The Punch Newspaper Archive for March 2009

Monday, March 30, 2009

AC candidate, Oyinlola react to judgment

FG’s budget can’t bail banks out – Soludo

Osun: Appeal court orders retrial of Aregbesola’s petition

‘NPA board erred in contract awards’

Building collapse: Professionals demand integrity test of structures

‘Power probe report: Stop toying with the destiny of Nigerians’

Illegal deductions: States accuse FG of indifference to out-of-court settlement

FG to spend N2.8tn on police reform

MDAs spend N70bn yearly on printing –Reps

Govt imports N5.1bn fertiliser

Sunday, March 29, 2009

SSS, police, others arrest 40 suspected militants in Lagos

FG, CBN, banks meet today over financial meltdown

Reps, AG query use of N199bn ecological funds

Punish beneficiaries of electoral rigging – Fashola, Tinubu, others

Insecurity: FG deploys more riot policemen in Rivers

SSS arrests man for sewing fake police uniforms

Ogun: G-15 lawmaker, aide face prosecution over arms

LNG bribery: FG moves to prosecute suspects

Nothing embarrasses me — Obasanjo

Kenny Martins tackles ministry over arrest order

Cripple hacks 70-year-old father to death

Police kill 6 kidnappers in Lagos

Top bank officials in forex scandal

1999-2009: Two million Nigerians die in violence –Investigation

Globacom boss, Adenuga, loses sister

Police orderlies: FG reverses order on judges, lawmakers

Oshiomhole, NLC disagree over President Yar’Adua’s govt

Kidnappers seize bank executive’s mother

ASUU set for indefinite strike

Police nab LG chairman’s son in Crescent University over robbery

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Lai Mohammed, AC spokesman, detained by police

Yar’Adua in fresh electoral trouble

Power probe: Reps threaten arrest of Soludo, Babalola

FG laments police killings

Corruption: CNPP drags Obasanjo to court

Plateau govt alleges fresh plot to destabilise Jos

My sojourn in the army, CNN and four radio stationsDJ Tee, popular music video director

What I admire about Africa and her men–Mylah Osifo, Executive Director, Freedom Foundation

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Building collapse: Anguish, tears as relatives still hope for survivors

Reps protest withdrawal of police orderlies from N’Assembly members, judges

Vaswanis: Customs chiefs arrested over alleged N3bn fraud

Senate overrules AG over verification of pensioners

Fire destroys Osun broadcast facility

JTF destroys 100 illegal crude oil refining plants in Delta

Senate moves to control influx of ‘second-hand’ goods

Presidential candidate arraigned over impersonation, contempt

Nigerians among top world asylum seekers — UNHRC

Tough conditions hinder Nigerians’ access to housing loans

Mobile Punch! 12 Frequently Asked Questions

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

List your grievances, FG tells Labour

FG bars presidential aides, others from use of police escorts

Governors petition Yar’Adua, IG over plot to kill Tinubu

Robbers kill six policemen, Delta CP escapes death

Power probe: Reps’ review committee fails to produce report

Amendment to Electoral Act under way – Iwu

419: Nigeria owes nobody apology – Mark

Ibru: Court fixes April 22 for adoption of written addresses

Reps summon Yayale Ahmed, others over $86m project

2009 Budget: Ripples over N60bn constituency projects

Monarch arrested for aiding crimes, possessing weapons illegally

Electoral reforms: NCS rejects abrogation of SIECs

Yar’Adua will rule for eight years – PDP

Halliburton: Senate demands trial of Nigerian suspects

Nnamani’s home burgled, security men arrested

Scores feared trapped in Lagos building collapse

40 Nigerians got death sentence in 2008 –Report

N300m unspent fund: Appeal court discharges Aduku

Obasanjo falsely accused, mentally tortured me – Osomo

Niger Delta crisis threatens 2009 budget – FG

Court remands husband for beating wife to death

Monday, March 23, 2009

FG set to unify varsity, poly exams

Ekiti rerun: Okiro warns Oni, Fayemi against violence

One killed, three injured in Ibadan protests

CBN, banks peg lending rates at 22%

Governors may ask Yar’Adua to remove Iwu

Child torture: ‘Prophet,’ three others in police net

NECO releases Nov/Dec SSCE results

Chief Imam disowns new Baba Adinni of Lagos

Five feared dead in Lagos multiple accidents

Ohakim floors Araraume at Appeal Court

Deregulation: Oil workers reach accord with FG, shelve strike

Fracas rocks PDP peace meeting

Reps panel indicts PDP, Jang for Jos crisis

Deregulation: Defence, service chiefs to meet oil workers

Yar’Adua visits Ondo

Relatives withdraw patients from Ogun hospitals

Delta mayhem: 10 suspects in police net, one dies

Loot: FG to refund Plateau £1.117m

Ekiti rerun: PDP, AC raise the alarm over planned crisis

Abacha planned to kill me, Yar’Adua, MKO – Obasanjo

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Female bankers fall for non-existent N47.9bn deposit from N’Assembly

...requires N10tn to enjoy stable electricity –Sambo, energy commission boss

Power crisis: More companies may leave Nigeria

Eso commission’s secretariat burgled prior to presentation of report

Probe crisis in banks, Arewa tells FG

...Presence of troops ’ll guarantee peace –Lagos PDP

Child torture: Centre flays minister’s comment in Geneva

Ekiti rerun: We are ready for troublemakers –CP Chris Ola

Kogi uncovers N1bn ghost workers racket ...Panic grips top civil servants

Friday, March 20, 2009

‘Why I am dogged by scandals’

EFCC declares Vaswani brothers wanted over N3bn fraud

Fuel scarcity looms as independent marketers begin strike

A’Court verdict: Osun AC lawmakers warn chairmen to vacate office

Electoral reform: Reps won’t adopt White Paper in a hurry –Akogun

Indian hemp: NDLEA arrests 114-year-old man

Deposed Gwandu emir, Jokolo, vows to reclaim throne

OOU students fear reprisal attack

Senior staff strike cripples UCH, research centres

N’Delta situation is criminal, not political – Obasanjo

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Salary increase: NLC gives 21-day ultimatum

Generator importers frustrating power projects – FG

‘FG earmarks N43bn for NYSC’

Corruption: I’m ready for trial – Obasanjo

Kano: Six police, two robbers killed in shoot-out

Judge orders Lagos CP to arrest top actress

Power: Protests force Reps to set up panel on Elumelu report

CBN moves to restore confidence in banks

Halliburton: Senators want Nigerians involved in bribery scandal exposed

Appeal court sacks Osun LG chairmen

Govt to sack Ajaokuta steel workers

Why police reinstated Ondo LG bosses — Okiro

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Arms stockpiling: Kaduna police boss, Islamic sect on war path

Kidnappings: N’Assembly caucus seeks FG’s aid

Ogun tackles govt agencies

Police can’t fight crime alone –CP

Yoruba elite shop for N50bn to rescue education

Aliyu criticises moneybag politicians

Over 3,000 militants turn up for rehabilitation in Rivers

No going back on sacked LG bosses – Mimiko

Keep off Lagos bomb blast scene, Army warns public

... disagree as debate on power probe report begins

Reps in rowdy session over Ondo crisis

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Power: Reps threaten Babalola with vote of no confidence

Rebranding: Yar’Adua seeks new national spirit, faith

Uncertainty over FG’s N363.9bn investments in distressed, moribund firms

Mimiko alleges plot to impose emergency rule on Ondo

Pirates attack boat, rape five ladies

FG takes anti-piracy fight to airports

PDP convention: Ogbulafor lobbies senators

NDLEA boss arrested in London

Senate removes Presidency powers over National Hospital

‘Why I introduced new tax regime in Edo’

Dearth of equipment contributed to sextuplets’ mother’s death —Investigation

Monday, March 16, 2009

FG promises steady power by July 2010

Okonjo-Iweala urges FG to spend $13.3bn from Excess Crude Account

INEC invites Fayemi, Oni over Ekiti rerun election

JTF, militants in gun duel

Jos crisis: Panel summons police commissioner, SSS director

Fashola signs two bills on infrastructural development

Reps blame worsening power supply on executive

2007 election saved Nigeria from disintegration – Iwu

Appeal court: Alao-Akala, aides evacuate belongings

Ogun crisis: Peace meeting ends in deadlock

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Electoral reform: Atiku, Akande slam FG over white paper

Ekiti rerun: Fayemi, Afe Babalola in secret talks

Stakeholders express concern about seized HIV drugs

Robbers, police in gun battle, three arrested

Passport forgery: Immigration may arraign four today

Hajj 2009: Saudi firms threaten NAHCON over $13.9m debt ‘We’ll soon settle the debt — Commission bo

Minister raises the alarm over measles from Cameroun

Excitement as Punch launches mobile service

Otedola scampers abroad over poison attempt

Why 53,000 Nigerian women die annually during childbirth – Gynaecologists

Nigeria’s debt still $3.72bn

Electoral Reform: Committee member accuses “hawks” in presidency of manipulation

Ekiti: We’ll return to government house – PDP

Adegbite tackles Soyinka over comments on religion

I did not meet with Mark, Obasanjo-Bello in Abuja – Daniel

Beechcraft Crash: Investigators blame poor equipment, pilot error

Two die in autocrash

Hoodlums kidnap Soludo’s kinsman

Friday, March 13, 2009

Alao-Akala v Ajimobi: Appeal Court fixes judgment on Tuesday

Labour minister asks Mimiko to reinstate LG chairmen

Halliburton: FG set to prosecute bribe takers

Ogun, NDLEA disagree over burning of seized drugs

Switzerland arrests suspected Nigerian cocaine gangs

NAFDAC raises the alarm over killer salt

Oshiomhole slams FG’s scrapping of SIECs

CNPP rejects FG’s White Paper on electoral reform

FG, Lagos settle dispute, to partner on new prison facility

Thursday, March 12, 2009

EFCC: Judge orders Iwu’s probe over N27.7bn funds

Electoral reform: Senators, AC, others criticise FG

Dangote, other world’s richest lose $2tn to meltdown

Punch launches mobile service

Obasanjo spent N1.05bn on Heart of Africa project — Akunyili

New Ogun CP commences manhunt for DPO’s killers

Nigeria’s anti-corruption war has failed – Akinola

4.2% of Nigerians aged 40 and above are blind — Survey

FG to lose $1.4bn over cancellation of rail projects — Minister

We’ll start power probe debate next week — Bankole

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Naira crash: CBN begins forex market intervention

Aondoakaa, EFCC, ICPC may be quizzed over Haliburton, other scams

FG rejects INEC chairman’s appointment by NJC

US deports 60 Nigerians for drug, fraud

Pastor arraigned over alleged rape

NAFDAC destroys N100m fish

I have not started Agagu’s probe — Mimiko

NBA gives police 48 hours to produce abducted witness

Rerun: INEC queries Ekiti resident electoral commissioner

Homosexuals protest move to criminalise same-sex marriage

Oyinlola, Aregbesola’s supporters clash

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Ogundeji: Coroner rejects bid to transfer IPO

Yar’Adua signs N3.1tn budget, berates N’Assembly

Rivers crisis: Eso panel indicts Obasanjo, Odili, others

JTF arrests suspects in killing of 13 soccer fans

Bomb blast: Court grants AC chairman, others bail

N400m fraud: FG, bank manager may settle out of court

N/Assembly threatens to order arrest of Akunyili

Plateau to investigate attack on Yar’Adua

NLC gives 21-day ultimatum on minimum wage

Daniel writes Obasanjo-Bello, others over peace meeting

Monday, March 09, 2009

How Abdulsalami Abubakar betrayed me — Al-Mustapha

‘Iwu, a threat to electoral reform’

Irate youths attack Yar’Adua, Jang’s convoy in Jos

N’Delta: FG reopens dialogue with warlords

Electoral reforms: Yar’Adua to seek advice from National Council of State

Why 58 public hearings pile up at Reps — Investigations

JTF alleges plan to attack Chevron facilities in Delta

Implementation of electoral reform critical to Nigeria’s democracy — Kalu

Governors meet in Abuja over teachers’ strike

AC asks Alao-Akala to explain source of daughter’s stolen money

Sunday, March 08, 2009

Calabar–Lagos highway under way

Netherlands impounds Nigeria-bound HIV/AIDS drugs

FG loses N165.5bn to Obasanjo’s import waivers

SERAP doubts FG’s sincerity to implement NERC’s report

Eid-el-Maulud: Yar’Adua, Mark, Fashola, others sue for peace

N50bn silos contract: House committee invites Ruma

Ogun PDP suspends recall of lawmakers

FG replaces NCC with NIPCOM

Slain DPO’s wife pleads with police to find her husband killers

S’South Reps seek end to militancy in N’Delta

Saturday, March 07, 2009

Accessing quality health care through insurance

...Sector in near collapse –NMA

Nigerians groan at comatose health care system

Electoral reform: Panel seeks tenure extension for Yar’Adua

Deregulation: FG to probe PPPRA over subsidy payments

NDLEA destroys 82,253kg of cannabis in Edo

EFCC investigates Chime’s in-law over N14m fraud

Accident: Nine varsity students die in Ondo

Fresh tension over appointments in NDDC

UK-based Nigerians plan to embarrass Obasanjo in London

N5bn debt: FAAN grounds Afrijet, PAN Express

Friday, March 06, 2009

Ribadu drags Code of Conduct tribunal, AGF to court

Surulere LG boss harps on health

Youths protest demolition of Uyo market

Supreme Court gets new judges, rules in favour of Udeh

Crisis brews in Plateau over burial of exiled monarch

Electricity workers lock power minister out

CNPP drags Iwu to Court

Ekiti rerun: PDP plans Fayose’s arrest

Thursday, March 05, 2009

Yar‘Adua to sign budget on Tuesday

PHCN, NPA spent N685bn unapproved funds – Report

PDP to summon Daniel, others over Ogun crisis

Varsity makes U-turn, honours Gani

Prosecution stalls Bode George, others’ trial

Mark tackles Soyinka on constitution review

Plateau governor is recalcitrant — PDP

Yar’Adua appoints board members for information, culture parastatals

My Pikin: Judge remands CEO, others in prison custody

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Ekiti rerun: INEC official, two others arrested for tampering with voter register

FEC fails to ratify White Paper on electoral reforms

Protest forces Ogun Assembly to adjourn indefinitely

EFCC arrests Agagu over N25bn fraud

Man gets 5-year jail term for stealing

Reps seek N10bn for SON to build metrology laboratory

Kerosene explosion: Oshiomhole threatens to sue NNPC

EFCC arrests council officials in Delta

Sultan, Onaiyekan call for law against religious incitement

Pirates seize boat with 22 passengers

Meningitis, lassa fever: Minister confirms 338 deaths

Local printing of N1,000 notes to start this year – NSPMC boss

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Row in Ogun House of Assembly

Yar’Adua sacks PHCN MD over poor power supply

‘Why teachers’ strike may linger’

‘Anglican priest kidnapped in Anambra’

Reps summon Okiro, SSS boss over killings, kidnappings

FEC may discuss White Paper on electoral reform today

FG declares March 9 public holiday

Agagu’s aides allege attack by hoodlums

Monday, March 02, 2009

2011poll: ANPP seeks merger with other parties

Alleged N10.2bn fraud: Judge‘s absence stalls case against FCT minister

No plan to remove Mimiko — Ondo lawmakers

Borno appoints new Shehu

Jang signs N79bn appropriation bill into law

Workers protest, shut down PTI

2009 Budget: Presidency lied – National Assembly

Subsidy: FG calls off meeting with labour unions

Deploy more troops, gunboats to N’Delta, Amaechi tells FG

TSS: Teachers remain adamant

JTF, police, youths foil kidnap in Port Harcourt

Sunday, March 01, 2009

Drug traffickers prefer foreign airlines — NDLEA

Ekiti rerun: President may meet with Fayose

Petrol: Senators, Reps fault Yar’Adua on subsidy removal

NAPEP risks loss of N450bn

Reps probe failed rail projects

Norway donates $6m to support campaign against human trafficking

Ilaje crisis: Mimiko vows to deal with trouble makers

Jos crisis: Soldiers grumble over poor allowances

Ports congestion: 117 Firms suspend operations, 6,500 workers sent home