Michael Jackson: Tour promoters AEG Live cleared

A jury has found Michael Jackson's concert promoters, AEG Live, not guilty of negligence in hiring the doctor who killed him.

The Jackson family had been seeking $290m (£180m) for emotional losses, plus an unspecified amount for economic losses - a sum AEG called "absurd".

Dr Conrad Murray was jailed for four years for involuntary manslaughter over the pop star's 2009 death.

Jackson died at the age of 50 from an overdose of a surgical anaesthetic.

He had been due to stage a series of comeback concerts in London.

"I couldn't be more pleased with the way the jury came out. They got it exactly right," AEG Live lead defence lawyer Marvin S Putnam said after the verdict was read out.

To reach its verdict, the jury of six men and six women had to go through five key yes-no questions seeking to establish whether AEG was responsible for Murray's hiring in the first place and concerning his competence for the job.

The jury decided that AEG Live did hire Dr Murray but found that he was not unfit or incompetent for the job, which was one of the requirements for the Jackson lawsuit to succeed.

In the civil trial, the family claimed the promoters failed to properly investigate the former cardiologist. The company denied hiring Murray, saying the singer insisted on having him as a doctor.

More than 50 witnesses testified during the trial, including Jackson's mother Katherine and his eldest son, Prince.

Conrad Murray is due to be released later this month after serving two years in jail. (BBC)

NIGERIA BEGINS PROCESS OF PHASING OUT TOKUNBO CARS

The Nigerian government has begun the process of phasing out second hand vehicles, popularly called tokunbo in the country.

To this end, the Federal Executive Council today (WEDNESDAY), approved a national automotive policy to further encourage local manufacture of vehicles in Nigeria.

Information Minister, Labaran Maku, explained that the policy will is aimed at restoring the good old days, when one can drive home a brand new car with ease.

Similarly, Minister of Trade and Investments, Olusegun Aganga, revealed that Nigeria spent 4.2billion naira in 2010 importing cars, adding that past administrations failed to cash-in on the huge automotive market in Nigeria.

Mr Aganga said FEC also approved that henceforth, government would purchase vehicles from the assembly plants in Nigeria, unless it can be certified by the National Automotive Council that such vehicles are sophisticated and not produced in Nigeria.

Also today, the Federal Executive Council approved the rehabilitation and expansion of the outer southern expressway (OSEX) from the Presidential villa roundabout to the OSEX / Ring Road-one junction including five interchanges.

Council equally approved the provision of infrastructure in Asokoro Extensions at a cost of one-point-six-billion naira, to reduce the housing deficit in the Federal Capital Territory.

FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed the road projects is to ensure free flow of traffic and significantly reduce travel time in and out of the city, in line with the master plan of the FCT.

ICC ORDERS IMMEDIATE ARREST OF KENYAN JOURNALIST

The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for a Kenyan journalist suspected of offering bribes to prosecution witnesses in the trial of Deputy President William Ruto.

There were reasonable grounds to believe that Walter Osapiri Barasa was "corruptly influencing" or trying to influence witnesses, a judge ruled.

This is the first time the ICC has issued such an arrest warrant.

Mr Barasa told the BBC he was ready to prove his innocence.

Mr Ruto is on trial for alleged crimes of humanity and his case resumed at The Hague on Wednesday morning.

He denies the charges, which stem from allegations that he orchestrated violence after disputed elections in 2007.

Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta is due to stand trial on similar charges in November. He, too, denies the charges.

Mr Barasa was allegedly "acting in furtherance of a criminal scheme devised by a circle of officials within the Kenyan administration", the ICC said in a statement.

The Kenyan government have not yet commented on the allegation.

ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda called on Kenya to immediately arrest and transfer Mr Barasa to The Hague.

There was "compelling evidence" that he tried to bribe someone he thought was a witness in Mr Ruto's trial, she said.

Mr Barasa was part of a network trying to "sabotage" the case, Ms Bensouda alleged.

 (BBC)

NIGERIA: MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DIALOGUE

President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the membership and terms of reference of the Federal Government’s Advisory Committee on National Dialogue/Conference.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius, named Ben Nwabueze (SAN), as one of the 13 members of the committee headed by Senator Femi Okurounmu.

The committee also includes Akilu Indabawa, Secretary; a former Nigerian Ambassador to United States, George Obiozor; and Khairat Gwadabe.

Others are Timothy Adudu, Tony Nyiam, Funke Adebayo, Mairo Amshi, Abubakar Sadiq, Dauda Birma, Buhari Bello and Tony Uranta.

The committee which has one month within which to conclude its assignment will be inaugurated by President Jonathan at the State House on October 7.

The president had in his Independence Day broadcast yesterday (Tuesday), said he decided to set up the advisory committee to establish the modalities for the national dialogue or conference.