News from Nigeria

Mother of Governor-elect kidnapped and released.
Mother of the governor-elect in Rivers State, Sir Celestine Omehia, was kidnapped on Monday night April 3oth. Madam Cecilia Nwahia Omehia was abducted from her Ubima country-home in the Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state on Monday night. Hours after her kidnap, militants also struck in Bayelsa State, where they seized four Italians, a United States national and a Croatian oil worker from a floating storage vessel. There were unconfirmed reports last night that Madam Omehia has been released barely 24 hours later.

FG freezes Ekiti account
The government of acting Governor Tope Ademiluyi of Ekiti State, may be in for a financial crisis as the Federal Government has frozen the accounts of the state government. The directive is also applicable to the administration of the 16 local government council areas of the state. The action, according to a letter to bankers to the state government by former administrator of the state, Brigadier-General Olatunji Olurin (rtd), shall remain in force till May 29.

World Bank Invests $272m in Power
The World Bank has invested the sum of $272 million in power projects as part of its support to the reforms taking place in that sector of the economy. The investment was focused along the lines of transmission and distribution, according to the Bank’s Country Director for Nigeria, Dr. Hafez Ghanem...

W/Bank: Ribadu Pleads for Wolfowitz
The Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has urged the World Bank to allow its president, Paul Wolfowitz to stay on despite allegations of corruption against him. An OpEd written by the Ribadu in the International Herald Tribune yesterday, titled "Why Wolfowitz shouldstay " argued that the World bank chief has matchedwords with deeds through initiatives to promote greater international cooperation with poor countries...

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