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News Tribunal dismisses Akunyili’s petition against Ngige Sport Kanu motivates Super Eagles against Rwanda Business Senate queries proposed electricity tariff increase
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VOL. 7, NO. 2043 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2012
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•THIRD TERM FIRE IN SENEGAL: Senegalese riot police clash with protesters in city centre of Dakar ... yesterday. Police used tear gas to disperse opposition supporters attempting to gather for a banned protest against President Abdoulaye Wade’s bid for a third term in next weekend’s polls. Small groups of protesters converging on Independence Square, close to the presidency, were met by riot police firing tear gas, an AFP correspondent reported. PHOTO: AFP
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HEFT and mismanagement are ruining Nigeria’s oil industry, the Royal Dutch Shell has alleged. The oil giant said yesterday that Nigeria, which pumps 2.4 million barrels of oil a day, could produce four million barrels daily,
NNPC, Shell disagree on corruption in oil sector From Emeka Ugwuanyi, Abuja
if theft is eliminated and the industry is better managed. Ian Craig, Shell’s director for sub-Saharan Africa, told an oil and gas conference in Abuja that thieves were
stealing about 150,000 barrels per day by bunkering, or cutting right into pipelines to steal oil. Craig also blamed the state-run Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) - which partners
with all foreign oil firms for chronically under funding projects. Shell is the dominant oil company in Nigeria, which is Africa’s largest oil producer. Craig spoke while deliver-
ing his paper entitled: Nigeria – Challenges and opportunities. Craig said the greatest challenge faced by the company is the massive organised oil theft ring and the criminality, and corrup-
tion which it fosters. This, he said, drives away talent, increases costs, reduces revenues to both investors and the government and results in major environmental impacts. He said in December, last year, a spill caused by Continued on page 2
Senate report: Kabiru Sokoto seen in Lagos Panel recommends trial of police chief Biu, others
U •Kabiru Sokoto
NKNOWN to many, the suspected architect of the Christmas Day church bombing was in Lagos before his January 14 arrest and eventual escape. He was rearrested on February 10. Kabiru Umar (alias Kabiru Sokoto), whose escape expedited former police chief Hafiz Ringim’s retirement, was seen on Snake Is-
From Onyedi Ojiabor and Sanni Onogu, Abuja
land, home of the ship repair company, Nigerdock, in Apapa, Lagos, according to a Senate Committee report. The report of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs said: “Police intelligence revealed that prior to his arrest on 14th January, 2011, Kabiru Umar (alias Kabiru Sokoto)
had been on the check list of Boko Haram sect members. “Sokoto was reported to have been noticed within the vicinity of Snake Island, Lagos and left Lagos sometime on 13th December, 2011 and disappeared from surveillance monitoring, until 11th January, 2012. He was later traced to Abaji in the Federal Capital Territory. “Police detectives traced him
from Abaji to Abuja on the same date and further traced him to Asokoro-Abuja where he was finally apprehended at about 0240 hours (2.40am) on the 14th of January, 2012 at the Borno State Governor’s Lodge at Iro Dan Musa Street, Asokoro, Abuja.” Senators yesterday gave a blowContinued on page 2