Cheat Sheet Week 14 2009

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Monday 30 March 2009

Police free Lebanese hostage after shoot-out:

Police freed the Lebanese national, taken hostage on Monday from a construction site in Lagos after killing 6 of the abductors. The ransom paid of N30 million, ($230,000) was recovered.

Related - SSS arrest 40 ‘militants’ in Lagos:

A combined team of the State Security Service, Army, Navy and Police on Sunday, raided Takwa Bay Island in Lagos and arrested at least 40 suspected criminals.

Niger Delta: JTF raises security alarm:

The JTF at the weekend warned for reprisal attacks after the dislodgment of the Abiteye camp of Kingsley Opuye in Warri, in the Niger Delta.

Related: Ijaw communities in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State have accused the JTF of using the alleged planned attacks as a ploy to raid their communities,.

Apex court reopens YRD election case:

Nigeria’s Supreme Court on Friday agreed to re-open a case challenging the 2007 election of President YRD brought up by Ambrose Owuru, of the Hope Democratic Party.

Drop in oil revenues foreshadows economic downturn:

Head of the National Petroleum Corporation said the country’s economy is expected to decline in the wake of falling oil prices and declining crude production.

 

Tuesday 31 March 2009

Police rescue 2 Spanish hostages:

Police rescued two Spanish nationals, invited to Nigeria for business discussions with Zan Cosmetics Company, but later held captive for a ransom payment of 200,000 euros.

Names in KBR bribery probe sought:

Nigeria’s Attorney General, Michael Aondoakaa, in a letter asked his US counterpart for the names of Nigerian officials who took bribes from a former unit of Halliburton.

Related – Swiss to give UK papers in bribery case:

Swiss authorities will provide bank account details to Britain in the KBR case according to a court ruling issued yesterday.

Bunkering – JTF to go after retired Generals:

The JTF has vowed to go after retired generals and military officers involved in illegal oil bunkering, according to the unit’s commander Major-General Bello.

JTF speak on IYC ceasefire:

Major-General Bello commended the IYC’s ceasefire declaration, adding that the ceasefire would only be meaningfull if all attacks were to stop.

Ijaw group tell foreign nationals to quit:

The Warri Ijaw Peace Monitoring Group, said it would attack business interests of oil companies in the region in retaliation for fresh attacks on Ijaw communities by the JTF, warning foreign nationals to leave the area as their safety could no longer be guaranteed.

First clean water in Kano in 10 years:

Officials in Kano State rehabilitated a creaking water plant in Wudil, 30 km south of Kano city in an effort to bring residents cheap, safe water.

 

Wednesday 01 April 2009

Four arrested in Spanish kidnap Case:

Police arrested 4 men in the alleged kidnap case of two Spaniards, who were rescued by the police on Monday, after two weeks of captivity.

Kidnappers make millions:

Kidnappers and hostage takers pocketed ransoms of over $100 million (about N15 billion) between 2006 and 2008, the Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro, said on Monday

Shell’s Soku plant resumes output:

NLNG Limited announced gas reception on Monday from Shell’ Soku plant which had been shut down since November for repairs due to illegal oil tapping. Force Majeur on Shell’s LNG shipments is still in place.

One killed in militant, JTF shoot out:

JTF and suspected oil bunkering militants, arriving in 5 speed boats, clashed at Ugokodo, Warri, Delta state, killing 1 militant and recovering large quantities of arms.

Navy to commission new warships, choppers:

The Nigerian Navy announced plans to commission 2 new warships and 3 new helicopter gunships in April, which it acquired from Italy last month.

Air Force await new jets:

The Air Force has sent 60 officers to China to train as pilots, engineers & ground crew ahead of this month’s scheduled arrival of Chinese multi-role combat F-7NI and FT-7NI trainer aircraft.

Nigeria becomes world’s worst stock market:

Nigeria’s stock market posted the biggest declines worldwide in the first quarter as bad loans to speculators pushed bank valuations to an all-time low.

And then there’s this… Dead bird found in soap in luggage:

A Nigerian travelling from Londong to Washington, was fined after customs found a dead bird concealed in a homemade soap in his luggage.

 

Thursday 02 April 2009

Pfizer may be ready to settleTrovan case:

A lawyer representing Nigeria in lawsuits against Pfizer said Wednesday they would seriously consider a US$75 million settlement by Plizer, but no offer had yet been made.

Related: Earlier this year, a New York-based court ruled that Nigerian families can sue Pfizer in U.S. courts.

More health threats for Nigeria:

WHO Director General, Margaret Chan, expressed concern for a possible epidemic posed by a new drug-resistant form of tuberculosis .

Gazprom signs north oil search deal:

Gazprom has signed a MOU with NNDC to analyse two oil blocks in northern Nigeria for possible exploration.

No foreign launch of rebranding:

FEC yesterday set up a 24-man committee to work out the strategies for the rebranding project. During the meeting chaired by YRD it was decided not to launch the project abroad.

And then there’s this…Nigeria tops cyber fraud list:

The US Internet Crime Complaint Centre, in its 2008 report, rated Nigeria as the country most involved in internet crime in Africa and the third in the world.

 

Friday 03 April 2009

FG to empower military against militants:

YRD said on Thursday that FG is funding and repositioning the JTF so law and order can be enforced in the Niger Delta, adding that amnesty is considered for all militants who are ready to lay down their arms.

MEND dismiss government’s amnesty offer: In a statement MEND dismissed the amnesty offer.

Militant sues over detention:

Alleged militant Sobomabo Jackrich, arrested in December, filed a lawsuit against Chief of Defence Staff and the Attorney General of the Federation on grounds of infringement of his fundamental rights.

Power supply drops as Shell shuts gas plant:

Shell shut down Utorogu gas plant, to repair an illegally breached pipeline, resulting in cut down of national power supply by around 25%.

US and Nigeria and the Halliburton case:

The EFCC said it launched an investigation into bribe receivers on Nigerian site, whilst a juridicial order of the US will be needed to receive relevant information

Hostage Watch:

Today marks day 208 in captivity for Matthew McGuire and Robin Hughes abducted from the HD Blue Ocean on 9 Sept. 2008.

Also held: 3 foreign workers on the vessel, MV Seal Tide, attacked by pirates offshore Bakassi on 14.03.09

Also held: A Lebanese national, employed by Elite Construction Company, taken on 04.03.09 in Bayelsa state.

Also held: A Lebanese national, taken from the construction company site, Ondo state, 11.02.09 .