Nigerian president sacks oil firm head

THE new managing director of Nigeria's state oil company has been ousted. A spokesman for president Goodluck Jonathan said Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation director Shehu Ladan had been replaced by Austin Oniwon, director of the state oil firm's refinery and petrochemical division. The spokesman also said the president "ordered a comprehensive audit" of the state oil company's accounts.

Ladan's firing comes only a month after he took over. He replaced former director Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo, who the president also fired without a reason.