(July 17, 2002) The Federal Government yesterday in Abuja released the elements of the home-gown economic programme to be monitored by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

(July 17, 2002) Public debt stand at N4.193 trillion, external debt $28.4bn.

(July 17, 2002) Irked by the financial pranks of one of the banks which was entrusted with the safe keeping of the 20 million Euros, the Federal Government has announced the blacklisting of the unnamed bank from further receiving any Euro funds on its behalf.

(July 16, 2002) An Abuja High Court yesterday adjourned the case againstMohammed Abacha to July 29 while the Swiss authorities reprimanded yesterday the country’s largest bank, UBS, on account of the discovery of $60 million in an account linked to the Abachas.

(July 15, 2002) Banking regulators have ordered an on-site audit of UBS after Switzerland’s largest bank was reprimanded for its handling of funds possibly linked to Sani Abacha, the former Nigerian dictator.

(July 15, 2002) Abacha who is being detained at the Kuje Medium Prison, Abuja, according to sources, may be arraigned today at an Abuja Federal High Court, to face charges slammed on him over alleged financial crimes committed during the reign of his father.

(July 11, 2002) About 150 women demanding jobs for their sons have occupied a ChevronTexaco oil terminal in Nigeria, preventing 700 workers, including Americans, Canadians and Britons, from leaving.

(July 11, 2002) A man bilked out of $10,000 (U.S.) in an elaborate hoax involving bogus assurances from supposed officials in Nigeria is warning people to stick with the lottery: It is a better bet.

(July 11, 2002) Some prominent members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) have warned the Federal Government on the legal and moral implications involved in the reported deal it had with the family of the late Gen. Sani Abacha.

(July 11, 2002) The Director General of the Debt Management Office yesterday said that the federal government was indebted to local contractors to the tune of over N1.1 trillion, while stating that the nation’s foreign debt profile had hit over $28.6 billion.

(July 4, 2002) Chief Popoola Martins cited as having been sent by Justice Augustine Ade-Alabi to solicit US$10 million bribe died Tuesday, hours before he was scheduled to appear before the Justice Bolarinwa Babalakin panel investigating the allegation.

(July 3, 2002) A fraud syndicate which specialises in ripping diplomatic missions of foreign currencies was yesterday smashed by the police monitoring unit.