Nigeria bombings kill 25, injure 30

Bomb attacks in northeastern Nigeria killed at least 25 people and injured 30 others on June 26. (file photo)

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/186401.html

At least 25 people have been killed and 30 injured in bombings at a public area in Nigeria's northeastern town of Maiduguri, officials say.

Military sources said suspected members of the Boko Haram group threw three sets of explosives from the back of motorbikes at around 5 p.m. local time (1600 GMT) on Sunday, Reuters reported.

According to a police officer, the attackers threw bombs and fired indiscriminate gun shots at Dala Kabompi neighborhood, killing at least 25 people and seriously injuring around 30 others.

Boko Haram claimed responsibility for a bomb attack on police headquarters in the Nigerian capital of Abuja on June 16, killing at least two, including a policeman.

Police officers, soldiers, politicians and clerics in northern Nigeria have reportedly been the main targets of attacks by Boko Haram elements in the past year.

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, who was sworn in for his first full term in office on May 29, has voiced support for a dialogue with Boko Haram.

Nigeria violence leaves 800 dead: HRW

Shortly after the announcement of the election result riots broke out in Nigeria

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/180258.html

Human Rights Watch (HRW) says 800 people have been killed in election related violence in Nigeria following the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The New York-based rights group gave Monday's estimate based on 55 interviews conducted with witnesses of violence as well as members of the clergy, traditional leaders, police officials and journalists, AP reported.

Violence ignited in the aftermath of the April presidential elections which saw Jonathan, a Christian, re-elected.

An unofficial agreement in Nigerian diplomacy calls for its presidential candidates to take turns between the country's Christian south and Muslim north.

The unexpected death of former Muslim President Umar Musa Yar'Adua, who was expected to be re-elected for another term, is believed to have advanced former Vice President Jonathan into the presidential seat.

Jonathan created a panel to investigate the post-election violence last week.

The panel is in charge of determining the number of casualties and the cause of the riots, in hopes of preventing violence from escalating further.

Nigeria to drop Cheney bribery charges

Nigerian officials have filed a 16-count charge against Dick Cheney and several other former and current Halliburton officials over a bribery scandal dating back to the 1990s

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/155580.html


Nigeria may withdraw bribery charges against former US Vice President Dick Cheney over a scandal involving the oil services company Halliburton that he once headed.

This follows negotiations for an out-of-court settlement that was held last week in London between Nigerian officials and representatives of Halliburton.

A spokesperson for Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said the company has offered to pay a fine amounting to $250 million to have the case dropped.

They would pay $120 million as fines and $130 million from bad money stored in Switzerland from the original deal -- so $250 million in total," said Femi Babafemi on Tuesday.

The Nigerian government must approve any settlement deal before it is sealed.

Experts have severely criticized this cash-for-crime arrangement.

Last week, Nigeria's anti-corruption agency filed a 16-count charge against Cheney and several other former and current Halliburton officials over a bribery scandal dating back to the mid-1990s.

Cheney was the company's chief executive from 1995 to 2000, before becoming vice president to former US President George W. Bush in 2001.

Halliburton has denied involvement, and a lawyer for Cheney claims the accusations are baseless.

The Halliburton executives are accused of allegedly paying $180 million to Nigerian officials over 10 years -- until 2005 -- in order to win a contract to build a $6 billion liquefied gas project.

The case specifically involves KBR, a former subsidiary of Halliburton, which is a major engineering and construction services firm.

Last year, the firm paid $579 million in fines to the US Justice Department and US Security and Exchange Commission on separate charges related to the scandal.