Lagos — A Lagos Federal High Court will tomorrow rule on whether to dismiss the petition filed by two former directors representing minority shareholders of the Newswatch Communications Limited.

Justice Ibrahim Buba arrived at date after listening to oral arguments from former directors and respondents' lawyer Adekunle Theophilus Oyesanya prayed the court to dismiss the suit on grounds of lack of jurisdiction.

Oyesanya insisted that the suit before Justice Abang is different from the present suit, saying "They have only exhibited a part of the originating summons before justice Abang favourable to them. They did not exhibit all the reliefs being sought because the reliefs we are seeking here are different".

The petitioners are accusing Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim-led new management of assuming control of the company illegally. They however agreed there is in existence a Share Purchase Agreement which transferred the majority of the shareholding to Ibrahim.

The staff verification committee set up to conduct a staff audit of of Kebbi State civil servants has concluded the assignment and now ready to hand-over its report to Governor Sai'du Usman Nasamu Dakingari for implementation.

Chairman of the committee and state Head of the Civil Service (HOS) Alhaji Buhari Halidu, who spoke to newsmen in Birnin Kebbi yesterday, said the committee identified those that are due for retirement, those who have gone for studies without approval and ghost workers among other issues.

He said the committee was appointed by the state government three months ago to verify the total workforce in the state, saying "the committee was divided into sub committees which went to several ministries, departments and agencies in order to get the accurate number of staff.

"All the committees submitted their reports and all along we have been trying to go over the committee report and we are trying to put finishing torches and by the Grace of God we shall submit the report to the government this Friday", he said.