, has said the state would need N8 billion to manage the flood that recently sacked major parts of the state capital, Abeokuta. It would be recalled that a devastating flood last Thursday swept across the state capital leaving behind tales of woes among residents as it killed two persons while property were destroyed.

—A cleric, Pastor Paul Nwalaka, has ascribed the release of the abducted journalists and their driver 18 July by their abductors to an act of God, resulting from constant prayers by their colleagues and family members

Ahead of 2011 election, Jonathan Youth Support Movement, JYSM, was yesterday launched in Abuja. According to George Turnah, the President General of the group, JYSM is calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to contest in the next election as he has all the constitutional rights to do so.

Police authority in Kano prevented hundreds of Arewa Youth Development Foundation from entering Kano Government House where they had intended to stage a protest in support of PDP zoning formula.

A Federal high court sitting in Abuja yesterday fixed September 24, this year for judgment in a lawsuit instituted by Permanent Secretary, Transport Ministry, Dr Edugie Abigail Abebe against the ICPC over alleged rough treatment meted to her by operatives of the anti-graft agency, few weeks ago

The on-going prosecution of an ex-Director General of the National Gallery of Arts, Chief Joe Musa, over his alleged role in the diversion of about N2.2 billion from the coffers of the establishment, yesterday took a new dimension, as a principal witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, who is equally a Director of Finance at the parastatal, Dr. Henry Achubo, refused to appear in court to testify in the matter yesterday, insisting that his life was in serious danger.

THE proposed amendments of the 1999 Constitution are in the closing stage. It is actually a stage because it is a comic play crafted by the leading political players in the name of the people.

TROPICAL Watch, a Civil Society Organization based in Enugu, has instituted a fundamental rights enforcement proceedings at the Federal High Court, Enugu, on behalf of three condemned prisoners seeking an order stopping their execution until the appeal instituted on the issue was determined

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Bayelsa State has urged the National Working Committee of the party and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to respect the State High Court order on the legality and tenure of the Chief Rufus Abadi-led executive of the party in the state.

The Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohaneze Ndigbo, has advised Igbo people against quarrelling where a new state would be created in Igboland

The Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, says that most Nigerians who either loot or steal bank funds end up as governors, ministers or senators.

Secretary to Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State, Mr. Washington Osifo, yesterday, raised an alarm that he was not the man who died in a hotel room in Benin City last week, as reported in the media.

The actual termination date of the administration of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP-led administration of Governor Timipre Sylva in Bayelsa State, has triggered fresh controversy in the state, with the Action Congress, AC, threatening to go to court for proper interpretation of the matter.

It may not be eureka yet for the 1999 Constitution, as the House of Representatives and the Senate may yet be on collision course on the procedure to the ‘finishing touches’ to the document.