And in furtherance of on-going reforms, Sanusi said the CBN intends to ban banks from owning registrars. This, he explained, is to avoid the situation in the past where the companies were used to manipulate shareholding and capital as well as facilitate other abuses in the system.

He also expressed concern at the growth trend of the economy, especially the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which he noted has improved significantly but is yet to impact positively on the economy.

Speaking yesterday at an interactive session with financial journalists at the 15th seminar organised by the CBN for finance correspondents and business editors in Benin, Edo State, the CBN Governor said “although the 24 banks have bad loans, the 10 banks’ negative capital is N1.5 trillion.”

Any official indicted, whether retired or still serving, will be penalised to serve as deterrent to others. Also on the card is the promise of the apex bank to pursue the prosecution of all characters indicted in the mismanagement of these banks to ensure they are jailed.

The CBN Governor, Mr. Sanusi Lamido, who dropped the hints said arrangement has been concluded for a public hearing on the matter by the National Assembly, principally to receive documents and obtain testimonies of actors at the apex bank and other regulatory bodies such as the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) during the period preceding the crisis that affected the nation’s financial industry. The hearing comes up soon.

Sanusi spoke in Benin City, the Edo State capital at the on-going 15th edition of the CBN seminar for finance correspondents and business editors.

He explained that the investigation has become imperative because of suspicion that some managers at the apex bank failed to act when red flags were flagged by their subordinates concerning danger signals in some banks.

Any official indicted, whether retired or still serving, will be penalised to serve as deterrent to others. Also on the card is the promise of the apex bank to pursue the prosecution of all characters indicted in the mismanagement of these banks to ensure they are jailed.

The CBN Governor, Mr. Sanusi Lamido, who dropped the hints said arrangement has been concluded for a public hearing on the matter by the National Assembly, principally to receive documents and obtain testimonies of actors at the apex bank and other regulatory bodies such as the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) during the period preceding the crisis that affected the nation’s financial industry. The hearing comes up soon.

Sanusi spoke in Benin City, the Edo State capital at the on-going 15th edition of the CBN seminar for finance correspondents and business editors.

He explained that the investigation has become imperative because of suspicion that some managers at the apex bank failed to act when red flags were flagged by their subordinates concerning danger signals in some banks.

The protest, which was supervised by a detachment of policemen, took a different turn as armed men disrupted the protest in an orgy of violence.

The attempt by the policemen to ensure that the protest was not hijacked failed, as miscreant and armed men unleashed violence during the exercise.

There was free for all, as the anti-government protesters clashed with their opponents, leaving the police helpless.

Among those who were wounded in the fracas were two police officers and an independent civil rights activist, including a member of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Mr Ebiseremor Gbassa.

The pledge was made at the Seme border on Wednesday as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) inaugurated the National Media Network for the sensitisation on the free movement protocol in the West Coast region.

Present at the inauguration were the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2, Mr. Azubuoko Joel Udah representing the Inspector General of Police (IGP); Assistant Comptroller General of Immigration, Mr. Samuel O. Eluwa; Comptroller of Customs, Mr. Bawa Muhammed; Director of Free Movement and Tourism in ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Nfally Sanoh; and Chairman, Cross Country Limited, Chief David. B. Okorodudu.

Inaugurating the Network on behalf of the IGP, Udah said it had become imperative that all cross border limitations were removed to ensure free movement of persons, goods and services.

He stated that since Nigeria stood to benefit more immensely from the trade and other cross border economic activities than any other member state in the region, all efforts to promote free movement and engender trade of goods and services must be encouraged and coordinated.

Before choosing the date yesterday, Justice Olusola Willaims upbraided the prosecution team from the state Ministry of Justice, for clogging the progress of the case.

The judge also refused the prosecution’s request for an adjournment. He observed that the case has dragged for about 15 years, with the accused persons languishing in custody and the prosecution causing undue delay through incessant adjournments.

Parties were to adopt their final written addresses yesterday when prosecution lawyer, Mr. A. Olaitan, informed the court of the state’s inability to file its address. He prayed the court for a two-week adjournment to enable him to file his address.

A statement by the special adviser, on Thursday, indicated that 600 ex-militants would be involved in the batch.

The statement, signed on his behalf by Mr Henry Ugbolue, indicated that the non-violence transformational training for the second batch of Niger Delta ex-militants would involve 600 participants from Ondo, Delta and Edo states.

He said other batches would soon follow the Obubra programme in a future dat

The militant group also insisted on the retention of Prof. Wole Soyinka as part of the Aaron Team since, in their words, “his presence and guidance through this stage will be invaluable to the credibility of any talks with the Federal Government.”

MEND, which said it always preferred dialogue to armed conflict, has confirmed that though there has been some indirect contact with government, it would not waste its time and energy on what it described as “aimless talks, which avoid the sore issue of resource control.”

The Nobel laureate had last week during the 13th Professor Wole Soyinka Lecture organised by the National Association of Seadogs (NAS) allegedly threatened to pull out of the Aaron Team if MEND fails to resume talks with the government by the end of this month.

Also, Prof. Pat Utomi and a teacher at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Prof. Oluwagbemiga O. Jegede, on Wednesday said the problem of power may persist for much longer in the country unless the Federal Government decentralise the sector.

The Head, Information Department of NLC, Onh Iduh, in a statement in Abuja yesterday, berated the CBN governor for not having an adequate grasp of the excruciating economic hardship that Nigerian workers are going through, which is occasioned by poor pay, infrastructure decay and general apathy to the wellbeing of the working class.

Girish Sharma, Brand Manager, Dufil Prima Foods, Lekan Ogunbanwo, Permanent Secretary, Lagos Television (LTV) and Tope Ashiwaju, PR Manager, Dufil Prima Foods during the presentation of N15million Cheque & signing of partnership agreement on the Indomie/LTV Children’s Fun Park at the station broadcasting complex, Agidingbi.

In order to continue to excite and provide all round entertainment for kids, Dufil Prima Foods, manufacturer of children’s favourite meal, Indomie Instant noodles has announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Lagos Television (LTV) towards the construction of a Children’s Fun Park.

The No. 1 Instant noodles manufacturer has provided financial support to the tune of N15million naira towards the construction and refurbishing of the children’s fun park at the stations premises which will provide a platform for children to interact socially, educationally and have fun and excitement.

Speaking at the contract signing and cheque presentation ceremony at the stations broadcasting complex at Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos, last weekend, the Public Relations Manager, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Temitope Ashiwaju explained that children are the future custodians of the nation, and thus providing them with fun, positive and supportive social & educational environment is a goal ardently pursued by Dufil Prima Foods. He added that the fun park will create opportunities to increase the level of physical activity among the children and to improve their total wellbeing.

He said the fun park will also create an opportunity for the children to meet, learn and interact irrespective of their socio-cultural background which is in line with the company’s vision to encourage solidarity, love and foster relationships amongst our children.

According to Ashiwaju, the noodles company is pleased to be associated with the project which he believed will serve also as a new way for both organisations ‘working together’ in the interest of the children.

He called on parents, guardians, and school teachers to avail themselves of the opportunity the state of the art fun park offers to their wards during school excursions and for family visits.

In his reaction, the Permanent Secretary of Lagos Television, Lekan Ogunbanwo, thanked Dufil Prima Foods for believing and agreeing to partner with his organisation. He noted that “the partnership with the noodles giant is significant as we always looking for opportunities like this to extend the culture that we have here.”

He said the decision of the company to move with the station on this vision is one that they highly appreciate and hope that this marks the beginning of greater partnership with the organisation.

He said the station has always been providing platform for children and since it came up with the idea. He added that though the park is not yet completed, we have noticed that the children don’t want to stay with their parents and guardians when they visit here; they always go to the fun park. “Imagine what it will look like if it is completed.”

Present during the contract signing and cheque presentation ceremony are Girish Sharma, Brand Manager, Dufil Prima Foods, Olumuyiwa Ogunlaja, Director of Administration, LTV, Ayo Agbesunwa, Director of Current Affairs, LTV, Shola Salako, CEO, Purple consult and Consultant to LTV and Lanre Adisa, CEO, Noah Ark.