Nigeria’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Rivers State Commissioner for Justice, and the Commissioner for Urban Development are also involved in the case in which the plaintiffs are seeking from the court an order directing the defendants to pay monetary compensation of $100 million and a restraining order.

The order is to restrain the defendants from implementing any plan to carry out any demolition of structures and properties in the Bundu waterfront community.

Justice Benefeito Ramos of the ECOWAS court in his ruling said that the adjournment was to give the counsel to the plaintiff time to file a written application to present witnesses.

The judge ordered that the counsel to the plaintiffs file their application to present witnesses in accordance with the court procedures.

Earlier, the counsel for the defendant, Mr Rufus Godwins, had argued that they were not prepared to examine the witnesses to be presented and that they were not served with any documents identifying the witnesses to be examined.

Godwins said in his argument that the court lacked the jurisdiction to rule over the case.

“We have challenged the court’s jurisdiction – that the court cannot hear a matter of this kind by the rules of this court and the plaintiffs’ lawyer insisted that the matter is to go on for them to call the plaintiffs.

“Of course we drew the court’s attention that even if the court is ready to have the matter heard through the testimony of the plaintiffs, the plaintiffs’ lawyer has a duty to fulfill the requirements of the rules of the court that requires he should give us in advance a list of those witnesses who want to testify” he argued.

Counsel for the plaintiff, Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, gave the assurance that the documents being required by the court would be ready before the next sitting.

The plaintiffs in their claims alleged that the Rivers State government with support from the Nigerian federal government planned a large-scale demolition of the city’s waterfront settlements in 2009.

They claimed that the Njemanze waterfront, a community close to Bundu Ama, was demolished in August 2009 and about 19,000 people were forcibly evicted from their homes without adequate notice, compensation or alternative accommodation and legal remedies.

To this effect, the indigenes of Bundu waterfront community held peaceful protests against planned demolition of the waterfront settlement.

They claimed that in October 2009, government authorities, accompanied by security agents shot at peaceful protests done by indigenes of Bundu waterfront community without prior warning.

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The summit will represent the first major interaction of the local and international business group with President Goodluck Jonathan, who came to power on the back of a presidential election last April.

The summit will play host to an array of global chief executives and business leaders who have already indicated interest to attend the summit with the theme, “Attracting Foreign Direct Investment through Global Partnership’’.

A statement by the Director General of the NESG, Mr. Frank Nweke, in Abuja on Sunday said the gathering will provide a window for investors to leverage business opportunities which abound as a result of infrastructure deficits in power, roads, rail aviation, ICT.

Its organizers said it will present the abundant possibilities that exist to forge global partnership between local and foreign investors and encourage private sector players to continue to show confidence in the local economy.

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The request to help beef up Liberian security followed recommendations made during an Ecowas mini-summit in Abuja on 10 September to reinforce security along the Ivory Coast-Liberia common border, and the Monrovia September 13th meeting of West African Chiefs of Defence Staff (CDS) and Chiefs of Police to assess regional security threats in the run up to the polls.

Beside the local security apparatus, Burkinabe security personnel will work alongside 140 Ivorian gendarmes and 540 Ghanaian and Nigerian police officers.

Over 1.7 million Liberians will vote to elect a new president and members of parliament on October 11th.

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State radio Thursday quoted former Nigerian President Abdul Salami Abubakar who along former Ghanaian President John Kuffuor is in the country at the head of a high-powered ECOWAS delegation, as saying that the delegation is in the country to assess the run up to the forthcoming general and presidential elections.

The delegation which is in the country on a four-day visit, is expected to pay a courtesy call on President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and hold discussions with stakeholders, including the National Elections Commission, political parties, civil society and religious groups on how to hold peaceful and transparent elections in the country.

NEC Chairman James Fromoyan who met the delegation upon arrival, thanked ECOWAS for their continued interest in Liberia.

He said the coming of the delegation to ascertain facts about the upcoming elections also proves that the sub-regional grouping wants to see democracy restored in Liberia.

It was ECOWAS peace keeping troops that helped restore peace and sanity to war-torn Liberia eight years ago.

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The Nigeria State Security Service (SSS) revealed on Sunday in Abuja that the bounty was for information on Mamman Nur, the alleged mastermind of the bombing of the UN building on August 26.

A statement signed by Ms Marilyn Ogar, Assistant Director, Public Relations Officer of the NSSS confirmed that the suspect still remains at large and was being hunted down.

She urged Nigerians to be vigilant and report any information concerning Nur to the nearest police station, military outpost or any other security agency.

The service had declared Nur wanted in connection with the bombing which claimed 23 lives at the UN House in Abuja.

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The Heads of State of Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire and Liberia will particularly discuss the security situation along the Liberia and Cote d’Ivoire borders.

Meanwhile, a three-day sensitization workshop to raise awareness on ECOWAS mission, goals and ideals was held in Guinea-Bissau, with some 100 participants from Member States in attendance.

Bissau Foreign Affairs minister Adelino Manu Queta, commended ECOWAS for its support to Guinea-Bissau, especially during the country’s difficult periods.

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In a statement issued in Abuja to react to series of media reports on the college, Oduah said that the Nigerian government was not contemplating outright privatization or commercialization of NCAT.

The position of government is that there is an urgent need for NCAT to have collaboration with reputable aviation training institutes outside the nation’s shores, she pointed out.

The minister said that the partnership arrangement would boost the college’s capacity to produce adequate and highly qualified manpower for the aviation industry and even for the export of locally trained experts.

Oduah expressed displeasure that the college produced about 50 graduates annually from its five faculties and departments.

“Our dream is to ensure that at least 1,500 graduates are produced from the college annually,’’ she said while noting that huge investment, other than government funding, was required to transform the college.

According to Odah, under the planned collaborative arrangement, the foreign partners are expected to provide skilled manpower, training, equipment and funds for the expansion of infrastructure and other facilities in the college.

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The attack was caused by a bomber, who drove a truck laden with explosives and trailed a UN agency vehicle, crashing into the well secured entrance, bringing down the barriers before the explosions which caused extensive damage.

Preliminary reports say that no fewer than 10 people have died and “very many’’ others injured in the explosions that shook the sprawling UN building to its foundation.

The national hospital, situated very close to the building, could not contain the casualties as the second best hospital, Garki Hospital, as well as Wuse General Hospital proved emergency medical services.

APA can confirm that two of those brought into the Garki Hospital at 11 am died at the gate of the casualty ward.

Meanwhile, management of the hospitals have appealed for blood donation as the national blood bank handed all in stock to the hospital.

The police, National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and State Security Service (SSS) as well as officer of the National Emergency Management Authority (NAMA) have taken over the building rendering emergency and security services.

The Minister of State for Health, Dr Ali Pate, said that “everything is being done to assist the victims of the blast, just as the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Viola Onwuliri, said that the situation was being monitored closely.

The Nigeria Police has said that details of the incident will be released later.

Meanwhile, many sympathizers, including relatives who thronged the vicinity of the building and the hospitals wailed profusely just as many parents scampered, running around the city to pick up their wards.

Many offices, including those of media houses resorted to emergency security checks even on staff.

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Jonathan said in Abuja that relevant Nigerian government officials would be in contact with their Beninese counterparts to find appropriate ways to deal with the situation.

“Criminals don’t respect political boundaries in their nefarious activities, so we will cooperate with one another to find lasting solutions to the problems they pose,’’ Jonathan said.

Earlier, in his remarks, Yayi had informed Jonathan that pirates and bandits were threatening the security of ports in his country and the Gulf of Guinea coastline, and called for concerted action, to check the menace.

He also informed Jonathan that the Benin Republic University was planning to honor him with a doctoral degree.

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Duke said on Wednesday in Abuja when Nigeria’s ambassador to the U.S., Professor Ade Adefuye, paid him a courtesy visit that the Nigerian government looked forward to relevant institutions and development agencies in the U.S. to assist in providing opportunities and support that would facilitate bridging of the knowledge gap in the sector.

“We need to develop new frontiers that will further boost the country’s potential in the tourism industry, capable of contributing significantly to employment generation and wealth creation,” he said.

Duke advocated the establishment of a Nigerian Cultural House in the US for the promotion of “cultural diplomacy” and tourism.

He noted that Nigerians had played tremendous role in the various professions in the US, which had brought credit to the nation.

Adefuye had earlier told the minister that his visit was to explore areas of collaboration with the ministry in promoting the country’s interest in the US.

“We need to use culture to project the country’s image and preserve its cultural heritage,” he said.

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A statement from the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja on Sunday said that Mr. David Adenze Kangah, the Deputy Chairman of Ghana’s Electoral Commission is heading the mission which includes representatives of the regional parliament, the ECOWAS Court of Justice, electoral experts from member countries and civil society organizations and representatives of ECOWAS ambassadors.

They will observe the elections in all the nine islands of Cape Verde with its officials expected to meet with functionaries of the country’s electoral commission, government officials, security agencies, diplomatic missions and civil society organizations to exchange views on issues relating to the elections.

In mid-July 2011, Mr. Kangah had led a fact-finding mission to the country, in accordance with an ECOWAS mandate.

ECOWAS observer missions are carried out as part of the institution’s drive to ensure democratic convergence across the region in compliance with the provisions of the 2001 ECOAWS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.

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The CBN governor, Mr. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, restated on Saturday in Abuja that he stood his grounds on using the funds to generate a new environment that would invigorate and encourage investments.

The pension funds, he said, was the only way to solve the infrastructure problems right now in the country because the funds are idle and swelling.

He said meaningful progress would be recorded if the funds could be unlocked and further subsidies released to meet infrastructural needs of the country.

Nigeria introduced the contributory pension system in 2004, making it compulsory for workers to contribute 10 per cent of their salaries for pension and the government too contributes same amount on behalf of the workers.

The funds are managed by the National Pension Commission but the money is currently largely lying idle.

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He said that the Council was now concentrating on multiplying fruits plantlets through tissue culture and distributing same to the farmers for planting, adding that discussions had started with technical partners.

“The project as it is, we believe that before the end of 2012, the first fruit juice concentrates plant would have been established.

“Our target is to see a stopping the importation of fruit juice concentrates as raw materials for that sector in the next couple of years and we are tackling this problem from the supply side.

“Ultimately as the project progresses, we’ll end up with making sure that we now have fruit juice concentrates production plants within Nigeria.

“Once you have a number of such plants, then we can ask the fruit juice manufacturers to stop the importation.

“Having these plants means more employment for our people: this would now help to drive the demand for more fruits and so more people would go into plantations of fruits: it has a spiral effect in the economy.”

Onwualu said that the Council was already organizing training programs for major fruit juice manufacturing companies in Nigeria as well as some interested government agencies.

Onwualu also said the Council was promoting the establishment of a plastic recycling plant in Nigeria by two private sector operators.

He said that technical information on the quantity and availability of plastic wastes for the successful running of the plant was ready, while expressing hope that the project would take off soon.

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NOTAP’s Director of Technology Promotion and Commercialisation, Dr Danazumi Ibrahim, said in Abuja on Saturday expressed commitment to the promotion of locally developed software for revenue generation and job creation.

He explained that the importation had led to job creation in the exporting countries.

“We have establishments, institutions and brilliant people in this country that have in one way or the other developed software, but unfortunately we have not started appreciating the value of those software,” he said.

Ibrahim said arrangements had been concluded to hold an exhibition of locally manufactured software with more than 80 participants expected to showcase their capabilities.

The director said the exhibition would expose Nigerians to locally developed software that could be used and applied for specific operations both within and outside the country.

“This will help to establish the synergy between those that developed the software, the industries and the patronage for locally developed software,” he said.

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Onolememan, who addressed management staff of the ministry in Abuja, called for retreats involving staff who would be involved in the development of the plan.

He said the ministry would play a key role in the transformation agenda of the current administration and urged all the staff to be involved bearing in mind the ministry’s strategic position.

Onolememan said the ministry’s major challenges were the planning, design and identification of green areas, adding that they would be addressed accordingly.

The minister expressed sadness over the huge sums of money awarded every year for projects that were often abandoned.

“Every year, large sums of money are being paid for contracts and at the end we have nothing to account for it,” he said.

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