The Punch Newspaper Archive for May 2009

Saturday, May 30, 2009

…Only N2.6bn was recovered from Tafa Balogun

Abacha: EFCC denies N438bn recovered loot

Loss of oil producing status: Cross River loses over N1bn monthly –Imoke

Certificate forgery: Aondoakaa, ICPC under pressure to prosecute Rep member

NDDC MD advises militants to surrender

Pro-democracy groups call for cancellation of constituency allowances

Mark accuses religious leaders of aiding corruption

Senate probes jail evasion cartel in NDLEA

Friday, May 29, 2009

US Embassy replies PDP, denies plot to destabilise Nigeria

Corruption has worsened under Yar‘Adua – Ribadu

AC flays Oni’s stand on Ekiti rerun

32 Nigerians deported from Spain

Public Order Act: Police take appeal to Supreme Court

Declare June 12 Democracy Day –CNPP

MEND rejects fresh amnesty offer by Yar’Adua

No plan to meet Obama in Ghana –Opposition

...Akhigbe leads peace team to Yar’Adua

Niger Delta: NASS not aware of troop deployment –Senate Leader

NEWS UPDATES AT 6p.m (18hrs GMT): US Embassy denies plotting to destabilise Nigeria

MID-DAY NEWS UPDATES: Work on abandoned Sango bridge begins next week

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Budget: We’ll disprove Yar’Adua’s claim on revenue slide — Reps

Yar’Adua commends armed forces for patriotism

Ijaw women storm National Assembly

Nigeria has made progress, says Yar’Adua

Anambra gets UN master plans for three cities

Mid-term: Oodua coalition scores S’West govs low

Yar’Adua: To serve and to lead?

Alao-Akala to pay teachers’ March salaries

Fashola seeks women’s participation in NEPAD

Confusion over Daniel’s missing N400m

MID-DAY NEWS UPDATES: Man U fan kills four Barcelona supporters in Rivers town

NEWS UPDATES 18hrs GMT: US introduces special security checks for Nigerians

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Kidnapped Lagos House Minority leader found in Oyo

ACF backs military operations in N’Delta

AP shares: Dangote, Otedola meet, agree to end feud

Electoral reform: Akande, others hail ouster of Yar’Adua’s bill

Court sacks Chief Imam in Ososa

Allow me to finish my tenure, Akpabio tells Attah

N2m ransom: Police arrest three suspected assassins

N‘Delta: JTF raises the alarm on fresh arms acquisition

JAMB confirms cancellation of 23,819 results

States to get £20m each, $180m for education

Children’s Day: FG to ratify two UN protocols on child rights

LATEST NEWS UPDATES: Dangote, Otedola settle rift

BREAKING NEWS: NGO rejects Oyo gov‘s threats over BATN

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Unity school teachers begin strike today

Senate throws out Yar’Adua’s bill on political parties registration

Sale of embassy buildings: Reps, Maduekwe in war of words

EFCC quizzes Okereke-Onyiuke over N15bn Transcorp scam

Forum calls for suspension of Bankole, Na‘Allah

Warri refinery to shut down

Why kidnappers must die – Amaechi

Breaking News Stories: Senate dumps Yar’Adua’s party registration bill

Monday, May 25, 2009

Halliburton: Okiro panel quizzes Shinkafi, Etiebet, Kupolokun

Senate, CDS, service chiefs meet over military operation

Niger Delta: 18 soldiers feared dead, eight others injured

Police, NRC demand N100,000 to release car

N’Delta: ‘Agitators must rise against criminal elements’

Meltdown may worsen violence against children — UNICEF

N15bn scam: Transcorp’s GMD, two others to face 32 charges

N’Delta crisis crippling oil and gas sector

Strike: Oyo won’t pay teachers’ March salaries – SSG

Ekiti rerun: INEC shields six officials from bribery probe

BREAKING NEWS STORIES: JTF confirms one officer, six soldiers dead

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Much pain, little gain

16 foreign groups drag Yar’Adua, JTF to International Criminal Court

N’Assembly plans to spend N159m on Democracy Day

14-year-old student kills colleague during fight

N’Delta crisis: JTF kills suspected militant leader

Catholic priest kidnaps woman, demands N4m ransom

Jailbreak: Calm returns to Owerri prison

‘Over 300 Nigerians die of cardiovascular diseases daily’

Ekiti: Apply for poll materials through Iwu, INEC tells AC

Don’t allow executive to erode our powers — Mark

Saturday, May 23, 2009

CBN: Why Soludo was denied second term

N’Delta crisis: Fresh killings in Warri

Uncertainty over Tafa Balogun’s loot

Former South Korean leader commits suicide

Politics of N’Delta crisis

...US senator urges Obama to intervene

N’Delta crisis: Ijaw flee riverine communities in Ondo

Kidnapping: Lagos lawmaker whereabouts unknown

Groups, colleagues mourn AIT gmd, Ladi Lawal

Friday, May 22, 2009

...Involve church leaders in conflict resolution – Badejo

N’Delta : We have lost over 2,000 persons – Gbaramatu Kingdom

N‘Delta govs blame int‘l community for crisis

NDLEA cartel: 62 indicted officials still in service

Niger Delta: Jonathan waves olive branch, says FG don’t intend to punish militants

Retrial: Group canvasses removal of Osun Police Commissioner

Disquiet over missing corpse of 15-year-old boy allegedly killed by Enugu policeman

Actress Ibinabo avoids cell, stays in prison hospital

400 destitute escape death as building collapses

Court orders EFCC to charge Transcorp‘s MD, others to court

AC, IPA condemn Reps over Niger Delta face-off

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Police detain activist, family members over missing AK47

Nigeria not ready for U-17 World Cup – FIFA

Reps back military operation in N’Delta

‘Plateau crisis has been politicised’

Develop N’Delta like Abuja, CRPP tells FG

Ekiti: Drama as judge orders arrest of lawyer

Outage threatens multi-billion naira equipment at UCH

More senators criticise Yar’Adua’s election commission bill

JTF troops allegedly raid monarch’s palace

ASUU strike paralyses UNILAG, OAU, six others

BREAKING NEWS: FIFA lists Lagos, Abuja, four others for U-17 World Cup

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Delta assures of citizens’ safety

Policeman arrested with 17 cartons of ammunition meant for militants

N’Delta: We lose one million barrels of oil daily – FG

Oyo inaugurates first female CJ

Assault: Court orders Aondoakaa to pay N100m to SAN

Militants vow to attack soldiers’ families

Militancy: Intelligence report indicts N’Delta leaders

Electoral Commission bill suffers setback

Okere: Judge throws out Arogundade’s application

Yar’Adua orders AGF to proceed on retirement

Punch launches recharge cards for mobile service

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Military onslaught continues, more people killed

Electoral reform: President, PDP confused – Buhari

NEC meets, says Niger Delta crisis not economic problem

World leaders not scared of visiting Nigeria – Yar’Adua

We won’t tolerate frivolous applications — Osun Tribunal

Man, 35, commits suicide over wife‘s

Two suspected kidnappers killed in Onitsha

Why we withdrew cars from LG bosses’ wives — Osun speaker

Robbers raid telecoms firm, one shot dead

How Obasanjo humiliated me over Ibeto cement –Obi

Monday, May 18, 2009

El-Rufai to face 150 more charges over N3bn fraud

EFCC quizzes Ndukwe over N1.3bn telecoms licence

Implement budget or go to court, Reps tell Yar’Adua

Nsukka residents, religious groups seek DPO’s removal

Ekiti police detain monarch, 14 chiefs over violence in Fayemi’s town

Ekiti deputy speaker, VC allege plot to kill them

NLC reaffirms opposition to FG’s policy on oil deregulation

Army chiefs meet in Minna over security

Military onslaught continues in N’Delta —DHQ

Punch launches recharge cards for mobile service

Sunday, May 17, 2009

NBA faults Aondoakaa on Halliburton bribery scam

‘Nigeria lost N120bn to foreign airlines in 2008’

Niger Delta crisis escalates

How Customs awarded N4.5bn contracts — Witness

EFCC still investigating ex-govs — Waziri

PHCN ED’s kidnap unconnected with power sector —Minister

Budget row: N60bn constituency projects not negotiable — Reps

Traders want Customs men off Southern roads

18 die in another accident in Edo

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Ekiti election bribery scandal: SSS to quiz INEC officials on Monday

I cried for first-class graduates who couldn’t spell ‘graduate’

Drug barons threaten political power in Nigeria, other African nations

N’Delta violence: Casualty figures rise

...LASUTH advises Nigerians to be on the alert

Swine flu scare: Agency seizes 4,680 eggs imported by Lagos farmer

Gift John: Principal witness goes dumb in court

Edo Assembly slot: PDP, AC disagree on court ruling

Dangote promises reduction in cement prices

FRSC introduces new driving licence for truck drivers

Halliburton: Aliyu yet to regain freedom

Friday, May 15, 2009

A day to taking up new employment, trailer crushes UNILAG Accounting graduate working as okada rider

Ekiti rerun: SSS quizzes Iwu, Adebayo over bribery row

FG battles mend with 7000 troops, 2 warships, 14 gunboats

FG slashes Okah’s charges, SSS arrests militant leader

INEC pledges to safeguard Ekiti governorship rerun ballot papers

Canadian kidnapping: Court rejects suspect’s bail application

Daniel, Amosu supporters clash at INEC office

Edo: 50 Accident victims get mass burial

Boy, 17, emerges winner of Maggi cooking competition

Mass arrest: Nigeria demands details from US

Thursday, May 14, 2009

N5bn scam: Elumelu, others awarded 156 contracts in one month – EFCC

Yar’Adua writes N’Assembly, seeks review of 2009 budget

Fuel subsidy must go, FG insists

Ekiti rerun: Panic in INEC over Yar’Adua’s order on bribery probe

NDDC: Presidency in dilemma over board composition

Militants abduct 15 Filipinos in Delta

EU to spend 100m euros to tackle drug trafficking in Nigeria

Power probe: Review committee drops Elumelu’s report

Fake drugs: NAFDAC to impound aircraft

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

N5bn REA scam: Projects inserted in amended 2008 budget

Workers, activists hold rally in Lagos

FG, Labour to dialogue over minimum wage

Oil sector reform bill: Senate investigates 10 members

Reps criticise Yar’Adua over poor implementation of 2009 budget

N15bn scam: EFCC detains Transcorp’s GMD, two others

Yar’Adua seeks N’Assembly’s approval to lend Sao Tome and Principe N1.45bn

Anxiety in police over new promotion policy

N’Delta: JTF, militants clash, two soldiers injured

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Nine die, 20 injured in Benin-Sagamu road auto crash

EFCC files 156-count charge against Elumelu

Fuel scarcity ’ll last for two more weeks – Yar’Adua

Court orders reopening of Adaba FM

Fresh crisis brews in Ekiti broadcasting station

Why we kidnapped two-year-old boy – Suspects

Robbers attack bank, three bandits, one customer killed

Dismissal: ECOWAS Court reserves ruling

‘We’re removing disparity between HND, varsity degree’

Halliburton: FG vows to prosecute culprits

Monday, May 11, 2009

Taxes: FG records N124bn shortfall in first quarter

Safe radar project: We accepted money from contractor – Witness

EFCC detains Elumelu, arrests UBEC director

Police foil bank robbery in A’Ibom

Man swindles American businessman of $1m

Akunyili solicits UK’s support for rebranding project

Minimum wage: Bankole urges NLC to shelve planned protests

Swine flu: LUTH stops people with cough from visiting patients

Why we are silent over bribery allegation – INEC

Osun tribunal begins sitting on May 19

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Probe: Ladoja sues Alao-Akala

Ekiti violence: Soldiers, police take over Fayemi’s town

Oil firms bribed lawmakers, Labour to oppose reform – FG

Constitution review: Senate, House no longer on warpath — Reps

Zuma appoints new finance minister

Police trail suspect over kidnapping, murder

Kidnappers demand N200m to free Delta ethnic leader

New tribunal named for Osun, arrives Osogbo

Halliburton: EFCC operatives storm

Saturday, May 09, 2009

N’Delta: Ethnic leader kidnapped by unknown gunmen

Oshiomhole storms Warri depot as fuel crisis worsens in Edo

Nigeria to host first African Informatics Olympiad

Zuma assumes power, vows on democracy

Ekiti rerun bribe saga: Suspects accuse INEC of frustrating police investigation

Police nab fraudster who uses Yar’Adua’s name to get contracts

...arrest 6 for kidnapping 20-month-old boy

Police stop Anambra PDP stakeholders meeting

Tears as accident claims 14 in Edo

EFCC arraigns corps member over N3.9m ATM fraud

Ekiti: Mob set monarch’s palace ablaze

FG in dilemma over N252bn fuel subsidy

Friday, May 08, 2009

My husband was killed on the day our only daughter clocked three – Widow of the killed soldier

They dragged me with my tie and beat me until I fell

Fuel scarcity: FG, marketers reach agreement on urgent importation

Ekiti: Democracy is doomed- Ogun AC

Amaechi signs kidnap prohibition law

Kidnapping: Amnesty asks Ohakim not to sign death penalty law

No going back on Wednesday mass protest –NLC

Lagos CP fails to produce Awosika’s killer in court

Customs officers live in smugglers’ houses –Reps

Money laundering: Court dismisses Kalu’s application

Halliburton bribes: Okiro panel arrests air force chief, governor’s brother

Thursday, May 07, 2009

N5bn electricity scam: We won’t interfere with EFCC’s investigations — Reps

Strike: Federal doctors to join Lagos colleagues today if...

Ekiti: Police summon 31 INEC officials over alleged bribery

Oyo: Pensioners plan to protest naked against govt

… Tinubu, AC in UK say outcome will haunt national psyche

Ekiti rerun exposed FG’s rule of law hypocrisy — NBA

Nigeria is a failed state, says ex-Minister

Mark moves to fasttrack constitution review

How security report indicted Odili, Sekibo in Rivers crisis

Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Why it’s difficult to create more states –Shagari

Senate begins debate on Land Use Act review

Alleged N5bn scam: EFCC arrests senator, trails three Reps

Ekiti: AC rejects election result, heads for court

Protesting youths disrupt operations in Shiroro dam

Auditor-General’s report indicts Customs over N1.8bn contracts

Lagos AC insists party won poll, PDP says victory for democracy

INEC officials, security operatives rigged election for PDP — TMG

FG regrets violence, says REC acted according to her conscience

NAFDAC impounds N315m fake products

ACF tasks FG over fuel scarcity, epileptic power supply

Tuesday, May 05, 2009

FG challenges court’s jurisdiction to hear Vaswanis’ suit

Oni’s tenure ends in 2011 – Sagay, Ajayi, Tarfa

Nigerian roads still in deplorable state – Survey

Ekiti boils as INEC declares Oni winner

Kwara removes Elelu-Habeeb, appoints new CJ

Strike: Police beat doctor with gun butts

Restore peace to Jos, Yar’Adua urges indigenes

Second Niger Bridge contract not yet awarded – FG

Ladoja asks Alao-Akala to represent him at probe panel

Customs’ probe: Nigeria loses N300bn yearly

EFCC arrests UBEC directors, Perm Sec over N4.7bn fraud

Monday, May 04, 2009

Lawmaker tasks minister over Oba-Nnewi-Uga-Okigwe road

Woman, 58, dies while queuing for fuel

Consolidation, external reserves saved Nigeria from global meltdown – Yar’Adua

It’s D-day in Ekiti

Yar’Adua urges African varsities to tackle economic woes

Piracy: NCC begins night raid of factories

Court restrains SSS, police from arresting Fayose

Don’t manipulate Ekiti results —Soyinka, Sagay, Agbakoba

Legislations alone can’t tackle cyber crimes —Yar’Adua

Alleged victimisation: Lagos doctors begin strike

Saraki seeks removal of Kwara CJ

Sunday, May 03, 2009

Policy inconsistency, soaring costs keep cement price high

Ekiti rerun: Police quiz INEC staff over bribery row

Swine flu: Nigeria listed among countries with capacity to diagnose infection

China executes Nigerian for drug trafficking

17 in police net for diversion of petroleum products

Brace for governance, NLC tells Mimiko

British lawmakers ask Yar’Adua to implement Uwais’ report

N’Delta: Yar’Adua sets up committee on militants’ amnesty

Saturday, May 02, 2009

Robbing soldiers to pay officers

N1.2tr rail project: FG suspends contract with Chinese

Tight security for Ekiti REC as she leaves Abuja

Fresh crisis trails Ekiti rerun election

Hundreds defy rain to pay last respect to Melford Okilo

Plateau crisis: Fulani cattle breeders allege illegal deportation

Osotimehin canvasses private partnership in health sector

...NSCIA ‘distressed’ by electoral impasse

Osun deputy governor was not in Ekiti on rerun election day, says Osun Government

Rights group slams FG over election stalemate

OPC leader, Faseun, asks Oni, Fayemi to withdraw from poll

Reversing the losses on Nigerian roads

Friday, May 01, 2009

Yar’Adua’s electoral reform a failure –ERN

FG orders for 2million doses of swine flu drug

Ogun-Osun river basin chairman tasks south-west govts

Akwa Ibom trains 5,000 workers

Electoral reform: NLC, TUC plan mass protests over Uwais report

Monarch, Odogbolu indigenes tackle Ogun deputy speaker

Fire razes Sam Egwu’s country home

CNPP blames PDP for crisis in Ekiti