| ·Elder statesmen led by former President Shehu Shagari meet Vice President . |
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·Elder statesmen led by former President Shehu Shagari meet Vice President Goodluck Jonathan over the state of the nation ·Federal Government prosecutes 109 people over Boko Haram crisis; ·Kenyan Members of Parliament agree to scrap the office of the Prime Minister; ·United States Senate backs new sanctions against Iran A group of elder statesmen led by former President Shehu Shagari, yesterday met with Vice- President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, Abuja. The group members included former Vice President Alex Ekwueme, former Chief Justices of Nigeria, Alfa Belgore and Idris Kutigi and former Defence Minister, Theophilus Danjuma. Retired Lt. General Danjuma later told State House correspondents after the meeting that they came to convey to Dr. Jonathan, their decisions on the current situation in the country. The group also paid a courtesy visit to Senate President David Mark. Former President Shagari, who presented a letter containing the recommendations of the group to Senator Mark, expressed hope that Senate would consider the recommendations wisely. Responding, Senator Mark, who expressed appreciation to the group for the visit, said the upper chamber would surely benefit from their wealth of experience. PDP National Publicity Secretary, Rufai Alkali, has commended Federal Executive Council, for complying with the court order over the health of President Umaru Yar’Adua. Justice Dan Abutu, President of the Court of Appeal, on Jan 22 ordered the FEC to write to the National Assembly on the state of health of Yar’Adua. According to him, the executive council has come out to declare that the health of the president has improved tremendously and that he is fit to rule. Meanwhile, Federal Executive Council’s declaration of President Umaru Yar’Adua as being fit to discharge his duties has been described as unconstitutional. Lagos Lawyer, Laborious Oshoma said section 144 of the constitution states that the President shall cease to hold office, if 2/3 members of the council declared him incapable. Barr Oshoma told correspondent, Ijeoma Okoye that such declaration was only possible after necessary medical verification had been made, through formal reports to the National Assembly. However, some lawmakers in House of Representatives are pushing for an impeachment of President Umaru Yar’Adua who has been away from the country for 67 days without notifying the National Assembly. The concerned lawmakers have written to him, urging him to transmit a letter to the National Assembly in line with the provisions of the constitution without further delay. They added that if the President remained adamant, invoking an appropriate legislative sanction to arrest the current drift would become imperative. Lagos State Government has disclosed that the Bar Beach experienced high sea tides, as a fallout of the earthquake in Haiti. Governor Babatunde Fashola, who disclosed this during an interactive session with State House Correspondents, stressed the need to protect the environment from natural disasters caused by climate change. The Governor assured Lagosians that the issue of flooding is adequately been addressed, ahead of the raining season. Correspondent Esther Oyegue reports that most of the drainages in the state are receiving attention. Meanwhile, Lagos State House of Assembly has set up a six-man committee to probe allegations of receiving gratification leveled against its members. An advertorial in a national newspaper had yesterday accused Governor Babatunde Fashola and the former governor, Bola Tinubu, of spending tax payers’ money recklessly. The lawmakers were also accused of collecting gratification to cover up the alleged financial recklessness of the governor. Trade Union Congress says the assassination of Action Congress governorship candidate in ogun state in 2007; Dipo Dina would further portray Nigeria in bad light. The congress made the observation in a statement signed by its President, Peter Esele, and General Secretary, John Kolawole. The congress said the assassination, coming on the heels of the Jos religious crisis and the attempt by a Nigerian to bomb a U.S.-bound aircraft, were all negative to the image of Nigeria. The Federal Government says it has so far prosecuted 109 people over the 2009 Boko Haram crisis in Borno. The Islamic sect, Boko Haram, in protest against western education, embarked on rampage in August 2009, killing indiscriminately. Attorney General of the Federation, Michael Aondoakaa said the killings constituted culpable homicide punishable with death. He said the culprits were charged with the use of explosives, fire arms and mischief by fire. Kenyan Members of Parliament have agreed to scrap the position of prime minister in a draft constitution being drawn up as part of a power-sharing deal. The role was created following post-election riots in 2007 to allow coalition partners to share power. Instead a parliamentary committee has opted for parliamentary checks on the president and to devolve government. The United States Senate has backed legislation allowing President Barack Obama to extend sanctions against Iran. The new sanctions would target those who export fuel to Iran. The US and its allies fear Iran is attempting to develop nuclear weapons. Iran insists its nuclear program is entirely peaceful. The Senate bill targets non-Iranian companies that export fuel to Iran or help expand Tehran's oil refining capacities by denying them US loans and other financial assistance. BUSINESS: Senate plans to review double taxation policy ENTERTAINMENT: Charity album featuring performances from the Hope for Haiti Now telethon tops US album chart. SPORTS: Ghana defeats Nigeria 1-0 in African Nations Cup semi-final; BUSINESS Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu says a new framework to end double taxation on goods and services in the country is in the works. He said this yesterday in Abuja while exchanging views with Ambassador of the Peoples Republic of Korea in Nigeria, Young-kuk Park. Senator Ekweremadu said National Assembly will support efforts at attracting investments into the country, especially from countries that exemplify progress over adversity. Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has accused Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation of aiding fuel scarcity, through inadequate supply to the body. The union said NNPC officials at a meeting with IPMAN leadership announced a new distribution formula for petrol among the various operators, which puts the association at a disadvantage. STOCK MARKET REPORT The Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday closed its daily trading on a positive note with a total of 354.06 million shares valued at N2.79 billion exchanged in 6,289 deals. 41companies share prices appreciated compared to the 24 that dropped in share prices. WAPCO led the price gainers’ chart, growing by N1.55 to close at N33.70 per share. Nigerian Breweries led the price losers’ table, going down by N1.49 to close at N56.50 per share. ENTERTAINMENT A charity album featuring performances from the Hope for Haiti Now telethon has gone straight to number one in the US album chart. The compilation album is the first digital-only release to top the Billboard 200 chart. Music sales tracker, Nielsen Soundscan said the album sold 171,000 copies. Organizers say the disaster relief telethon, featuring performances from stars including Jay-Z, Madonna and U2, has so far raised $66m. SPORTS Ghana is through to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations after they held on to a first-half lead to progress. It will be Ghana's first Nations Cup final appearance since 1992. Meanwhile, Egypt strolled through to their third successive Africa Cup of Nations final, overcoming Algeria 4-0, with their great rivals finishing with eight men. The game more than lived up to its billing as a fiery encounter with plenty of incident throughout. ·A group of elder statesmen led by former President Shehu Shagari, yesterday met with Vice- President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, Abuja. ·Federal Government says it has so far prosecuted 109 people over the 2009 Boko Haram crisis in Borno State. ·Kenyan Members of Parliament have agreed to scrap the position of prime minister in a draft constitution being drawn up as part of a power-sharing deal. ·The United States Senate has backed legislation allowing President Barack Obama to extend sanctions against Iran. The new sanctions would target those who export fuel to Iran. TODAY IN HISTORY January 29th 1986 - Yoweri Museveni was sworn in as president of Uganda ODD SIDE OF NEWS A Magistrate’s Court in Lagos has sentenced a male refuse collector, Abdullahi Suleiman, to two years imprisonment, for defiling a 13-year-old girl. The defendant, who pleaded guilty to the charge, said he lured his victim, a fried plantain hawker, into his room under the pretence of purchasing her wares. The Prosecutor, Olakunle Shonibare, urged the court to punish the defendant to serve as a deterrent to others. Senior Magistrate, Seri Solebo, giving her judgment, said defiling a minor was a condemnable offence. |