| Nigeria's leading media groups tell Yar'Adua to cede power or quit. |
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·Nigeria's leading media groups tell Yar'Adua to cede power or quit; ·Federal Executive Council approves the downward review of premium charges on Land in the FCT; ·Speaker, House of Representative, Dimeji Bankole threatens to expose members, who collect money and held on to them; ·Darfur crimes:Hague reverses Al-Bashir genocide ruling; ·Iraq lifts election ban on suspected Baathists; Some of Nigeria's leading media groups have told President Umaru Yar'Adua to transfer powers to his deputy or resign within one week. Owners of 17 top media outlets; including newspapers urged the National Assembly to begin impeachment hearings, if ailing President Yar'Adua did not concede power. The president, who has been in a Saudi Arabian hospital for more than two months, has refused to hand over executive powers to Vice President Goodluck Jonathan. Meanwhile,Constitutional Lawyer, Wahab Shittu has warned media houses to tread cautiously,as they strive to move the country forward. Barr Shittu in an interview with Georges Adebajo said as much as the call on President,Yar’Adua, to transfer powers to his VP is a collective struggle that includes the media, it is entirely a constitutional matter. The Federal Government has been urged to put measures in place, to ensure safety of lives and properties of Nigerians. President,Christian Association of Nigeria, Abuja Chapter, Willy Ojukwu, said the recurring crisis in the country was a threat to lives of the citizens. Rev. Ojukwu said the association also condemned the constant shedding of innocent blood and wanton destruction of property in the northern part of the country. Speaker of the House of Representative, Dimeji Bankole has threatened to expose standing committee that collect money of public hearing and held on to them. Hon Bankole also gave Tuesday as deadline for committees to summit their reports on the 2010 budget. The Inspector General of Police, Ogbonna Onovo, has assured police officers of a better welfare package to boost their morale. Mr Onovo gave the assurance in Asaba, while addressing officers and men of the Delta Police Command, during his working visit to the state. The IGP also warned against extra-judicial killings by policemen, saying he would disassociate himself from any officer, who unlawfully killed anyone. The Federal Executive Council has approved the downward review of premium charges on Land within the FCT. The council said it became imperative to give allottees equal opportunity toward developing their plots and to face realities on ground. FCT Minister, Mohammed Aliero said this is in line with the government’s policy to making houses available for every person in Nigeria. Controller General of Prisons, Olusola Ogundipe, has given Controllers of Prisons in states, seven days to confirm the position of accounting items in their commands. Spokesman of the Nigeria Prison Service, Kayode Odeyemi, said the directive followed the discovery that the commands lacked accounting materials. Mr. Odeyemi said an inspection team from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation made the discovery,during its visit to the commands. The Federal Government has been urged to take adequate measures to strengthen its trade relations with China. Nigerian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Lagos urged Nigerian businessmen to channel their trade relations with China through the normal processes. President of the Chamber, Elvis Emecheta, said trade should be reciprocal and not a one-sided show, especially when the countries involved have opportunities to benefit from each another. Mobil staff today embarked on a protest to say “Enough is Enough” for victimization and ill treatment of their staff. The rally was headed by the Lagos Zonal Chairman of PENGASON, Sunday Ogini, who insisted that the continuous sack and unnecessary replacement of staff with incapable expatriates must stop. Speaking with correspondent, Ebere Akubuike, Comrade Ogini said the protest is supported by Mobil staff worldwide. Two persons, including a woman, today died in a ghastly motor accident involving a commercial bus and a truck on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos. Eyewitnesses said six other people sustained injuries when the bus ran into a stationary truck. A Highway Manager on the bridge, Christiana Adegbesan, said there was a light traffic jam on the bridge which forced the truck to halt. Mrs Adegbesan said the bus driver who was on top speed suddenly encountered the traffic jam and applied his brakes,but it was too late. The Sokoto State Government has approved N220 million for the payment of nine months arrears of gratuities to its workers. The state's Head of Service, Abubakar Wali, the outstanding arrears of November and December 2009 as well as January 2010 would be paid in March 2010. Alhaji Wali said a five-man committee has already been set up to carry out the payment billed to commence tomorrow. International Criminal Court judges have reversed a ruling that there is insufficient proof to charge Sudan's president with genocide in Darfur. A warrant was issued last year against Sudanese President, Omar al-Bashir for crimes against humanity and war crimes. The Hague court's pre-trial chamber will now have to rule on whether to add three counts of genocide. Iraq has lifted a ban on nearly 500 election candidates barred from the March election for alleged links to the late Saddam Hussein's Baathist party. Election officials said the ban was lifted by an appeals panel on candidates listed by the post-Saddam Justice and Accountability Committee. Correspondents say the ban was seen by the once-dominant Sunni minority as a tactic to marginalize them. BUSINESS: NAMB begins campaign to erode ignorance about microfinance banks; ENTERTAINMENT: Michael Jackson's doctor is expected to be charged soon for manslaughter; SPORTS: Fashola opens Campos Sports Centre, beckons foreign investors; BUSINESS National Association of Microfinance Banks says it would embark on aggressive enlightenment campaign this year to erode majority of Nigerians’ ignorance about the sector. An official of NAMB, Mathias Umeh, said the ignorance of most Nigerians about the sector was worrisome and the association’s members had met to check the trend. Mr Umeh said a lot of people, including journalists have not come to terms with the actual role and functions of microfinance banks and other microfinance institutions in the country. Solid competition between commercial banks has been advocated has the only solution, to excessive deductions of Commission on Turnover by some banks. Well-known Economist and Professor at the Pan-Africa University, Pat Utomi said only banks’ customers can force commercial banks to reduce their COTs. Professor Utomi explained that banks would be forced to come down on their COTs, when customers begin, to move their accounts from one bank to another, in protest of excessive COTs. STOCK MARKET REPORT On the floor of the Nigerian Stock Market today, NESTLE led the gainers with N5, followed by NB with N2.76kobo and UNILEVER with N1.11kobo. MOBILon the other hand, topped the losers with 2.45kobo, followed by CONOIL with N1.67kobo and ALUMACO with N1.02kobo. Market capitalization moved up to 5.562trillion naira, with all shares index of 23,096.17points. EXCHANGE RATE 1 US Dollar = 154 Naira 1 British Pound = 245 Naira 1 Euro = 214 Naira ENTERTAINMENT Michael Jackson's doctor is expected to be charged soon with the singer's involuntary manslaughter. Dr Conrad Murray is in Los Angeles and would be happy to surrender to authorities if asked, his lawyer said. If Dr Murray is charged, a judge would decide if he should then go on trial. Michael Jackson's death,in Los Angeles on 25 June last year was ruled as homicide, mainly caused by an anesthetic. Dr Murray has always maintained he did not prescribe anything that should have killed Jackson. SPORTS Nigeria Football Federation officials says the Nigeria’s female U-20 soccer team, the Falconets will be on February 13th clash with their South African counterparts in an African football Championship qualifier. NFF President, Sani Lulu,made the disclosure in Johannesburg, while speaking at a reception in honour of NFF officials at the residence of Nigeria’s Consular-General in South Africa. Alhaji Lulu appealed to Nigerians at the reception to support the female team to excel. Lagos State Governor,Babatunde Fashola has urged foreigners to invest in the state, as he inaugurated the Campos Square Sports Centre to enhance grassroots sports mdevelopment. The centre, located in the heart of Lagos Island was built as part of Fashola administration's policy of providing sports facilities at the grassroots. He promised that the state would continue to provide infrastructure necessary for social and economic development of the state and the country. |