The Punch Newspaper Archive for April 2009

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

AC asks Yar’Adua, Okiro, Iwu to resign

‘Police yet to receive report on Arise, Kila’

Nothing should happen to Adebayo — CAN

Naked women protest in Ado Ekiti

Ekiti REC makes U-turn

Senate summons three ministers over abandoned ship, crew

FEC okays N116.5bn for 26 road projects

N32bn didn’t vanish during my tenure —el-Rufai

Alao-Akala inaugurates panel to probe Ladoja

Doctors threaten nationwide strike over salaries

Fuel scarcity hits airlines, causes flight delays

Oil revenue: Nigeria must renegotiate with multinationals – Kupolokun

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Fuel shortage spreads, commuters face hard times

Mixed reactions trail Adebayo‘s resignation

Ekiti REC resigns, may be declared wanted

Swine fever: Farmers apprehensive, step up bio-security measures

Students, indigenes clash in Ilese Ijebu

Kidnapping: VP’s aide freed, pays N3m ransom

Women can now stand as surety for suspects — Okiro

Meltdown: Nigeria may resort to external borrowing - FG

Police arrest Kenny Martins again

Monday, April 27, 2009

Oil sector reforms illegal, threaten investment – Multinationals

Court martial jails 27 ex-UN peacekeepers for life

Ekiti: Yar’Adua meets security chiefs, Mark, Bankole, others

Atiku flays FG for tinkering with Uwais report

Swine flu epidemic: FG issues alert, screens visitors

Why policemen appear helpless

136 arrested, victims’ leg, arm amputated

Attackers of Punch journalist still at large

NBA, others ask INEC to release result of concluded election

BREAKING NEWS: Ekiti REC‘s indisposition stalls results, Oye election

BREAKING NEWS: Court-martial acquits soldier, sentences 27 others to life imprisonment

THE PUNCH team recounts experiences

Rumpus in Ososa over Chief Imam

Ekiti indigenes abroad monitor rerun via satellite

Political thugs assault photo journalists

Sunday, April 26, 2009

BREAKING NEWS: INEC postpones Ekiti rerun governorship election in Oye wards 1&2 again

Deregulation: FG’s indecision may trigger cyclical fuel shortage

Uncertainty in Ekiti over REC’s whereabouts

... ‘China of great help to Africa’

Meltdown: CIBN, NDIC call for repositioning of banks’ operations

LG official stabbed to death in Minna

Fake Ph.D holders uncovered in OOU

N’Delta: JTF launches fresh offensive against militants

Power probe: Ad hoc committee to submit report on Wednesday

BREAKING NEWS: Fresh tension in Ekiti as INEC fails to hold poll in Oye

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Kidnappers set free army general after collecting ransom

Yar’Adua calls for global competition

... FG can’t receive help –el-Rufal

Halliburton: US’ll cooperate with Nigeria –Report

Violence, arrests, mar Ekiti rerun election

Plateau crisis: Bishop decries government’s slow response

Opposition parties berate S’South economic summit

Global crisis: We should demand funding – African finance ministers

Malaria: UNICEF decries low usage of mosquito nets in Nigeria

... vows to prosecute cases of political killings

Drivers’ violence: Mimiko threatens culprits with sanction

JTF, militants in fresh gun duel in Rivers

BREAKING NEWS: INEC begins announcing final results of Ekiti rerurn election

Friday, April 24, 2009

Kidnapped ex-army general freed

Ekiti police commissioner steps aside

10,000 policemen for Ekiti election

S/Africa: ANC awaits final result to crown Zuma

Gun duel causes stampede in Yenagoa

Group flays Niger Delta ministry’s budget

Outbreak of cassava disease threatens garri supply

Rerun: INEC places Ekiti staff on suspension

Presidential election: Ojukwu splits Supreme Court justices, loses petition

African countries risk return to bad policies –IMF

NEWS UPDATE: Heavy security in Ekiti towns, as Fayemi, Oni contend for 249,407 votes

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Eyo festival: Errant masquerades to face prosecution

Let govt know your problems, Yar’Adua charges ethnic nationalities

Tension in Ekiti over soldiers’ presence

The travails of a battered policeman

Assets declaration: You can’t try me, Ribadu tells Code of Conduct Tribunal

Yar’Adua sues for peace in South-South region

World Malaria Day: FG to give two nets to each household –Minister

Stakeholders, residents clamour for flood control

Zuma stages street party, as ANC predicts victory

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

AP shares scam: Why I honoured EFCC’s invitation – Dangote

‘RMFAC will cut public officials’ allowances, not salaries’

We won’t send soldiers to Ekiti – Yar’Adua

FRSC arrests 91 traffic offenders, impounds 63 vehicles

Suspected armed robber roasted to death

Police arrest kidnappers of three-year-old boy in Oyo

AC wishes me dead — Aondoakaa

FEC steps down approval

Nigerians eulogise Gani at 71

SEC DG to proceed on terminal leave

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Fuel crisis: Tanker drivers call off strike in Lagos

Senate probes missing N9.5bn port levy

Badagry road expansion: Group seeks compensation

Halliburton: FG pleads for more time

Tinubu, Oshiomhole, Fashola to storm Ekiti

Lagos govt inaugurates CT scan worth N160m

Ogun crisis: We fear for our safety — Speaker

Day AC turned Fayemi’s father’s burial to campaign ground

I am confident of victory —Zuma

CBN’s strategy will get naira back on track—Nwagboso

AP shares scam: Dangote appears before EFCC

Blame banks not us for market crisis – NSE

Maduekwe bars ambassadors from partisan politics

Monday, April 20, 2009

Fuel crisis may linger in Lagos

Yar’Adua can’t cut salaries – RMAFC

Kidnapper surrenders four rifles to police

NUJ doles out cheques to families of dead colleagues

Halliburton: CLO accuses FG of deceit

NBA slams Adeniyi, accuses Yar’Adua’s govt of ineptitude

President bars governors from campaigning for 2011 poll

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Yar’Adua restores augmentation from excess crude account

AC, PDP trade words over plan to use thugs

Fuel scarcity grips Lagos as LASTMA impounds 50 tankers

6,000MW in December unrealistic – Investigation

N2.1bn debt: Bank urges court to wind up firm

Villagers foil bid to kidnap student

Ogun denies owing former deputy gov

Turaki flown abroad for further treatment

Canadian woman’s kidnappers demand N100m ransom

Halliburton: Nigerian, Swiss ambassadors to quicken funds recovery

New price for Mobile Punch as introductory offer ends

Saturday, April 18, 2009

...US has evidence against Nigerians –Investigators

Halliburton: Presidency moves to retrieve $150m bribe

Nigeria’s N1.2tr rail project in limbo

Ministry boils over missing N27m Fadama funds

Politicians turn Fayemi’s father’s burial to carnival

Car snatching on the increase – Crime statistics

Kidnap: Police rescue expatriate in A’Ibom

Robbers invade Cross River printing press

PDP’ll not know peace until Obasanjo leaves – Adzuana

Friday, April 17, 2009

Police admit killing Lagos banker

New price for Mobile Punch, as introductory offer ends

Tinubu destroyed the politics of cohesion in the South-West –Kofoworola Akerele-Bucknor

FG uncovers jail evasion cartel in NDLEA

We’ve proved that Oyinlola never won election –Akere

Aregbesola is a stranger in Ijeshaland – Ojo-Williams

Appeal Court excludes Ilawe ward from poll

Security is a major concern for Ekiti rerun –Ogunlade

How two friends died of generator fume in a salon

Abu, three-year-old Nigerian rescued from human traffickers in Togo, reunites with family after 3-m

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Halliburton: FG’s panel diversionary — NBA, SERAP

Interest rate: Banks yet to record total compliance

Alleged plot against Tinubu’s life false – Okiro

Meltdown: Nigerian must go back to farm – Orji

Only EFCC knows whereabouts of Tafa Balogun’s loot – Okiro

Presidency denies disagreement between VP, South-South governors

Why we are handling democracy with care – Mark

Ogun: Police deploy more men in Assembly complex

Uwais report: NLC vows to mobilise for its adoption

I won’t go into exile — El-Rufai

BREAKING NEWS: Stray power cable swings across expressway, kills one

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

New-look Lagos – Ibadan Expressway to gulp N89.5bn

Halliburton: $150m in Swiss bank blocked –Envoy

Ogun Police recover fake $30,000, 14 stolen vehicles

Deportees raise the alarm over Nigerians’

How we uncovered N3bn fraud at UBE – ICPC boss

EFCC begins extradition process against el-Rufai

‘Obasanjo neglected Lagos-Ibadan Expressway’

Power probe: We won’t conduct fresh public hearing on Elumelu’s report – Reps

First Bank, UBA, Intercontinental among world’s top 2,000 firms

Halliburton: US bound to expose culprits – Investigation

N’Delta: Residents flee Nembe

Father, son arraigned over assault on cleric

Uniport rakes in N3bn IGR, graduates 7,274

Ogun: Lawmakers drag Reps to court over takeover threat

FG injects fresh N15bn into NIPP

JAMB withholds results of 23,819 candidates over malpractices

Monday, April 13, 2009

Militants kill five naval officers, injure others in Bayelsa

‘Adrian Forty’s death won’t stall AC’s evidence’

Senate summons warring Ogun lawmakers

Churches burnt, scores injured in Niger violence

Facebook reaches 200 million user mark

Job loss: How volunteer work can sustain skills

Five ways to enhance your career

Telecoms: Bodies canvass defence of consumers’ rights

Police in Zone 11 arrest 1,202 suspects in March

Ife killings: Detectives yet to conclude investigation

Sunday, April 12, 2009

N’Delta: Presidency asks govs to persuade militants to accept amnesty

Yar’Adua orders improved publicity of govt activities

Police to withdraw 10,300 men from ex-political office holders

‘NDLEA seized N182m drugs in three months’

Why we sacked nurse over hijab –ABUTH boss

Greed, cause of system collapse in Oyo – Former AG

Father of kidnapped 9-year-old girl cries out for help

Stashing looted funds in Swiss banks is vanity — Jonathan

Security agents intercept arms cache in Jos

Easter: Mark, Mimiko, others task Nigerians over service to humanity

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Police intercept thugs with weapons in Ekiti

FG property sale: Nigeria’s N20bn stuck in US bank

FG earns N2.9tr tax, loses billions to evasion by companies

Ojora family reclaims Iganmu land after 37 years

Crisis rocks A’Ibom ANPP over chairmanship position

Police seize 37 bags of Indian hemp

NDDC: Intensive lobby begins for key offices

Distressed buildings: Lagos needs N.7bn to accommodate victims

Halliburton: Not going under the carpet

We’ve dismissed the errant officers – Mba

PDP governors shun Fayose’s father’s burial

Evangelist locks up daughters for 15 years in Ogun

18 parties align with AC leadership in Rivers

Ekiti rerun: Bankole seeks intervention of Yoruba elders

Halliburton prepares to pay possible Nigerian fines

Friday, April 10, 2009

France probes firm over Nigerian bribes

‘After shooting my 3-year-old daughter dead at checkpoint, policemen tortured, detained me’

Spain names Nigeria in gas gang up

Customs probe: I’ve not received invitation from Reps – Gbong Gwom

Corruption: EFCC removes Ibori from list of ex-governors on trial

Thursday, April 09, 2009

Nigeria lost 1,000 lives, $23.7bn to N’Delta crisis in 2008 – Report

Police withdraw Atiku’s security aides

Clerics, governors call for peace, love, probity at Easter

Militancy not related to underdevelopment —Commissioner

Halliburton: Senate, others demand identity of Swiss account owners

Sextuplets: OOUTH says three died, three still alive

Yar’Adua okays governing boards for agencies, others

Fashola reacts to US bomb blast alert

Wednesday, April 08, 2009

Lending rate: CBN lists sanctions against errant banks, reduces MPR

FEC okays bill for seizure of proceeds from crime

Halliburton: $140m kickback trapped in Swiss bank – FG

FEC approves N41bn fertiliser supply contract

Darfur: SERAP, others task Yar‘Adua over expulsion of aid agencies

Senate vows to check excesses of EFCC, ICPC

Customs’ probe: Reps threaten to arrest Gbong Gwom, NCS boss, others

Kidnapped Edo commissioner’s wife released

Eso panel: Rivers moves to gazette report, White Paper

FG playing politics with power sector –Elumelu

Tuesday, April 07, 2009

‘AC may not field Atiku in 2011’

FG alleges plot to sabotage power generation

Lagos sends 2,612 motorists to psychiatric hospital

Ogun speaker accuses govt, police, judiciary of conspiracy

EFCC, police prosecute operators of illegal varsities

Road accidents claimed 5,157 lives in three years – FRSC

Halliburton scam: Suspects will be prosecuted — Akunyili

BREAKING NEWS: Gunmen attack Ogun LG boss, kill brother

Monday, April 06, 2009

Ritual killers, kidnappers on the prowl in Ibadan — Police

Atiku, a hopeless politician – PDP

Yar’Adua to visit Ekiti again for rerun election

Police arrest alleged serial rapist in Mubi

Court joins Iwu in suit seeking INEC’s probe

Police arrest three cops over Ife killings

Police kill two suspected robbers, arrest two

Appeal Court sacks ex-Plateau Speaker

Two church members arraigned over N2.7m theft

Meltdown: FG advises states against profligacy

Lagos road expansion: Building owners may not get compensation

Sunday, April 05, 2009

Editors urge FG to resolve N’Delta crises, power failure

US warns of possible attacks on embassies in Nigeria

PDP, Bankole under fire ... over call for deployment of soldiers in Ekiti

Commissioner escapes death as gunmen invade residence

Kenyan films outshine Nollywood at AMAA

Two die in another collapsed building in Lagos

Ogun speaker, Oseni differ on Reps’ intervention

Mutiny: Court martial shifts judgment

‘FG lost N52bn from agencies in 2003’

EFCC begins probe of Obasanjo’s centre

Saturday, April 04, 2009

NDDC: Bayelsa’s interest tears Presidency apart

Court rejects Odili’s moves to stop Eso panel report

Election rerun: PDP to deploy soldiers in Ekiti –Bankole

N’Delta: Clark, others react to presidential amnesty for militants

97 drivers convicted by mobile court in Benue

Bakassi returnees face eviction from camp

Suspected rapist crushes policeman to death

Instant sanction awaits traffic offenders – FRSC boss

FG uncovers shady recruitment of 2,000 workers

Nigeria’s ICT sector: Growth, gains and challenges

Friday, April 03, 2009

Obasanjo remains PDP BoT chairman till 2011

EFCC seeks SSS, police assistance to arrest Vaswani brothers

Alleged $97.5m fraud: Police declare Kenny Martins wanted

MEND dismisses FG’s amnesty offer

TSS: Oyo teachers call off 37-day-old strike

‘Over 500 civil servants are lobbying for procurement jobs’

Bunkering: JTF launches manhunt for suspected ex-generals

FG uncertain about deadline on gas flaring

Halliburton: Group collects signatures globally

419: US court jails three Nigerians for 17 years

BREAKING NEWS: MEND rejects Yar’Adua’s amnesty for Niger Delta militants

Thursday, April 02, 2009

Ogun: Reps threaten to take over Assembly functions

Yar’Adua grants amnesty to Niger Delta militants

Accident claims six lives on Lokoja-Okene road

Rerun: Yar’Adua, Jonathan arrive in Ekiti for electioneering

Power supply dips by 700MW as PHCN shuts three plants

Akunyili warns Nigerians against imported vegetable oil

Rivers crisis: White Paper orders investigation of Odili, Sekibo

Halliburton: Why US may not release information

AP shares scandal: Otedola sues Dangote for N117bn

EFCC operatives cause stir in hospital

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

MMA2 management suspends grounding of debtor-airlines

Looted Benin artefacts, others may be worth N313bn

NNPC spent N600bn on fake contracts, subsidy – Presidency

FG denies US carrier flying rights into Abuja

PDP, ANPP, AC oppose bill on internal democracy

Police arraign magistrate, lawyer, others for bomb blast

FG restricts image laundering to Nigeria

Okiro raises the alarm over fresh religious crisis

SSS arrests nine suspected kidnappers

BREAKING NEWS: Travel delays expected at MMA 2 on Thursday