Former US president George Bush and ex-British Prime Minister Tony Blair joined Nigeria’s elite at a ceremony honouring its political and business establishment, but one winner’s absence highlighted the endemic corruption and other problems plaguing the oil-rich nation.

A Nigerian airliner reportedly carrying more than 100 people, including the spiritual leader of Muslims in Nigeria, crashed today near the airport in the capital, Abuja. A television station said at least six people survived.

A Nigerian opposition politician today accused the ruling party of “massive rigging” in presidential elections that showed the incumbent Olusegun Obasanjo with an overwhelming lead.

PRESIDENT Olusegun Obasanjo surged ahead of his main challenger, Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday in partial returns from Nigeria’s presidential elections, which were marred